Evangeline Marrs Whipple

Evangeline Simpson Whipple ( Marrs; January 15, 1855/1857 – September 1, 1930) was an American philanthropist and author, who was known for her humanitarian activities as a member of the American Red Cross in Europe during the First World War.

Early life Evangeline Elizabeth Thurston Marrs was born in Wayland, Massachusetts, the only daughter born to Jane Van Poelien Marrs (1832–1906), an immigrant from England, and Dana Francis Marrs (b. 1826), (According to her 1896 wedding announcement to Bishop Whipple, she was the daughter of the late Dr.) Francis Marrs. Her older brother was photographer Kingsmill Marrs, who married Laura Norcross (a daughter of mayor Otis Norcross).

Marriages First marriage In 1882, aged 27, according to one source, Evangeline was first married to Michael Hodge Simpson (1809–1884), a wealthy cotton manufacturer from Saxonville, Massachusetts, who was 48 years her senior. As a wedding present, he gave her $1 million in bonds.

Second marriage

As a wealthy widow, Evangeline later began a relationship with Rose Cleveland, the sister of President Grover Cleveland. Rose had served as her brother's White House hostess (First Lady of the United States) from 1885 to 1886 because he was not married when he took office. The relationship between the women continued until Evangeline met Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple in Florida while she was on vacation. Whipple was the first bishop of Minnesota, known for advocating for Native American rights. He maintained a winter home in Florida, and founded a church in Maitland, Florida. moved to Minnesota, and changed her legal family name to Whipple. Henry Whipple was 36 years her senior. She stayed in Minnesota following his death and continued supporting the community.

Italy In 1910, Evangeline Whipple left Minnesota for Italy, traveling with Cleveland, to be with her terminally ill brother Kingsmill Marrs, and never returned to the United States.

Death and legacy

In 1930, Whipple fell ill while traveling in London, and died shortly thereafter. She was buried alongside Rose Cleveland in the English Cemetery section in Bagni di Lucca. In her will, she left millions of dollars to schools, churches, people, and Native American programs in Minnesota that she worked with. The historical society received a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society in the amount of $9,800 to produce archives of Whipple's life. Tilly Laskey, who traveled to Tuscany to research Whipple's life and is considered the "premier historian" on her legacy, was expected to be commissioned to work on the project called "Hidden in Plain Sight: Recovering Evangeline Marrs Whipple's Minnesota Story Through Archival Research".