JUDGE WILLIAM P. WHITE. For nearly forty years a resident of Centralia, Mr. White has been closely identified with its growth and an unceasing contributor to its material development. He has been Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and at the present time is a member of the Board of Education. He is a prominent real-estate and insurance agent in the city, representing the Caledonia Company of Scotland.
Our subject was born near Rochester, Monroe County, N. Y., January 4, 1827, and is the son of George K. White, a native of England, who came to America about 1820 and made location in the above county in New York. He was married in the Old Country to Miss Elizabeth Warrant, who died shortly after making her home in the United States. Their family included two children, Mrs. Elizabeth Whitney, who lives near Madison, Wis., and George, who resides in Ionia County, Mich.
George K. White was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Eunice Goff, a native of Vermont. He continued to reside in Monroe County, where he carried on his business of a shoe merchant, until about 1830, when he removed with his family to Seneca County, Ohio, and was there the proprietor of a shoe store until 1844. We later find him a resident of Kent County, Mich., where his death occurred in 1856; his good wife had preceded him to the better land, dying in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1840.
While a resident of Michigan the elder Mr. White was engaged in business and also took a very active part in local affairs, serving for many years as Justice of the Peace. He was a thorough Christian and was a Deacon in the Baptist Church for over forty years. The mother of our subject was likewise connected with that society.
W. P. White had one sister, Louisa, who is now deceased. His mother had been married to Gilman Brown prior to her union with George White, and by him reared a family of three children. Our subject was a lad of five years when his parents removed to Ohio, and in Seneca County he received his schooling. In 1844 he went to Ionia County, Mich., where he taught one term of school; he also attended one term of school, and altogether lived in Ionia County four years.
In 1848 he came farther west, to Illinois, and locating in Will County, engaged in carpentering, which trade he had thoroughly mastered, and later spent two years in attendance at the high school in Plainfield. While a resident of the above place Mr. While was united in marriage with Miss Elvira, the daughter of Dr. Erastus White. The latter was born in New York, and was a prominent physician in Plainfield.
In 1855 our subject removed to Piano, this state, and in 1857 came from there to Centralia. He purchased a farm in Brookside Township, Clinton County, about four miles west of the city, and this he improved and resided upon until 1878, when he moved into the city and began contracting and building, which occupation he followed until his election to the office of Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1893. He still owns his valuable farm of three hundred acres, which is under an admirable state of cultivation and devoted mostly to raising grain and fine grades of stock.
To Mr. and Mrs. White were born five children, only two of whom are living, George and Rosa. The former is carrying on the old homestead, and Rosa is now the wife of J. H. Jones, and makes her home in Terre Haute, Ind.
The children who are deceased are, William, Fred and Frank.
Our subject has voted with the Republican party since its organization, and keeps himself thoroughly posted on local and national affairs. He has been Supervisor for six years, and has filled many important positions within the gift of his fellowcitizens. He was Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of his township while living in Clinton County.
He is an active member of the Baptist Church, and is now filling the office of Deacon.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 360 - 361
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer