Then & Now: A History of Rice County, Faribault & Communities

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Faribault's youngest brother. She was baptized in
Mendota but received her education at Bethlehem
Academy in Faribault. Her sister and she owned a pair
of fine sorrel ponies and many of the older generation
remembered them for their skill in riding. Some of you
might have heard of her daughter, Valerie (Mrs. O.C.
Olson) and Valerie's son, Norbert C., both of Faribault.
Miss Lillie Clara Berg from whose writing "Early
Pioneers and Indians,'' some of the material was
received, was born on a farm in Bridgewater
Township, Rice County, April 16, 1891. She graduated
from the State Normal School at Mankato and taught in
the elementary schools of Minnesota, Washington and
California until her retirement in 1946. Her
grandparents settled in Rice County, thus she had an
interest in tracing her family and others here.
Evangeline Whipple. Bishop Whipple had reached
the age of 74 years the fall of 1896 when he left on
unexplained business. His parishioners were all
surprised when he wired home in October that he had
just been married to Mrs. Evangeline Simpson of
Boston. She had been a widow, owner of a beautiful
estate worth a half-million dollars. She was charming
and friendly but much younger (35 years) than the
Bishop. People wondered if the marriage could be a
success.
Feelings gradually changed when she used some of
her money to enlarge the Bishop's house, providing
him with a big library facing the Cathedral. He filled it
with treasures he had received from many sources -
Indians, honorary degree hoods, books, pictures, etc.
Evangeline displayed her art treasures from Europe in
another room, of which the Bishop was proud. She
enlarged and beautified the entire house with her
wealth. Before they left for Florida in the winter,
Evangeline gave many gifts to those who needed them,
among which was a sleigh presented to the principal of
St. Mary's Hall.
They traveled to England to attend the 4th
Lambeth Conference in London. In her purple velvet
gown, she received almost as much attention as her
famous husband.
Together they visited the Indian homes and
mission schools. She was received kindly and with
honor. She donated $50 so one of the teachers could take
an Indian girl to a conference to show others how to
make delicate bobbin lace. They made lace bedspreads
at the mission schools for Mrs. Pierpont Morgan and
Mrs. Vanderbilt, receiving several hundred dollars for
each one.
On Sept. 16, 1901, Bishop Whipple died. Evangeline
had been his wife for five years. After spending the
winter in Florida, she returned to Faribault because
plans were underway to build a tower on the Cathedral
in memory of the Bishop. She found the loneliness of
the big house more than she could bear.
Receiving a call to come to France because of a
brother's illness, she closed the house, leaving Major
Milligan in charge, keeping the Bishop's rooms and
library exactly as he had left them. The house stood
empty for many years. Evangeline Whipple never
returned. She died in Europe. Her portrait hangs in
Saint Mary's Hall, also.
Grace E. McKinstry, daughter of A. W. McKinstry,
Editor of the Faribault Republican, came
to Faribault in 1865 as a child. She studied art in
America, France, Spain, and Holland and is listed in
"Who's Who in America, 1936" as one of America's
outstanding portrait painters and popular lecturer on
art and travel topics. The Travelers Club of Faribault
was founded by Miss McKinstry, who died in 1936.
There are water color and oil paintings painted by Miss
McKinstry in the gallery on the museum floor of
Buckham Memorial Library. There are portraits of
Mrs. Mattison (mother of Flora Mattison Sheffield,
owners of the flour mill which recently burned), Harry
Whitney, Headmaster of Shattuck from 1874-1926, A.
W. Stockton, and two unidentified Indians.
Miss McKinstry exhibited her art work in many
cities in the United States and Europe. She was
appointed as teacher of painting at Carleton College in
1887 and opened an art studio there in 1898. She was a
member on the governing board of the Minnesota Art
Association and recording secretary of the Minnesota
State Art Society in 1910-12.
She painted a great many portraits including one
of Governor Johnson of Minnesota and several staff
members at Carleton College. She received much
recognition for her work.
Miss Martha Watts was born Feb. 23, 1857 in
Vermont. She, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert
Watts, one sister and two brothers, came to Rice
County in 1859, where they lived on a farm in Sec. 27,
Northfield township two miles from Dennison. She
taught in rural schools several years. One of her pupils
was Thomas Bunday, who passed away in Northfield in
1954 at the age of 90. Miss Watts also was deputy
secretary to a Register of Deeds in N.D. for four years.
Miss Watts recalled the days of the Sioux Massacre
when the New Ulm settlers passed their farm in
covered wagons, fleeing from the Indians.
Elsie Meyer Kiel (Mrs. A. L. Rustad) of Faribault
said regarding her grandmother Mrs. William T.
Meyer's account of pioneer life: "In the early days of
1855 before Faribault was settled, the Wheeling
township pioneer's nearest market was Hastings,
Minn. By ox team and lumber wagon, grain and other
produce were taken to that town. Grandmother and
Grandfather Meyer slept overnight in the wagon box.
The next morning flour, sugar, and other supplies were
purchased and the trip was made back to their farm.
After the Faribault trading post was established,
grandmother walked from the farm in Section 29, to
Faribault where she sold her eggs at 7 cents per dozen
and their butter for 11 cents per pound. Indians camped
in the densely wooded area but were friendly. They
knew Saturday was bread-baking day at
grandmother's and would walk right into the log cabin
and help themselves. To show their gratitude, though,
they brought her wild game in return. About the time of
the New Ulm Indian Massacre, Wheeling settlers were
much concerned about the Chippewas living around
but they proved to be friendly. However, the pioneers
never went to bed without bolting their cabin door
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