Evangeline Marrs Whipple
Evangeline Marrs Simpson Whipple (January 15, 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 E. Thurston Marrs was born in Wayland, Massachusetts. She was the only daughter born to Jane Van Poelien Marrs (1832–1906), an immigrant from England, and Dana Francis Marrs (b. 1826), a machinist and farmer from Ireland. Her older brother was photographer Kingsmill Marrs, who married Laura Norcross (a daughter of mayor Otis Norcross). Marriages First marriage In 1882, 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. While the newlyweds went on their honeymoon in Europe, Simpson commissioned a $150,000 () mansion to be built for Evangeline in Wayland, overlooking Dudley Pond. Local residents responded badly to their age difference however, and the couple did not end up spending much time in the mansion. Simpson died of heart failure in 1884 and left an estate of $10–12 million to Evangeline. 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. Henry 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. Evangeline was an "intimate friend" of Whipple's first wife Cornelia Wright Whipple, a daughter of Benjamin Wright of Jefferson County, whom he married in 1842 and who died in 1890 from injuries sustained in a railroad accident. Evangeline married the bishop in 1896, moved to Minnesota, and changed her legal family name to Whipple. Henry Whipple was 36 years her senior. She then began a period of humanitarian and philanthropy, working with her husband, a missionary for The Episcopal Church. She greatly expanded the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, provided the fund for the construction of the St. Mary's School for Girls, also in Faribault, and worked to improve education provided to women. Henry died in 1901. In his honor, Evangeline commissioned several memorials to him, including the bell tower for the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour. She stayed in Minnesota following his death and continued supporting the community. In 1902, she traveled to Italy with Rose Cleveland. They corresponded when apart. Italy In 1910, Whipple left Minnesota for Italy, traveling with Cleveland, to be with her terminally ill brother Kingsmill Marrs, and never returned to the United States. Whipple moved to Bagni di Lucca and the two women spent the next eight years doing philanthropic