The Somerset reporter., 1898-06-30
fIenian Whipple.

of Scion and authentic sketch of his life,
which appeared originally in the Scion
Times.
The people of Scion were greatly
shocked Wednesday morning, June LIST,
to learn of the sudden and violent death
of Mr., Heman Whipple, one of its noted
citizens, on the Canadian Pacific r, r.,
near Jackman the afternoon before. Mr..
Whipple had been below on the river
where he had a crew OF men working and
and after having returned he was walk.
ing on a trestle near Mackamp station
when train appeared. A warning whis-
tie was sounded but il Mr.. Whipple saw
the train he evidently thought he would
be able to reach the end Of the trestle in
safety. 1t will never be known whether
he was struck by the engine or losing
his balance fell off the trestle on to the
rocks below. When the train was stop
ped and Mr.. Whipple was reached it was
FOUND that life was extinct. He was in
frightful railroad accident near this
very place only four years ago and rem
dered great assistance to the injured.
Mr.. w. J. johnson, Supt. of that div
ision and Mr.. c. M. Mansfield, station
agent at Askworth showed great kind
ness in giving all the assistance in their
power to Mr. w. L. Whipple. A spec
ial train was placed at his disposal to
carry the body to Jackman where it ar
rived at about 10 o'clock in the evening
where nearly the whole population of
the town were in waiting. The remains
were brought to Scion the next morning
arriving here at noon.
The funeral occurred Friday, June 3,
and was largely attended by relatives and
friends. The services were conducted
by the Rev. Mr.. Whiteside, pastor of
NJ. E. church and Rev. G.. X. Goodwin.
pastor of the Congregational church.
All of the immediate family were present
together with Mr.. Whipple's brothers,
David Whipple of Bingham and Sumner
Whipple oil Scion and sisters Mrs.
George French of Massachusetts and
Mrs. Haven Randlett of Scion. He
leaves widow, son, Mr. w. L Whip
pie and daughter, the wife of DR.. S. F.
Greene Of Scion
Mr.. Whipple was one Of the best
known men in the county and was an
example OF what Joung man OF integ
rity and perseverance can accomplish.
He was born and always lived in Scion.
He first saw the light of day in a log
cabin in the northern part of the town in
1921. Mr.. Whipple came of good old
stock, his great grandfather Eleazer,
lived in Pepperell, Mass, and was a SOL
dier in the Revolutionary army in Col.
Prescotts regiments and consequently
was in the battle of Bunker Hill. His
son Eleazer Jr., and grandfather of Hem
an Whipple was then IL years old.
Afterward he moved to Scion and settled
on what is now known as Bay View farm
near Carratunk Falls now owned by a
descendant of the family. The Whipple
who was one of the signers of the De
claraton of Independence was also an
ancestor. Mr.. Whipple's father was
David Whipple, who though poor in
this worlds goods gave his children the
example of Cody life, being promi-
nent Methodist as was also his wife.
The family consisted of nine children,
quite number Of whom are yet alive.
Young Whipple worked on the farm and
attended the country schools until he
was II, when he left home agreeing to
pay his father SI25 for the remainder of
his time to be paid as soon as he
could earn it. He went to work then
for E. Coburn & Sons for $40 per month
but they settled with him for $I2.5o per
month, something unusual with any firm.
He was thus enabled to pay his debt
of freedom in ten months. He filled in
his summers by cardng rolls in mill at
East Madison. He was installed boss
driver on Moose River when he was 20
years old, position he has held fifty
nine years and the writer remembers Mr..
Whipple saying this past spring that he
wanted to drive Moose River one more
spring making him 60 in all and he
should then be satisfied.
In those early days the Coburns cut
about all the logs on Moose River, but
later corporation was formed as others
came to operate there but Mr.. Whipple
still held his position, thus it happened
that when Nh. Coburn released his busi-
ness to his sons A. & P. Coburn he con-
tinued as their confidential man. He
and Philander explored all the lands the
firm was interested in, so that at his
death the whole care fell upon him and
the property was as carefully handled as
if it was his own. He sold stumpage,
looked after the numbering operations
and in fact represented the firm at head
quarters in the woods. He was often
commissioned to 60 out west and ex-
plore and sell large tracts of land.
Once when an important exploration
was to be made on possible purchase
the question came up who to send. Phi
lander suggested several when the Gov
ernor, in his quiet way, raped on the
arm of his chair, said, "Well they will do
but had rather get some one TO take
Heman's plaCe.and let him 60 he is so
reliable" Mr.. Whipple continued in
his confidential relations to the Governor
up to the time of his death Since then
he has been looking after his own extern
sive interests. He has large farm of
400 acres at Long Pond. He has also
been one of the directors and agents for
the Moosehead Lake Navigation Co.
He was also interested in extensive land
tracts in the West.
MIR. Whipple never had the inclination
or time to accept public Office. He was
Selectman of the town OF Scion one year,
and during the time he was Assistant
Assessor of Internal Revenue under VIM.
Wilcox and had charge of the ten north
ern towns in Somerset County. He had
been Justice of the Peace for over quar-
ter of a century. Personally Mr.. Whip
pie was very pleasant man to meet and
although more than half of his life had
been passed in the woods among uned-