Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Whipple, Levi B 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 4:36 am

Author: Past & Present, 1907

Levi B. Whipple, now retired from active business life, was for seventeen 
years engaged in the grain, coal and lumber trade at Plainfield and in all 
commercial relations sustained an unassailable reputation. He wrought along 
modern business lines, never overreaching another in any trade transaction but 
so conducting his interests that his perseverance, energy and enterprise 
brought to him a large measure of prosperity. He was born near Morris in 
Grundy county, Illinois, in 1846. His father, William Whipple, who died about 
six years ago at the age of eighty-one, came to Illinois in 1832 from 
Watertown, Jefferson county, New York. He was a pioneer settler of this state 
and purchased canal land. He followed merchandising for about twelve years and 
then turned his attention to farming in 1844. His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Miss Gibson, was a native of Vermont and in the early '30s came to 
Illinois, probably about 1834, at which time she became a resident of Grundy 
county. She died at the age of forty-five years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whipple 
were born two daughters, one of whom has passed away, Mrs. Henry Decker, who 
died about two years ago at her home near Morris, Illinois. The other is Mrs. 
Thomas Turner, of Ford county. Levi B. Whipple was reared in Grundy county, 
Illinois, attended the common schools and for a time was engaged in the lumber 
business at Morris in this state. In fact he remained a resident of Grundy 
county until 1890, when he removed to Plainfield, where until a very recent 
date he was entensively engaged in the grain business. For seventeen years he 
was the senior partner of the firm of Whipple & Barr but recently sold out to 
Mr. Barr, who is still conducting the business. The firm dealt in grain, coal 
and lumber and built three elevators—one at Plainfleld, one at Caton Farm and 
one at Frontenac, Illinois. The business of the house constantly increased and 
in course of years reached an extensive figure. By judicious use of his 
capital Mr. Whipple became a prosperous business man and is now enabled to 
rest from further commercial cares and responsibilities. Mr. Whipple married 
Miss H. A. Stone, of Grundy county, Illinois, formerly of Rochester, Monroe 
county, New York. She came with her parents, Charles and Amanda Stone, to 
Illinois in 1860 when thirteen years of age. They took up their abode in 
Grundy county, where the father was extensively engaged in raising, feeding 
and shipping stock, making extensive shipments to the eastern markets. He was 
a very successful stockman and was widely known in business circles. He died 
in California at the age of fifty-nine years, passing away in 1879, while his 
wife survived until 1883 and died at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Whipple 
was one of their family of ten daughters, of whom five are now living, namely: 
Mrs. C. V. Barr, of Will county; Mrs. Whipple; and three who reside elsewhere 
in Illinois. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children but 
Winnie died in 1905 at the age of thirty-three years. The sons are: Lester, 
who is engaged in the hardware business at Plainfleld; and Chester, who for 
five years was connected with the grain business in Plainfield and is still 
with Mr. Barr. Politically Mr. Whipple has always been a stalwart republican 
and stanchly endorses the principles of the party. Socially he is connected 
with the Knights of Pythias of Plainfield, having been the organizer of the 
lodge in 1894. He served as one of its officers for years and has been 
representative to the grand lodge. He is likewise connected with the Modern 
Woodmen of America and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of 
Plainfield, while in his religious views he is liberal. In business life he 
has made a most creditable record, his history standing in exemplification of 
the fact that success is not a matter of genius, as held by many, but is 
rather the outcome of clear judgment and experience supplemented by 
unfaltering industry. 

Additional Comments:
Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907.

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