Educator, cleric.
Born at Kingston, Ontario, on 20 April 1843, son of James Whimster and Jessie Swanson (?-1848), he lived at Kingston (1943), Toronto (1847), Hamilton (1848) and St. Marys (1850-c1860s). Initially, he worked as a school teacher, including at Kildonan School (1869-c1870) in Manitoba. Around 1872, he began a 45-year career with the Presbyterian Church, initially involved in missionary work in the greater capital area of Winnipeg. After five years, he returned to Ontario and attended Knox College in Toronto. Following ordination, he came back to Manitoba as Minister of the South Plympton Presbyterian Church (early 1880s) and the North Presbyterian Mission (1885-1888) of St. Giles Presbyterian Church.
In 1888, he married Jennie H. Whimster (1849-1936) and, that same year, moved to the United States. They had two children: Dr. W. C. Whimster and Jessie Whimster, and settled first in Kansas, ministering at Hays City [Hays] (1888-?), at Antioch, and the First Presbyterian Church (?-1893) in Anthony. He then went to Illinois, and before ministering to congregations at West Plains and St. Joseph in Montana. By January, 1916, he had returned to Kansas, where he helped founded the Southridge Presbyterian Church in Kansas City.
He died at his Kansas City residence on 21 May 1916 and was buried in the Highland Park Cemetery.
1861 Canada census, Ancestry.
1870 Manitoba census & 1871 Canada census, Library and Archives Canada.
“City and province [The Rev. D. B. Whimster ...],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 11 April 1883, page 8.
“Kildonan,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 19 July 1883, page 5.
“Hon A. M. Sutherland,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 8 March 1884, page 2.
“The official Gazette,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 1 August 1884, page 4.
“Presbyterianism,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 11 December 1884, page 2.
“Main Street north,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 31 December 1884, page 4.
“Manitoba and N.W.T.,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 28 October 1885, page 1.
“1869-1885: Progress of the Presbyterian Church in the Northwest,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 12 December 1885, page 4.
“City and Province [The new Presbyterian Mission Church ...],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 27 March 1886, page 4.
“City and Province [Church opening],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 29 March 1886, page 4.
“The North Church,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 6 June 1887, page 4.
“The Presbyterian church [...],” Hays City Sentinel, 21 April 1888, page 3.
“This, that, and the other,” Sharon Springs Leader, 15 June 1889, page 5.
“City and county,” Anthony Republican [Kansas], 6 October 1893, page 5.
“Twenty years ago to-day [29 March 1886],” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 29 March 1906, page 1.
“Anniverary at St. Giles Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 March 1910, page 4.
“Death of veteran Minister,” Kansas City Globe, 22 May 1916, page 1.
“Overland Park [Mr. D. B. Whimster],” Olathe Mirror [Kansas], 25 May 1916, page 2.
“Rev. Whimster [...],” Gardner Gazette [Kansas], 26 May 1916, page 3.
“Dedication day at Southridge,” Olathe Mirror [Kansas], 21 June 1917, page 12.
“Springfield’s United Church is 50 years old,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 9 August 1930, page 15.
Highland Park Cemetery burial transcriptions, FindAGrave.
Mansfield family tree, Ancestry.
We thank Andy Brownbill for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 8 February 2022
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