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- Cemetery:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=whipple&GSiman=1&GScid=83774&GRid=112502417&
The Sebeka Review, February 25, 1916
J.W. Whipple Of Wadena Dead - Death Occurred Friday Morning Which Was Entirely Unexpected
Obituary:
Wadena Pioneer Journal:
J.W. Whipple is dead. Genial, big hearted "Bill" Whipple. who has become a familiar figure everyone in Wadena county during the past thirty-six years, passed to his eternal rest Friday morning, Feb 18th after a very brief illness, death being due to rheumatism of the heart. News of the calamity which had befallen this community spread with the rapidity of wildfire and struck its hearers with a force which rendered them momentarily speechless, unwilling to believe what their sense of hearing had confirmed. No one had been aware of his illness, but very few knew that he had not been enjoying his usual good health.
Mr. Whipple finished his day's work at Murray's Land Office, where he had toiled so faithfully and well for the past twenty years, and drove to his home in the outskirts of the city as usual that Thursday evening. He had complained once or twice during the day of the severity of rheumatism in his left shoulder which continued, apparently, even after he reached home that evening.
Bed time came and he found it impossible to sleep. He paced the floor the greater share of the night until exhaustion probably led him to lie down. Mrs. Whipple, also awake because of her husband's pain, soon heard him snoring as in a deep sleep. Alarmed at the peculiarity of that snore she went to investigate and found him breathing very heavy and hastily summoned a physician. Before his arrival however, Mr. Whipple was breathing his last, death ensuing at about five o'clock.
The funeral services were held the following Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Methodist church where friends by the hundreds had congregated to pay their last respects to the memory of their departed fellow-citizen.
Wadena county first knew J.W. Whipple as a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents to this village thirty-six years ago to make their home on what is now the B.R. Boyer farm four and a half miles south of town.
Of excellent parentage James Whipple inherited those most commendable qualities to be found in man, honesty, modesty and a desire to number all with whom he came in contact as his friends. As he grew to manhood and his acquaintanceship widened he commanded and received the respect of all. The early death of his father brought added cares upon his young shoulders but he never faltered. At the age twenty-one he left the farm and in company with John Knight engaged in the drug store business in the Murray building now occupied by the billiard parlor. After two years in the drug business he became cashier of the Northern Pacific depot, which position he held until he went to work in the county treasurer's office. The election of Fred Boyer to the office automatically removed Mr. Whipple from that position and he entered Murray's Land Office to fill the vacancy by the election of Mr. Boyer as treasurer.
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