Sibling of Lizzie M. Whipple: Harry H. Whipple (1873-1935)

Harry H. Whipple, 1895

For the sake of completeness, I am including an entry for the only sibling of Lizzie M. Whipple who lived to adulthood, Harry Henry Whipple.

Harry was born to Lyndon Leander Whipple and Alida Electa Hand Whipple on November 11, 1873 in Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Michigan. At least, that is what the entry in the family Bible says. There is also a Michigan birth record of the birth of Abram Henry (or Abram Henry Hand) Whipple on November 11, 1873 in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Abram's parents are listed as Lynden and Electa. Abram Henry was baptized on June 1, 1874. It seems likely that Abram Henry became known as Harry Henry. In the 1880 census, his name is given as "Harry."

According to the 1900 census, at that time Harry was still unmarried, living with his mother Alida in Sebewaing, Michigan. His occupation is listed as "agent at R.R. depot."

In 1905 Harry was living in Manistee, Michigan, where he was working as a railway clerk. On June 19 of that year he married Mary Jane (or Mamie) Hainer, a widow who was working as a telephone operator. Mary Jane's maiden name was Mary Jane Hope. She was born in Manistee to George and Mary Hope on March 12, 1879. In 1897 she was married to James W. Hainer. James died shortly after they were married. Mary Jane had a child after her first husband's death, whom she named James W. Hainer.

By 1916 Harry and his family were living in Grand Rapids at 1365 North College Avenue. In September of that year he wrote a letter to his mother Alida on Pere Marquette Railroad stationery. He reports that "the fair is on," but he and Mary can't afford to go. He promises to look for a second-hand stove and says he is "sending the rent as usual."

 A World War I draft registration from 1918 shows that at that time Harry was a cashier for the Pere Marquette Railway, working at the corner of Cherry Street and Ottawa Avenue in Grand Rapids. He had blue eyes and gray hair. Strangely, Harry's birth-year is listed as 1872, not 1873. The 1920 census shows that at that time two people were living with Harry and Mary, a step-son, now listed as "William J. Hainer," and Mary's mother, whose name is given as Mary A. Hasse. According to William J. Hainer's 1918 draft registration card, at that time he was working as a traveling salesman for the New Era Spring and Specialty Company.

The Pere Marquette Magazine was a publication of the railroad for its employees. A short report from Grand Rapids in the July 1920 issue has the following item: "With the fishing season now in full bloom Cashier Harry Whipple is found up in the vicinity of Peacock, but the profits have not been large. A basketful of hoppers gathered off the stub line, in order that hand car could be propelled, was his luck on the last trip. Operator Earl Murgerson had much better success on Mosquito Creek, but uses different brand of 'fly' than Whipple."

The 1930 census shows that Harry and Mary were still living in Grand Rapids. A young cousin, June Murday, was living with them.

Harry Whipple was a member of the Doric Lodge #342 of the Free and Accepted Masons. He died in Grand Rapids on February 14, 1935, at the age of 61. His wife Mary Jane lived until September of 1961. Harry and Mary are buried in the Fairplains Cemetery in Grand Rapids.

Life Summary: Lizzie Margaret Whipple (1875 - 1963)

Lizzie M. Whipple, about 1893

Lizzie Margaret Whipple was born on June 24, 1875, in Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Michigan, to Lyndon Leander Whipple and Alida Electa Hand Whipple. She was the fourth of five children born to the couple, only two of whom lived to adulthood. Claud and Maud died before Lizzie was born. Lizzie's older brother Harry was born in 1873. A younger sister, Mattie, born in 1876, lived less than a year.

On June 24, 1896, Lizzie married David Winter Brown in Fairgrove. According to the marriage record, she was a music teacher at the time.

As mentioned in the post on Lizzie's husband David, Lizzie and David moved several times early in their marriage. Their first child, Harmon, was born in Sebewaing in 1897. Fred apparently was born in Fairgrove in 1899. At some point in 1900 the family moved to a rented home in Winsor Township, where they lived alongside other employees of the Wallace Stone Company. David and Lizzie's son Lynn was born in Colfax Township, Huron County, in May of 1900. A daughter, Myrtle, was born in 1902. Neil, according to his marriage record, was born in Manistee, Michigan, in August of 1905. This was just two months after Lizzie's brother Harry was married in Manistee. Was the family visiting Harry and his wife when Neil was born? Pictures from 1908 show the family living in the "Quarry Home" near Bayport.

Lizzie in the Quarry Home with Fred, Lynn, Myrtle and Neil, Christmas 1908

Lizzie and another woman with Fred, Lynn, Myrtle and Neil

Carpenter Street house in Midland

David and Lizzie welcomed Kenneth into the world in 1910 and Walter in 1912. In 1912 David was corresponding with Harmon Fairchild, his brother-in-law, regarding the purchase of a house, apparently in Midland, and also five acres of land. He asked Harmon Fairchild to take pictures of the house. He said Lizzie was concerned about the height of the ceilings. In 1913 and perhaps before that, their oldest son Harmon was living in Midland with Harmon and Harriet Fairchild, attending high school. 

In 1916, when Lizzie was 41, the family moved to Midland. David and Lizzie’s youngest son Herb was born there in 1917. According to the 1920 census, the family lived at 608 Carpenter Street, West. Later they moved to another house at 1316 West Carpenter Street.

Lizzie Brown, December 1950

Lizzie was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. After David died in 1953, she lived another ten years. I remember going with my dad to visit her in her house in Carpenter Street. She died on August 25, 1963 in Midland, Michigan. She is buried in the Midland City Cemetery.