George W. Whitaker, of Ottawa, was born in Elk county, Kansas, Oct. 28, 1876. He is a son of John P. and Mary S. Whitaker. He received his preliminary education in the public schools, and then attended the University of Kansas. Mr. Whitaker was engaged in the real estate business at Hobart, Okla., from 1901 to 1904, and then in the same form of business at Kansas City, Mo., for about one and a half years. He was then in charge of the branch business of Whitaker Bros., real estate and loans, at Guymon, Okla., whence he came to Ottawa, Kan., in 1907. He is a member of the firm of Whitaker Bros., which firm is composed of five brothers as follows: Charles T., George W., Walter W., Albert I., and Arthur G., and does an extensive business. George W. and Arthur G. have charge of the firm's business at Ottawa, Kan., while the other brothers have charge of the business at Steamboat Springs, Col., at which latter place two of the brothers, Charles T. and Walter W., are also practicing law with gratifying success. The lawyer brothers are graduates from the law department of the University of Kansas, Charles T. graduating in 1899 and Walter W. in 1902. George W. Whitaker is a Republican in politics and fraternally is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. In 1910 he married Miss Mary Macey, of Ottawa.

Arthur G. Whitaker, member of the real estate and loan firm of Whitaker Bros., and who, together with his brother, George W. Whitaker, has charge of the Ottawa (Kan.) branch of the business of said firm, was born in Crawford county, Missouri, April 10, 1886, a son of John P. and Mary S. Whitaker. His early educational advantages were those of the common schools, and his collegiate education was received in the Ottawa University. In 1904 he opened the branch business of Whitaker Bros. at Ottawa, and has since been identified with the business in that city. For awhile he also had charge of the firm's business at Guymon, Okla.

In February, 1910, Mr. Whitaker married Miss Lynn Moherman, daughter of C. A. Moherman, of Ottawa. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. As mentioned in the personal sketch of George W. Whitaker, appearing elsewhere in this volume, the firm of Whitaker Bros. has achieved a pleasing success in the real estate and loan business, and to the success of the firm Arthur has contributed a goodly share.