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Mr. White was born in New York, September 11, 1842, and is a son of George White. His father was born and reared on a farm in the south of Scotland, and at the age of twenty-five sailed for America, settling in New York, where he married Margaret Johnson who was also a native of Scotland. With a sister she had come to this country some time previous. After about three years spent in the Empire State, Mr. White removed with his family to Lake County, Ill., traveling by way of the lakes to Kenosha, Wis. He settled in Antioch Township, where his brothers had already located one hundred and sixty acres of land for him on section 22. It was entirely destitute of improvements and he had a log house built, in which the logs were set on end. Breaking and planting the wild land it soon became transformed into a good farm which continued to be the home of Mr. White until his death in February, 1867, at the age of fifty-five years. His excellent wife still survives him and makes her home with her children. Of the seven born unto Mr. and Mrs. White six are yet living, the eldest being Andrew; Sarah, wife of George Dodge, is living near Millburn; William is a farmer residing north of Millburn; John L., a physician, died in Michigan; David is living on the old homestead with his mother; Robert G. is a resident farmer of Minnesota; Margaret J. married Ralph Worden of Michigan. The entire family grew to man and womanhood on the White homestead and have become useful and respected members of society. The parents were consistent and faithful members of the Congregational Church of Millburn and in politics Mr. White was a Republican from the organization of the party. He was also an honest and industrious citizen who left to his children the priceless legacy of a good name.
As before stated, Mr. White has spent almost his entire life in this county, having been only two years old when the family came to Illinois. His educational privileges were intermixed with muchhard labor in the fields for as soon as old enough to hold the plow handles he was put to work upon the farm, serving his father until 1861. In the meantime the cloud of war was rising and at last its lightning struck Ft. Sumter. On the first call for troops made in April of that year, Mr. White became a member of Company K. Twelfth Illinois Infantry and from Springfield was sent to Caseyville, Ill., and on to Cairo, where at the expiration of his term he received his discharge. He then returned home and enlisted in the autumn of 1862, being assigned to Company C, Ninety-sixth Illinois Regiment. The regiment was organized in Rockford, Ill., and then sent to Covington, Ky., and on to Danville, where the troops went into winter quarters. The following season we find them embarking at Louisville on transports for Ft. Donelson but they arrived just too late to participate in the battle. We next find them in Nashville and later in Franklin, Tenn. On the Duck River march, Mr. White was taken sick and received his discharge in Nashville on account of his physical disability.
After his return home, Mr. White followed various occupations and spent one year in Missouri, building bridges. He then bought land of the railroad company and in 1868 purchased his present farm which comprises about two hundred acres that is divided into fields of convenient size and well tilled. A log house and an old barn constituted the improvements but the cabin has long since given place to a commodious residence and the outbuildings are models of convenience. The site of the home is a beautiful one on the bank of Loon Lake.
On November 15, 1865,in Avon Township, Mr. White wedded Jane Hughes, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of David Hughes who was born in Wales. They now have three children, one son and two daughters--Alice M., Cora S. and David G. Mrs. White is a member of the Christian Church of Antioch, and in politics he is a stanch Republican. General farming has been his business and in that line he has met with good success.
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