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.