I am not sure that this information may relate at all to your quest, but here's a bit of WHIPPLE lore-- On April 17, 1867, Anna or Antoinette Nelson was born in MN to Emma Nelson and her husband. They later moved to Osakis MN, where her husband died while deer hunting and Emma married Harvey O WHIPPLE. I am guessing that before moving to MN, the Nelsons may have lived in WI, and possibly Harvey O WHIPPLE did too. I did find some info on a Harvey O WHIPPLE being born in 1832 in Providence, RI, but I do not know if it is the same person. Annie Nelson WHIPPLE (adopted by Harvey?) married our ancestor Charles RALSTON on October 5, 1885 in Osakis MN. Charles RALSTON and several of his siblings were born in WI, and from the 1870 census, I have found other RALSTON families in Pierce Co. I wonder if anyone knows of the RALSTON families, where they came from and if any of them moved west to MN? Thanks! Nancy Ralston