BIO: Osgood M. WHIPPLE, Huntingdon County, PA
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
**********************************************************
__________________________________________________________________
Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley:
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry,
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M.
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 151-153.
__________________________________________________________________
OSGOOD M. WHIPPLE, McAlevys Fort, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born at
Westford, Chittenden county, Va., December 15, 1840, son of Josephus
and Mehitable (Osgood) Whipple. His grandfather, Jonathan Whipple, was
a native of Massachusetts, of Irish descent. Josephus Whipple was born
in Vermont in 1800, and lived and died in the same State. He was a
carpenter, contractor and builder. His wife was the daughter of
Manasseh Osgood, a farmer, of Scotch-Irish extraction. Their children
are: Pliny, professor music, died in Vermont; George C., broker, of
Chicago, Ill.; Osgood M..; Edward J., contractor and builder, in
Vermont; Jennie (Mrs. Moses Lytle), of Nebraska; and one that died in
infancy. Mrs. Joseph Whipple died in Vermont, on the homestead where
she had passed her life. Her husband also is deceased. Mr. Whipple was
a Republican. He was an honorable man, esteemed and respected. Mrs.
Whipple was a member of the Congregational church.
In the excellent common schools of New England, Osgood M. Whipple
received a good education. He began business life by learning carpentry
with his father, and was occupied at this handiwork until 1861, when
the call of the Union for defenders was heard throughout the land, and,
like thousands of other young patriots, young Whipple responded to it.
He enlisted in September, 1861, at Burlington, Vt., in Company A, First
Vermont Cavalry, Colonel Platt and Captain Platt. He was with his
regiment at Mount Jackson and Port Republic, and in Bank's retreat; was
also in the battles of Winchester and of Cedar Creek, and in all the
engagements under Kilpatrick before that general was ordered to the
west. He took part in the battles of Gettysburg and of Falling Waters;
was with Sheridan when he left Winchester on his twenty days' raid;
participated in the battle of Waynesburg, the Wilderness and
Petersburg; was in Wilson's raid, and was also present at the surrender
of Lee's army. Mr. Whipple was in the army for three years, in active
and important services. At length, in a skirmish, he was thrown from
his horse at Madison Court House, Va., and disabled, on which account
he had leave of absence. As a reward of his bravery and faithful
service, he was promoted, first to be corporal of his company, and then
to the post of regimental commissary sergeant. He was in the grand
review in Washington, D. C., at the close of the war, and received his
discharge at Burlington, Vt., August 9, 1865.
After this stirring, momentous chapter of his life was ended, Mr.
Whipple came to Pennsylvania as traveling salesman for a medical work.
In this employment he continued for a year, and then returned to
Vermont. A short time after, he went into partnership with Pierson
Lytle in the mercantile business, at Pine Grove Mills, Centre county,
Pa. Three years later, the business changed hands, the firm selling
out; Mr. Whipple and Mr. Lytle then entered into another partnership,
in Jackson township, Huntingdon county, in the lumber business. This
connection had lasted four years, when Mr. Whipple sold his interest to
his partner, and went in to the hotel business at Boalsburg, Centre
county, Pa., where he spent three years, with a fair measure of
success. He then conducted hotels successively in Lemont, Centre
county, for a year and a half, and in Emlenton, Venango county, Pa.,
for a year; he then returned to Jackson township, Huntingdon county,
and bought his present property, timber land, cleared land and mills.
There are 1,400 acres in all, 600 of which are cleared; the rest is in
timber, which is manufactured into lumber at his mills. This purchase
was made in 1878. The improvements made in the mills, where all kinds
of lumber are turned out, have cost $1,500. Mr. Whipple formerly owned
a farm in Centre county; this he has sold, but still owns lots at State
College. He is an active, self-made business man, with a good stock of
enterprise, and very progressive in his ideas. From a lad with no
resources except in himself, he has developed into a man of many and
successful undertakings, involving large sums of money. Mr. Whipple
adheres to the Republican party. He has served the township as clerk
and as judge of elections; is also a member and master of the Grange,
and of Robert Aston Post, No. 600, G. A. R., Barree township. He has
traveled extensively, having visited on trips of business and pleasure
half of the United States and parts of Canada.
Osgood M. Whipple was married, May 16, 1866, at Pine Grove, Centre
county, to Jane P., daughter of Piersol Lytle, a farmer of that county.
Mrs. Whipple was born at Boalsburg, June 15, 1839. Their only child is
Lydia M., wife of Edward Duff, lumber manufacturer; has four children:
Osgood R., Helen, James and Edna. Mrs. Whipple was a devout member of
the Lutheran church, and died December, 1873. Mr. Whipple was again
united in marriage September 24, 1896, to Susan Anspach, widow of the
late V. B. Hirst, and daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Moyer) Anspach,
of Jackson township, the former deceased, the latter still surviving at
the advanced age of eighty-three, and residing in Jackson township. Mr.
Whipple is now the proprietor of the McAlevys Fort Hotel, so well and
favorably known to the traveling public.