He was born in New York. Together with his wife, Sarah Ellen Hickson, he came West in a covered wagon. He prospected near Colorado Springs, Colorado, lived for a time in Sawpit, and then homesteaded near Norwood. He was a farmer and also worked in mines near Telluride.
Iva was born in Barnes County, North Dakota before her family settled in Lafayette, CO. She married Floyd Whipple in 1942, and they had two sons. Iva owned and operated a beauty salon in town for 58 years.