Woman of the Century/M. Ella Whipple

WHIPPLE, Miss M. Ella, physician, born in Batavia, Ill., 20th January, 1851. Her parents were both of English descent, her father being a lineal descendant of the Whipple who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Her father was born and bred in Chautauqua county, N. Y., and her mother was born in New Jersey and bred in Orange county, N. Y. They both removed to Illinois, where they were married. In 1852 they started across the plains by ox team to Oregon, being six months on the way. Her mother was a teacher for many years and wrote for the papers of the day. Dr. Whipple's early childhood was spent on a farm. She was studious, industrious and persevering, and always at the head in school work. Her school-days were spent in Vancouver, Wash., where her parents went to educate their children. She was graduated in 1870 from Vancouver Seminary. Two years later she received the degree of B.S. from Willamette University, and had also completed the normal course in that institution. The nine years following were spent in teaching in the schools of Oregon and Washington, where she acquired the reputation of a very successful teacher. She was for two years preceptress of Baker City Academy, and later was principal of the Astoria public schools. Deciding to prepare herself for the medical profession, she gave up teaching and, after a three-year course of study, was graduated with honors from the medical department of the Willamette University in 1883. She received the advantage of special study and hospital practice in the sanitarium in Battle Creek, Mich. She was an active practitioner in Vancouver, Wash., until her removal to Pasadena, Cal., in 1888, where she is now located and in active practice. She has always been identified with the religious, temperance, philanthropic and M. ELLA WHIPPLE. educational interests of every place where she has resided. For ten years before the granting of equal suffrage Dr Whipple was a stanch worker in the suffrage field and shared largely in the honors and benefits gained by suffrage in Washington. She was twice a delegate to the Clarke county Republican convention in 1884 and 1886, and twice a delegate to the Territorial Republican convention in the same year. In the first convention she was on the committee on resolutions, and in the second convention was chairman of the committee on platform In the Clark county convention, in 1884, she was nominated for superintendent of public schools and was elected by a large majority, although there were three tickets in the field. She discharged the duties of her office in such a way as to win the respect and confidence of political opponents as well as friends. She has at different times occupied every official position to which a layman is eligible in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is an earnest member, being thrice a delegate to the lay electoral conferences of 1874 and 1878. During her term as superintendent of public schools the Clarke County Normal Institute was organized, and still exists. She has been active in temperance reform, having been a Good Templar for many years and occupied nearly all the high and responsible positions in that order. She has been active in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union since the organization of Oregon and Washington, as she now is in California. She has been called to responsible offices in the two latter States. She is now filling a county and State superintendency. She is a thorough prohibitionist and is identified with that work in California. In 1890 she was the nominee on the Los Angeles county prohibition ticket for superintendent of public schools. For a number of years she has been a contributor to the press along the lines of suffrage, education and temperance. Dr. Whipple is the inventor of a bath cabinet She stands high in her chosen profession and is conscientious and successful.