My Genealogy Hound

EDWARD E. WHITE.
More than a century ago George Washington voiced the sentiment that “farming is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man.” It is a well known fact that the country which has no great agricultural resources never attains the prominence or the prosperity that comes to the land that derives its incomes from and builds up its manhood upon the soil. Mr. White is a worthy representative of agricultural life in Union county, carefully carrying on the work of the fields and raising stock, owning a farm of four hundred and forty acres in Jones township. Moreover he is one of the native sons of the county and as such has witnessed much of its development and progress as the years have gone by. He was born on the farm which he now owns, April 29, 1860.

His father, Isaac K. White, was a native of Vermont, born at Wheelock, August 10, 1825, and his father was John White. In the state of his nativity Isaac K. White learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for a number of years, mostly engaging in business as a bridge contractor on railroads. He was married in Londonderry, New Hampshire, to Miss Elizabeth Gregg, who was born in the old Granite state, a daughter of William Gregg. After their marriage he engaged in farming for a year and subsequently followed carpentering in Massachusetts but, regarding the middle west as the land of opportunity, he made his way to Dupage county, Illinois, where he followed carpentering in the railroad shops until 1856. He then crossed the Mississippi into Iowa and, choosing Union county as the place of his residence, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and began farming. As his financial resources permitted he added to this from time to time until he was the owner of one thousand acres in the old Mormon settlement near Mount Pisgah. He developed an excellent farm and was an important factor in the agricultural progress of his locality. He was also a leader in other departments of life, being a public-spirited man and prominent in community affairs. In the office of justice of the peace, which he filled for five years, his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, and he gave equally creditable service as supervisor of the county board. In 1886 he left the farm and located in Afton, where his remaining days were passed in the enjoyment of well earned rest, his death occurring on the 28th of February, 1903. He owned a place of fifty acres adjoining Afton, in addition to his extensive land holdings elsewhere. His wife passed away June 28, 1902, at the age of seventy-five years.

E. E. White is one of a family of six sons and was the fourth in order of birth. He was reared to manhood upon the old homestead farm and educated in the district schools and the Afton high school. During the periods of vacation and after putting aside his text-books he worked with his father in the fields and continued to assist him until the father removed to Afton, when he and his brothers purchased the old Homestead. Mr. White of this review now owns four hundred and forty acres of that place, including the residence, and from his farm property derives an excellent income because of the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields and the practical and progressive methods which he follows in carrying on his farm work.

Mr. White was married near Afton in Union township, on the 9th of April, 1891, to Miss Marietta Longstreth, who was born in Ohio and was reared in this county, where her father, Eli Longstreth, located at a very early epoch in its history. Mrs. White was reared and educated here and was a teacher prior to her marriage, while Mr. White also taught through seven winter terms and thus they contributed in substantial measure to the educational progress of the county. Following their marriage Mr. White took his bride to the home farm and has since been one of the active agriculturists of the community, making a specialty of raising and feeding stock in connection with the production of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. In March, 1904, he bought residence property in Afton, where he now makes his home but still gives his supervision to his farming interests. Unto Mr. and Mrs. White have been born three children: Edith, attending high school; Christine, who died February 2, 1908; and Lelia, also a student in the high school. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active and helpful interest in its work. Mr. White belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Afton and both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. Politically he is a democrat and is a public-spirited citizen, whose aid and cooperation can always be counted upon to further progressive public measures. He has been identified with the schools in official capacity and in 1907 he was elected supervisor, the duties of which office he is now discharging. He has frequently been a delegate to county conventions and is interested in the success of democracy, believing that its platform will best conserve local and national welfare. He has a wide acquaintance in the county from the fact that his entire life has here been passed and he enjoys the high regard of many friends, owing to a well spent life and honorable business methods.