Stories from the First Cathedral 12: The Whipple Children

Bishop Henry Whipple and his wife Cornelia were parents to six children. They were Sarah Elizabeth (Lizzy) (1843-1910), Cornelia Ward (1845-1884), Jane Whiting (Jennie) (1847-1932), Charles Henry (1849-1932), Francis Ranson (Fannie) (1853-1940), and John Hall (1857 - 1878). 

Their daughter Cornelia married William Davis on his deathbed in 1866. In 1875, she married Dr  Francis Rose of Faribault and died in childbirth. The Whipples' youngest son, John, wanted to leave home and find his own way. He was tragically murdered in Louisville, KY. Bishop Henry and Cornelia grieved at the death of these two children during their lifetime.

Bishop Whipple's dear wife Cornelia died in 1890 from injuries caused by a train wreck while traveling home from Florida. When Cornelia died, Bishop Whipple was in shock. His children spent much time with him and even traveled with him to Europe to give him a distraction from the death of Cornelia. They had been married 48 years.

Sarah, their eldest child, moved to Philadelphia and married Charles Farnam in 1864. They had one son, Arthur, who became an Episcopal priest. Jane married Henry Scandrett in 1872. They moved to Faribault where he was in real estate, insurance, and was a judge of probate for two terms. Their two sons became well-known railroad executives. Jane is buried at Maple Lawn Cemetery in Faribault, near her mother Cornelia. Charles became a Brigadier General and Paymaster General. He saw military action in Montana, the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. He settled in Los Angeles, CA. He married Evelyn McLean and they had two sons. Francis married Frank Craw in 1873 and Freedom Ware Jackson in 1891. One husband was a wealthy merchant from Cleveland and the other was an executive with Standard Oil. Francis was the last living Whipple child.

From reading about Cornelia and Henry, it seems that they were good parents who let their children find their own destiny, but still loved them and cared for them dearly.