My Genealogy Hound

LUKE BROWN WHITE, Postmaster and merchant at Bay State, was born at Whately, Mass., October 3, 1864. He is the son of Samuel B. White, who was son of Luke Brown White, who was son of Deacon John White, who was son of Deacon Salmon White, the first member of the family to settle in Whately. The Whites are the lineal descendants of John White, who emigrated from England to the Colony of Massachusetts, and settled in Cambridge, where he was made a freeman in 1633. In 1636 he removed to Hartford, Conn., where he became a ruling Elder in the South Church, and passed the remainder of his days. His son, Daniel White, resided at Hartford, Mass., where he married Sarah Crow, was a Lieutenant of militia, and died July 27, 1713. Their son Daniel, who was born on July 4, 1671, settled at Windsor, Conn. He was married three times, his first wife having been Sarah Bissell; his second, Anna Bissell; and the third, Elizabeth Bliss. His death occurred in 1726. His son, Captain Daniel White, resided at Windsor, Conn., from which place he moved to Hatfield, Mass., where he died in 1786. His first wife was Mary Dickinson, his second Elizabeth White; and his son Salmon, who was baptized October 31, 1731, became the original settler of the farm known as the Luke B. White place in Whately, which has been in the family’s possession since 1762. He married Mary Waite, was a Deacon in the church, a leading spirit in the community, and died June 21, 1815. His wife survived him until the same date in 1821, when she passed away, at the age of ninety-one years. They had four sons and four daughters, of whom John White was the paternal great-grandfather of Luke B. White, of this article. He married Elizabeth Brown, of Worcester, who brought to Whately the first chaise; and she died in 1853, aged eighty-three years, having been the mother of ten children — three sons and seven daughters. Of these Luke B. was born on May 8, 1797, wedded Mary Wells, daughter of Captain Luke Wells, and raised a family of six children, of whom two are living, namely: Mary E., born in 1834, widow of O. D. Root, M.D.; and John Newton White, a farmer of East Whately, who was born in 1838.

L. B. White attended the schools of his native town, and at the age of sixteen became a clerk in the store of F. D. Willis & Co. at Thompsonville, Conn. After spending one year there, he took a similar position with C. D. Waite at Haydenville, Mass., holding it for about the same length of time. Then he came to Northampton, where he entered the employ of E. E. Hart. Five years later he went to Springfield, and for some three years was clerk with B. Frank Steele & Co. At the end of this time he returned to Bay State, and, in company with his brother, Charles W. White, purchased the stock and trade of his former employer, E. E. Hart, in September, 1890. Two years later he bought out his brother’s interest, and has since continued to carry on the business, which is now well established and exceedingly profitable.

On September 10, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Wetherbee, of Landgrove, Vt., and the union has resulted in two children: Edna Emily, aged seven; and Charles Herbert, aged four years. Mr. White is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is independent in politics, and is at present serving on the Common Council, having been elected upon the Republican ticket. He has been Postmaster for the past five years, and has resided at his present comfortable home since 1892. His father died in 1882; and his mother, who is still bright and active, resides with her sons.