JOHN WHITE, deceased, one of the old pioneer settlers of Benton County, coming here
in 1850, was a native of Virginia, born Aug. 30, 1797. He removed with the family to
Pennsylvania, where he resided until eighteen years of age. They then moved to Carroll
County, Ohio, where he was united in marriage with Sarah Deets, born in Pennsylvania,
Aug. 5, 1801. He was engaged in agriculture in the Buckeye State until the fall of
1850, when he came to Benton County, Iowa, and located on section 11, Canton Township,
where he entered 240 acres of land, and, there resided until his death, May 26, 1885.
Mrs. White died April 1, 1872. Their children were Enoch, William J., Mary, Rachel,
Elizabeth, Isaac W., John G., Sarah J., Jehu, Tobias, Hannah and Harriet. They had
one adopted son — Abraham Merrick.
The site of the present village of Shellsburg is a portion of the land entered by
Mr. White. When he left Ohio he had but about $600, and it required a large portion
of that sum to move his family to Iowa. When he first came he erected a large log
house, in which he lived and in which early religious services were held. His house
was a stopping place for travelers, and the first stage line in the section ran by
his place, and here meals were taken and the horses were fed. Mr. White was familiarly
known as Uncle John.
He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was first a Whig,
then a Republican, and finally voted with the Democratic party.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 245.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on January 28th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.