Fred U. White

As printed in 1910

PROFESSOR FRED U. WHITE.

Fred U. White, who has acted as superintendent of the Galva public schools for the past two decades, was born in Geneseo, Henry county, Illinois, on the loth of June, 1858, his parents being Benjamin and Margaret (Bacon) White, natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Cynthia (Trowbridge) White, both of whom were of Puritan descent, the former representing one of the earliest families of Massachusetts and the latter tracing her ancestry back to Devonshire, England, in the time of Edward the First. The New England Trowbridges, of whom there have been over thirty-six hundred, descended from Thomas Trowbridge, who settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts, probably in 1634. Samuel White, whose birth occurred in Connecticut, carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout his business career and passed away at Pomfret, Connecticut, when well advanced in years. His wife there died in middle life. Their children were seven in number, as follows: William T.; Susan E., the deceased wife of Remuel Pearson; George, Lewis, Elizabeth J., Benjamin and Sarah F., all of whom have passed away. Subsequent to the death of his first wife Samuel White was again married, his second union being with Miss Phoebe Baker, by whom he had two children, Jared B. and Charles H.

Benjamin White, the father of Mr. White, was born at Pomfret, Connecticut, December 14, 1825. Puritan discipline prevailed in Samuel White's household, giving its tinge of rigid self-accountability to all the children. Benjamin White's schooling was very limited but he was fond of reading and quick in observation with inquiring and thoughtful mind. At the age of twenty-one he left home and apprenticed himself to a mason and builder of Danielson, Connecticut. After serving his apprenticeship, he followed his trade for several years at Waterbury, Connecticut, where he married Margaret Bacon, September 17, 1854. To them were born four sons: Charles, who died in infancy; Frank- Oscar, who became a resident of New Orleans and died October 3, 1909; Fred U., whose name initiated this review and who is a twin brother of Frank O.; and WilHam T., a resident of New Orleans. In April, 1856, the family removed to Geneseo, Illinois, where Benjamin White continued the business of a mason and contractor until the fall of 1889, when he superintended for the board of education, of which he was then a member, the construction of the present high school building. On the 3d of January, 1863, his wife died after a protracted illness, leaving him with three little boys. On the ist of January, 1868, he married Miss Alary Jane Messenger and unto them were born two daughters, Fannie M. and Flora, both of Geneseo. In the spring of 1890 Benjamin White suffered a severe attack of the grippe which put an end to his active work. From that time on his health steadily failed until his death, which occurred on the 24th of May, 1909, when he had attained the venerable age of eighty-four years. Born of New England stock, he was always positive and forceful. The new town to which he came at the age of thirty gave the opportunity for work which he desired. The following partial list of buildings put up by Mr. White speaks for itself:' The Collegiate Institute, built originally for commercial purposes; the old Geneseo House — (1864); the Anderson Building, Main street; the four buildings north of the Farmers National Bank; the Schuck and Hippler buildings; the Blackiston block; the Wright block, except the Wright and Cann buildings; the George Singleman building; the addition to O'Bryan's and Rastede's stores; Freeman's Hall; the Clause and Stamm building; the Berner building; the Hosford building; the Geneseo House — (1877); the Engdahl building; the Taylor building; the Methodist church; Zion church; the Hammond hospital; the Swedish Lutheran church; and the first brick schoolhouse at Cambridge. In addition to his building operations in Geneseo Mr. White did much work in the surrounding country and towns and in Chicago after the fire. He was much interested in educational matters and was an attendant and supporter of the Unitarian church of Geneseo from its establishment.

Mr. Fred U. White was reared in the place of his nativity and obtained his preHminary education in the public schools, being graduated from the Geneseo high school in 1875. During the following three years he was engaged in teaching and subsequently entered the University of Illinois, while later he spent one term in the School of Languages at Burlington, Vermont. Afterward he again took up the profession of teaching as an instructor in the public schools and was thus engaged until 1882, when he took up his above in Galva. Here he taught in the grammar room for two years and then became principal of the high school, continuing in that position for three years. During the following two years he acted as principal of the Cambridge schools and in 1889 entered upon the duties of his present position as superintendent of the schools of Galva. Mr. White also was teacher of history at the Illinois State Normal University during the summer terms of 1907 and 1909. The progress made by the schools has been of a substantial and practical character, bringing results that are manifest in the efficiency of those who leave the schools to enter upon the active work of life.

On the 5th of August, 1891, Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Eliza R. Curtiss, a native of Galva and a daughter of Flavins J. and Alvena (Minor) Curtiss, both of whom were born in New York. Her paternal grandparents were Amasa Sawyer and Rebecca (Gilson) Curtiss, the former a Baptist minister. When Flavins J. Curtiss was only a year old the family removed to Hastings, New York, where he lived until he was thirteen years of age. He then worked at South Butler for two years at a salary of five dollars per month. He next went to work for J. W. Arnold, of Fulton, New York, a carpenter, with whom he remained for three years during which time he learned the trade. His first important work was building the Presbyterian church in conjunction with a Mr. Sage, at Watertown, New York. He afterward worked for one year at his trade in Ogdensburg, New York, and then removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended business college. The following year he became bookkeeper for a milling firm at Birmingham, Ohio. At the age of twenty-five he acted as brakeman and soon afterward as freight conductor from LaPorte, Indiana, to Toledo, Ohio. After two years' experience as clerk in dry-goods and grocery lines Mr. Curtiss went west to Rock Island, Illinois, and engaged as salesman for Hoyt & Avery, of Milan. On January 30, 1854, he married Alvena Eliza Minor and in the following March they removed to Galva, where he has since resided. To them were born eight children: Byron Fay and Cyrus Yale, who died in infancy; Ella Josephine; EHza Rebecca, now Mrs. F. U. White; Frankie Adalade, now Mrs. Lee G. Kratz; Byron Minor; Lora Bell, who married J. W. Wood, now deceased; and Leon Homer, who died July 10, 1900, at the age of twenty-seven years. At Galva Mr. Curtiss engaged in the furniture and undertaking business which he continued until 1882, passing through the ordeal of being burned out, an experience common to many of the early business men of Galva. He was Galva's first village clerk, which office he filled continuously with the exception of one year for the period of sixteen years. His faithfulness and strict integrity may be known from the fact that it was during the Civil war period and the issue of the American Railway bonds, when the office was one of especial responsibility. His wife passed away in 1895 at the age of sixty-four years and nine months. Mr. Curtiss maintains his interest in public affairs, though advanced years now prevent active participation therein. He still resides in Galva and has an extensive circle of warm friends throughout the community in which he has now lived for more than half a century.

In his political views Mr, White is a stanch republican, being convinced that the principles of that party are most conducive to good government. He is now serving as president of the Galva library board and is also the chief executive officer of the Henry County Historical Association.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.