WI BIO - Dane Co - TIPPLE, O. F.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 368-369

O. F. TIPPLE, a liveryman of Dane County, WI, as born in Vernon, Oneida 
County, New York, 16 July 1839, a son of John and Jennette (GRANT) TIPPLE, 
also natives of Oneida County. Our subject spent his early life on a farm, 
where he had the advantages of good schools. At the age of seventeen years 
he took a course at the State Normal, at Albany [Albany County], New York, 
where he graduated in 1857, and was then engaged in the hotel business in 
Oneida County, New York, three years. In the spring of 1858 he came to 
Wisconsin, traveling through Kansas and Nebraska, and going as far west as 
Fort Kearney [now in Kearney County, Nebraska]. He traveled from Nebraska 
City [now in Otoe County, Nebraska] with Major WADDLE and [p 369] RUSSELL's 
wagon train, which was carrying supplies to troops stationed at Salt Lake 
[now in Salt Lake County, UT] and vicinity. This company was the only means 
of transportation west of the Missouri River at that time. After locating a 
quarter section of land in Nemaha County, Nebraska, O. F. TIPPLE returned to 
Rutland [Dane County], Wisconsin, and engaged in farming, breaking land 
through the summer and threshing through the fall and winter.

In the summer of 1861 O. F. TIPPLE enlisted in Company D, Seventy-seventh 
Wisconsin Infantry, which regiment afterward formed a part of the famous Iron 
Brigade of the West. After following this command through its numerous 
engagements until the spring of 1864, O. F. TIPPLE re-enlisted as a veteran, 
and during the memorable campaign of 1864 he participated in every battle and 
marched every mile which made his command so famous for its brilliant 
fighting and unparalleled marches it endured from the Rapidam to Appomattox. 
During the above campaign our subject carried the colors of his regiment 
through most of its engagements, receiving several slight wounds, but none 
severe enough to unfit him for duty. Probably no man in Dane County, 
Wisconsin, can show a better war record or a more thrilling experience of 
suffering than can Mr. TIPPLE. He was captured by the rebels in the fall of 
1864, at which time his usual weight was 165 pounds, and when paroled in the 
spring of 1865 he weighed 71 pounds, having spent six months of his prison 
life in the prison pen of Andersonville. He is a fluent talker, and has 
frequently entertained large audiences with his graphic pictures of military 
and prison life.

After the close of the war, O. F. TIPPLE married Eunicy E. DAVIS, of 
Stoughton, Dane County, WI. Since that time he has been engaged in the 
livery business in Stoughton. In about the middle of Jun 1891, his livery 
barn and dwelling was destroyed by fire, and as he was carrying no insurance, 
was somewhat crippled financially. The leading citizens of Stoughton, 
recognizing his ability as a business man, came forward with their money and 
encouragement, and coupled with Mr. TIPPLE's untiring energy, soon erected 
the finest livery barn in Dane County. As of this building both Mr. TIPPLE 
and the citizens of this thriving little city are justly proud.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly