William Whipple, Jr. Page 440 – Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the brave defenders ofthe Old Flag, who endured the hardships incident to long and fatiguing marches,dreary days in camp and perilous hours near the foe. Mr. Whipple is one of themen to whose bravery, undaunted courage and energy we owe the preservation ofour nation, the "land of the free". He is as progressive in civil lifeas he was brave during his military career, and both as soldier and farmer hasdischarged the duties devolving upon him with a cheerful and unwaveringfidelity. A native of New York, our subject was born in Ontario County September 19,1839. His father, Stephen H. Whipple, was born in Erie, PA., and at the age ofeleven years removed from there to New York, locating in Ontario County where heresided until he was forty. He then came to Michigan and settled in OttawaCounty, near Hudsonville, where he still resides. He married Miss Mary AnnSmith, whose parents removed from New Jersey to Michigan, dying in this state.Our subject, the eldest of six children, received his education in the districtschools of the Empire State, and worked on a farm until he was twenty-one. Accompanying his parents to Michigan at the age of sixteen, our subjectassisted in clearing and improving his father’s farm. Upon attaining hismajority he commenced to work as a laborer in the employ of others. In August,1862, he enlisted as a member of Company D, 21st Michigan Infantry,and was mustered into the service on 3rd of September following. Withhis regiment he participated in a number of desperate encounters with therebels, including the battles of Perryville, KY and Stone River, TN. At thebattle last names he was severely wounded and was confined in a hospital forfourteen months at the expiration of which time he was transferred to theVeteran Reserve Corps. On the 16th of August, 1864, he was promotedto Second Lieutenant, and was serving in that capacity at the time of hisdischarge, June 30, 1866. Upon returning home, Lieut. Whipple resumed farming operations upon the farmwhere he has since resided, and where he engages in raising the various cerealsto which this country is especially adapted. Prior to entering the army he wasmarried, February 2, 1862, to Miss Maria P., daughter of Albert C. and Sarah(Pasco) White, natives of Connecticut. Mr. And Mrs. Whipple are the parents ofone son, Fred G., who has been a student in the Western Michigan College and theColumbian College at Grand Rapids. Socially, our subject is a member of GrandRapids Lodge No. 34, F. & A. M> and Hudsonville Lodge, I. O. O. F., inwhich he has held all the chairs. Politically, he has always been a Republican,and places an abiding faith in that party. He has served in a number of localoffices, including the positions of Township Clerk and Drain Commissioner.

Portrait and Biographical Records, Ottawa and Muskegon Counties
Transcriber: Evelyn Sawyer
Created: 30 May 2003
URL: Biographies