Life Summary: Alida Electa Hand (1847-1928)

Alida Electa Whipple

Alida Electa Hand was born on April 28, 1847 in Galen or Clyde, in Wayne County, New York. There is some uncertainty about the year of her birth, but 1847 appears most likely. She was the daughter of Henry Hand, a clerk, and his wife Catherine. A younger sister, Margaret Ann Hand, was born on March 18, 1849.

Apparently both Henry and Catherine died sometime between 1850 and 1860. According the the census of 1860, Alida was living at that time in the town of Rose, north of Clyde, with a large family, which included Daniel and Anna Tucker, both 60 years of age, and Philander and Ann Lewis, both 37, and their two children Daniel and Anna. Alida’s sister Margaret was living in Galen with a glasscutter named Daniel Watson, 52, and his wife Elizabeth, 46. (Galen was a center of glass-making.) I have been unable to determine what happened to Margaret after 1860.

Alida had two aunts and a great uncle (on the “Hand” side) who had been living in Ohio and then, shortly before Alida’s birth, moved to Lake Township in Berrien County, Michigan. Some time after 1860, Alida went to live with them. It was there that she met Lyndon Leander Whipple, whom she married on March 18, 1869. Lyndon and Alida moved back to the town of Rose, in Wayne County, New York, where Lyndon was working as a laborer and Alida was keeping house in June of 1870 when the census was taken. They lived between the Philander Lewis and the Daniel Tucker families, with whom Alida had lived as a girl. A woman named Catharine Callan, 46, whose occupation is listed as “housekeeper,” was living with them. Their first child, Claud D. Whipple, was born on September 25, 1870 in Clyde, New York, and died a month later.

Family Bible birth record, probably written by Alida

As was mentioned in Lyndon’s life summary, Lyndon and Alida moved to Fairgrove in Tuscola County, Michigan, where a daughter, Maud L. Whipple, was born on October 5, 1871. Maud died In January of 1873. Harry Henry was born on November 11, 1873. Lizzie Margaret was born on June 24, 1875. Another daughter, Mattie E., was born on October 23, 1876 and died on August 3, 1877.

According to the census of 1880, at that time Lyndon, Alida, Harry and Lizzie were living with Lyndon’s father and mother, Jonathan and Lucinda. Lyndon died on April 27, 1885. He had been appointed postmaster of Kintner in 1882. Following his death, Alida was appointed postmaster in his place on May 26, 1885. A United States Bureau of Pensions document states that Alida is entitled to a pension of $8.00 per month, to commence on April 28, 1885. On March 19, 1886, this was increased to $12.00 per month. Alida received an additional $2.00 for each of her children, as long as they were under the age of sixteen. The pension was raised to $25.00 per month in 1917, $30 per month in 1920 and $40 per month in 1928. The family has preserved a letter from Congressman Roy O. Woodruff, addressed to Mrs. Alida E. Whipple, Box 780, Midland, Mich. In the letter, dated December 18, 1928, Representative Woodruff informs Alida that his special bill, granting her an increase to $50.00 per month, passed the House on December 14 and is awaiting approval by the Senate. Alida had died on December 11. The only picture I have of Alida shows her holding a medal, which may well be Lyndon's Civil War campaign medal.

Bureau of Pensions certificate

According to the 1900 census, at that time Alida was living in Sebewaing, Huron County, Michigan, with her son Harry. By 1905, Harry had moved to Manistee, Michigan, where he met and married his wife. Apparently Alida moved with him. Some time before 1910, Harry, his wife, step-son and mother-in-law moved to Chicago, Illinois. The census of 1910 shows that Alida remained in Manistee, living by herself at 478 First Street. A 1916 letter from Harry shows that she was in need of a replacement for her stove and had asked him to find one for her. Alida was still in Manistee in 1920, now living at 78 Poplar Street. By 1928, the year of her death, she had moved to Midland, Michigan, where her daughter Lizzie Brown was living.

Alida Whipple died in Midland on December 11, 1928, at the age of 81. She is buried in the Gilford Cemetery, in Tuscola County, Michigan.