S. A. D. Whipple, former assistant attorney general of the state of Indiana, former city attorney of Portland and for many years one of the best known members of the bar of the Jay Circuit Court, with offices at Portland, is a native of the neighboring county of Randolph, but has been a resident of Jay county since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Whipple was born on a farm in Randolph county on August 25, 1860, son of Jason and Celia (Peele) Whipple, the latter of whom was born at Centerville, [Wayne County] Ind., February 21, 1819, a member of one of the real pioneer families of Wayne county. Jason Whipple was born at Providence, R.I., January 30, 1804, and grew to manhood there, becoming a machinist and wheelwright. As a young man he determined to try his fortunes in what then was regarded as the far West and after prospecting a bit in Ohio came on over into Indiana and in 1823 settled in Delaware county, where he remained until in 1838, when he came up into Jay county and located at Portland, where he became engaged as a wheelwright. Jason Whipple was a man of force and individuality and during the time of his residence here impressed himself upon the community. He served as the second sheriff of Jay county and in other ways rendered public service. During the '40s he moved down into Randolph county, where he established himself as a millwright and also as a landowner, and there he spent the remainder of his life.
S. A. D. Whipple was reared on a farm in Randolph county and when twenty years of age, in 1880, began teaching school there. He taught for one term in that county and then came up into Jay county and on September 3, 1881, entered upon a term of teaching in the old Booth school, in Richland township. For ten years Mr. Whipple continued his service as a teacher in the schools of this county, in the meantime reading law, and on July 1, 1890, entered upon a term of service as deputy to the county clerk, thereafter making his home at Portland. He served as deputy county clerk for three years and then, on July 1, 1893, was admitted to practice at the bar of the Jay Circuit Court. Meantime, beginning in 1891, he had been serving as a deputy to the attorney general of the state of Indiana, Alonzo G. Smith at that time being attorney general, and he continued to serve in that capacity until 1895. Upon entering practice at Portland Mr. Whipple formed a partnership with Theodore Bailey, but this association soon was discontinued and he then entered into a partnership with W. H. Williamson, which continued for three years. In 1894 he was elected attorney for the city of Portland and for seven years continued to serve in that important public capacity. Mr. Whipple has long been recognized as one of the leaders in the Democratic party in Jay county and in the Eighth congressional district. He is affiliated with the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Portland.
Mr. Whipple is something more than locally known as a student of literature at its best and is the author of a story that was well received by the reviewers when it came out some years ago. This story, "Arthur St. Clair of Old Fort Recovery," is a historical romance portraying the incidents of one of the bloodiest Indian battles ever fought in America. The scenes and incidents of the tale revolve around the great Indian battle fought on the present site of the little city of Ft. Recovery, just over the Ohio line adjacent to the eastern border of Jay county, in which General St. Clair was defeated in 1791 and his army almost annihilated. Two hundred and fifty women and children were present, most of whom lost their lives in the battle or on the retreat to Ft. Jefferson, a distance of twenty-seven miles. The remnant of the army was saved by a red-headed woman (Catherine Miller) and around and through Mr. Whipple's engaging tale of the soldiers' struggles with the Indians is woven a romance bubbling over with loves discordant trials, culminating in the union of two fond hearts which had been separated by family feuds.
Mr. Whipple married Christiana H. Harker, daughter of D. S. Harker, and to this union were born three sons, John K., James G. and Todd L., all of whom are married. James G. Whipple has two children, Mildred and Josephine, and Todd L. Whipple has two children, June and Montez.
SOURCE: Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II, pp. 46-48. Transcribed by Eloine Chesnut.