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1907 Past and Present Biographies

James White

James White, who owns and cultivates a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 8, Junction township, his place being pleasantly and conveniently located a half mile south of the village of Dana, is a native of New York, his birth having occurred in Schoharie county, on the 9th of October, 1831. His parents were James and Eunice (Bailey) White, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, but many years have passed since they departed this life. The father was a farmer by occupation and always lived in New York. The family is of English descent, the paternal grandfather of our subject having been born in England, and when a boy of about fifteen years he was one night stolen from his bed and sent to the United States, where he was made to fight against the Colonists in the Revolutionary war. Not liking this treatment, he deserted the English army, joined the Colonial forces and fought for the cause of independence. At that time he changed his name to James White and what his real name was has never been known.

In taking up the personal history of James White of this review, we present to our readers the life record of one who is well known in Greene county. He remained upon his father’s farm in New York until eighteen years of age, when be shipped on board a vessel from Martha’s Vineyard and sailed for two and a half years as ship carpenter, during which time he touched the Sandwich Islands, the Philippines and proceeded as far north as the seventy-fifth degree in the Arctic ocean. He then returned to the Empire state, and in 1856 made his way westward to Illinois, stopping in Mendota until 1882. In that year he came to Iowa, settling first in J efferson, while three years later he removed to the farm he had previously bought, on which he now lives and which has been his home continuously since.

In 1867 Mr. White was united in marriage in New York to Miss Sarah Dart, a native of Delaware county, that state, born in 1834. They have now traveled life’s journey together as man and wife for forty years, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. They have never had any children of their own, but for thirty years a niece has been making her home with them. She is now the wife of G. H. Williams, who carries on the farm for Mr. White and is also a stock-buyer and land agent. Mr. White had three brothers, Elam, Willard and Charles, who served as soidiers in the Civil war, but he is the only one of the family now living. His niece, Mrs. Williams, was a daughter of Elam White, who was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1825, and died a few years ago. He married Elizabeth Dart, also a native of the Empire state, and she, too, is deceased. There are two children in their family, Mrs. Williams and Frank White, the latter now a resident of Garrison, Benton county, Iowa.

James White has always given his political allegiance to the democracy, but has taken no active part in politics, nor has he been active in the work of the farm for a number of years on account of impaired health. He owns, however, a good farm property of one hundred and twenty acres, which is constantly appreciating in value owing to the labor and care that is bestowed upon it. Its proximity to Dana makes it easy to secure the advantages and opportunities of town life, while at the same time he is enjoying all of the comforts of a rural existence. Mr. White deserves much credit for what he has done in the business world, owing his success largely to his own labors.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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