Mason City Globe-Gazette
Monday, April 14, 1941 Page 1
Oldest Iowa Civil War Veteran Dies
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WHIPPLE LAST G.A.R. MEMBER
IN CERRO GORDO
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Full Military Rites Planned for Funeral Services on Wednesday
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Rockley Whipple, 101, sole survivor of the Grand Army of the Republic in Cerro Gordo county and the oldest Civil war veteran in the state of Iowa, passed away early Monday morning at his home at 126 Virginia avenue southeast in Mason City.
For more than 60 years he marched side by side with his comrades from the Union army in Memorial Day parades in Mason City and watched the ranks diminish, one by one, until he was the last to answer the call to the colors.
When Capt. Charles C. Hamilton of Ames died last Tuesday morning, the local centenarian became the oldest living veteran of the Civil war in the state, but that distinction proved short.
Wednesday afternoon at the Elmwood cemetery a bugle will sound the long clear notes of taps and riflemen of later wars, standing stiffly at attention in their uniforms, will loose a sharp volley into the spring air, a salute and tribute to the grand old man of Cerro Gordo county’s veterans.
These full military rites will be accorded Rockley Whipple by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Civil war veteran was an honorary member of local posts of both organizations.
The Rev. William Galbreth will be in charge of the funeral service itself, which will be held at the First Methodist church at 2:30 p. m.
The body will lie in state at the McAuley and Son funeral chapel Monday and at the home Tuesday and until 11:30 a. m. Wednesday. From then until the time of the service, an honor guard will watch over it at the church.
Mr. Whipple had been in excellent health most of his life although he had recently suffered a lingering illness and was bedfast for the past two weeks.
He lived most of his life in the Mason City vicinity. He farmed for many years, and 28 years ago retired, coming to town to live.
Mr. Whipple was born Jan. 1, 1840, in Medina, Ohio, and married Lavina Hunt Bushbaum in Mason City Jan. 7, 1909. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Jess Dunbar of Mason City, two sons, Ray of Rockwell and Willis of Mason City, 14 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, and other relatives. His daughter, Ida, died in 1935 at Roundup, Mont.
It was in 1875 that Mr. Whipple came to Mason City. He became a charter member of the Elks lodge No. 375 here.
When he came to Cerro Gordo County he owned a team of horses, a covered wagon, $5 and a dog. He farmed in Portland Township for 18 years. When he was a year and a half old he moved from Medina to Jefferson, Wis., with his parents. The trip was made in company with five other families, all traveling by ox carts.
At the beginning of the Civil war he was 23 years old and enlisted in the Fourth Wisconsin cavalry, Company E. He was mustered in and mustered out at Madison, Wis., and served chiefly around Baton Rouge and Fort Hudson as a scout.
He was one of the dispatch carriers when General Banks was defeated in the Battle of Red River.