My Genealogy Hound

Oscar M. Whipple, senior member of the Whipple Lumber Company, located at Novi, Oakland County, was born in 1837 in Novi and is a son of Owen F. and Elizabeth (Simmons) Whipple, the latter born in Ontario County, New York, a daughter of David Simmons, whose family removed to Michigan at a later date.

Owen F. Whipple, who was born in 1806 in New Hampshire, accompanied his parents, in young manhood, to Ontario County, New York, where he followed coopering, which he continued, after removing in 1832 to Novi township, Oakland County, where he purchased a farm, which is now included within the village, and operated it until his death in 1881. His wife died in 1868, their four children being as follows: Velaris O., now residing at Northville, Wayne County, Michigan, engaged in a saddlery and harness business, who was married to Martha Johnson, of Plymouth, Wayne County, who died and left a daughter, Agnes, now the wife of Samuel Cranson, of Northville; Oscar M., the subject of this sketch; W. A., who is the junior partner in the Whipple Lumber Company; and Emma, deceased, who was the wife of the late Milan Johnson.

Mr. Whipple was educated in the schools of Novi township and the Milford High School, and then returned to his father’s farm, which is now his home. The lumber office is also located there, a business he founded in 1874. As stated above, the homestead farm is now a part of the village of Novi, and there the business of the company is conveniently carried on. In association with the two brothers for a number of years was George W. Whipple, the adopted son of our subject, who continued to be a member of the household from the age of one year to that of twenty-six. Mr. Whipple gave the lad all the advantages of good local schooling and he grew to manhood and has continued to be a credit to his foster parents. George W., after leaving the lumber company, engaged with Fred M. Warner in the manufacture of brick at Farmington, and is now a traveling salesman for the Ross Lumber Company, of Detroit.

Oscar M. Whipple was married to Lucretia A. Colvin, who is a daughter of Rufus Colvin, a farmer, born in Vermont. Rufus Colvin removed from Vermont to Monroe County, New York, and in 1830 came to Michigan, taking up eighty acres of land in Novi Township, Oakland County. There he cleared a fine farm and comfortably reared a family of nine children, as follows: Benoni, deceased, who left one son, Charles P., who was married to Lizzie Hudson, of Saginaw, Michigan, and they have two children — Randall and Crystal; Clarissa (Mrs. George Grace), of Novi, who has an adopted daughter, Clara; Maryette, who was the wife of the late John Pickett, of Walled Lake, Oakland County; Randall, deceased, who was married to Mrs. Jeremiah Webb, who now lives at Northville, Michigan; Matilda, deceased; Collins, deceased, who was married to Lucinda Demorest, who now lives at Fowlerville, Michigan, with her children, Ada and Fred; Isaac, who was married to Helen Robinson; Philip, deceased; and Lucretia A. (Mrs. Whipple).

In politics Mr. Whipple votes with the Republican party, but is no aspirant for office. In religious views he is a consistent member of the Baptist church at Novi. As a business man and as a citizen he is held in high esteem in the community.