[p. 530] who comes of one of the most prominent old families of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is engaged in gardening and fruit growing on an extensive scale, in Shenango Township, about one mile from the limits of the city of New Castle. He was born in that city, September 28, 1840 and is a son of Dr. Charles Tillotson and Althea A. (Warner) Whippo.
James Whippo, grandfather of James, was born October 14, 1760, and was of Scotch descent. Prior to 1802, he lived in Washington County, New York, then moved to Cayuga County, New York, where he followed the occupation of farmer. During eleven years of his life he was a sailor on the high seas. His death occurred January 24, 1832. He was united in marriage with Hannah Wood, who was born May 5, 1771, and was a daughter of John and Dinah (Hussey) Wood, of Dartmouth, Mass. She was a woman of unusual ability, and for a period of years was clerk of the Friends' Yearly Meetings, of New York City. One of her brothers Jethro Wood, was the inventor of the first cast-iron plow. Her death occurred August 30, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Whippo were parents of the following children: Amelia, who died at the age of four years; John, who married and reared a family, lived at Dublin, Ind., at his death; Charles Tillotson; and Anna, who died at the age of twenty-one, and was unmarried.
Dr. Charles Tillotson Whippo, father of James, was one of the most distinguished men who ever claimed New Castle as his home. He was born in Washington County, New York, April 19, 1793, and being ambitious to procure a superior education, he relinquished all the interest he might have in his father's estate, to gain that end. He studied medicine with Dr. John Thompson, brother-in-law of his mother, and embarked in practice in Cayuga County, New York. He subsequently practiced at Henrietta, Monroe County, in that state. He was very fond of the higher branches of mathematics, in which he excelled, and was well versed in the sciences of astronomy, geology and botany. The profession of civil engineering held greater attractions for him that did that of medicine, and he had charge of a large portion of the construction work on the canals of his day. Relinquishing practice, he entered the engineering service of the Erie Canal, with David Thomas. Leaving his family on a farm he owned at Holly, N. Y., in 1831 he went to Beaver County, Pennsylvania and took charge as engineer of the Beaver and Erie extension of the Pennsylvania Canal. The following year he moved his family to New Castle, where he purchased 500 acres of land, 250 of which now forms a part of that city, the remainder being in Shenango and Taylor Townships. In October, 1849, the year Lawrence County was organized, Dr. Whippo was elected associate judge of the county, and served a full term of five years with signal ability. He was first president of the Bank of New Castle, incorporated March 30, 1855, the first bank of issue in that city. He was the foremost man of the city in that day, and labored zealously for the advancement of its best interests and the development of the resources of the community. He was instrumental in organizing the first seminary in New Castle, and was president of its board of diretors. Dr. Whippo having amassed a handsome property, his declining years were spent in ease and comfort, his greatest pleasure being found in the companionship of the books which filled the shelves of his magnificent library, and in literary pursuits. His death, which occurred June 14, 1858, was mourned as an irreparable loss to the city. He was united in marriage January 18, 1818, with Althea Ann Warner, who was born July 18, 1798, and passed from this life August 21, 1865. Five children were the issue of their union, namely: Amelia Ann, born October 28, 1818, in Henrietta, N. Y., and died at Connersville, Ind., December 11, 1845, was the wife of Henry Clay Moore, by whom she had these children: Robert, Charles Whippo, Mary Stibbs, and Franklin; Ellen D., born October 1, 1822, and died October 7, 1881, maried Dryden Reno, and they had two children: Althea Ellen, wife of Frank D. Storm, and Louis Cassius; Maria, born January 20, 1834, and died May 15, 1874, was married to Henry Reis, and they had seven children: Robert C., Charles, Ellen (wife of W. S. Jackman), James Whippo, Lillian, Louis and Althea May; Charles, who was born January 21, 1837, died February 18, 1857; and James, the only surviving members of the family. Dr. Whippo was a Republican in politics.
James Whippo is a man of educational attainments; he attended the public schools and seminary in New Castle, then, during 1853 and 1854, was in attendance at Prof. Sulio's school at Salem, Ohio. This was supplemented by college courses at Greenmount, Pa., and Richmond, Ind. In 1856 he attended Duff's Business College at Pittsburg. After his marriage he took up his residence on the old homestead, and continued there until 1867, when he moved to his present location. He has a fine farm of thirty-four and one-half acres, which is devoted mainly to fruit growing. He raises all kinds of fruits that will grow in this climate, including apples, pears, cherries, plums and the small fruits. He erected a fine barn in 1879, and in 1893 remodeled and rebuilt the residence which adorns the place. Mr. Whippo enlisted in June, 1862, in Company I, Eighty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was taken prisoner by Longstreet's Brigade at Harper's Ferry, Va. He was subsequently paroled and returned to his home, where he remained until his enlistment ended, in October, 1862. As was never exchanged, he could not re-enlist in the service.
James Whippo was united in marriage June 5, 1859, with Miss Elizabeth Jane Armstrong, who was born in the town of Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland, January 10, 1841, and is a daughter of Thomas Armstrong. Her father was born in County Monaghan in 1812, and died at the early age of thirty years. He was a well-to-do farmer and a large land owner, as were the Campbells, into which family he married. Mrs. Whippo's mother was born in 1816 and died in 1841. Mrs. Whippo and her brother were brought to America in 1844, and she resided in Pittsburg until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Whippo became parents of five children, as follows: Minnie E., who is engaged in the grocery business at East Liverpool, Ohio; Maude, wife of J. B. Hutton, of Shenango Township; Charles T., born February 10, 1868, died December 21, 1868; Daisy N., wife of Thomas J. Hammel, of New Castle; and Blanche, who lives at home with her parents. Mr. Whippo has always been an enthusiastic Republican in politics, and has worked hard for party success. Although he has been very active, especially in the service of his friends, he has never himself sought political preferment. He was formerly a member of the Republican County Committee. Fraternally, he was formerly a member of the Knights of Pythias, of New Castle. He is a member of the G.A.R. post at New Castle. He is a man of sterling character, and enjoys the highest esteem of his fellow citizens.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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