Henry White

As printed in 1910

HENRY WHITE.

Henry White, president of the First National Bank of Cambridge, has been a potent factor in the business interests of this city since 1871, while since 1863 he has made his home in Henry county, having in that year taken up his above in Geneseo. He was born in Salem, Washington county, New York, July 17, 1836, his parents being James and Jane (Hall) White, the former a native of the north of Ireland and the latter of Argyle, New York. James White those farming as a life vocation and met death by falling from an apple tree when about forty-eight years of age. His wife long survived him and died in 187 1 when almost eighty years of age. He had served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812 and was always a loyal and public-spirited citizen. Both he and his wife adhered to the faith of the Presbyterian church. Their family numbered twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, of whom six are now living: William, a resident of Hebron, New York; Jane A., the wife of Eli Hatch, of West Pawlet, Vermont; Alexander, living in Waterloo, Iowa; Robert, whose home is in Sandwich, Illinois; Henry, subject of this sketch; and Daniel G., living in Rock Island, Illinois.

Henry White remained a resident of Salem, New York, until he had attained the age of twenty-one or twenty-two years of age and completed his education in the West Hebron Seminary. After leaving home he learned the patternmaker's trade in Oswego, New York, and followed it for a number of years in the east. From Oswego he removed to Geneseo, Illinois, in 1863, and for eight years continued his residence at that place, coming thence to Cambridge. He had there embarked in business as a member of the firm of White & Tuttle, dealers in hardware, and following his removal to Cambridge in 1871 he conducted a hardware and implement business under the firm name of White & Weir. This partnership continued until 1878, when they sold out to Poppleton & Hadley. In 1881 Mr. White assisted in the organization of the First National Bank and was chosen one of its directors and its first vice president. A year later he was elected cashier, which position he filled for a quarter of a century

HENRY WHITE fury and on the death of Nathaniel B. Gould, in 1907, he succeeded to the presidency and has since continued as the chief executive officer of this institution, which is recognized as one of the strong financial concerns of the county. His business probity and the spirit of enterprise which has actuated him in all that he has done have constituted important forces in the promotion of the growth and development of the bank. In addition to his other interests Mr. White has been secretary and treasurer of the Armory Hall Company, treasurer of the Cambridge Electric Light & Power Company, and for a number of years was the president of the Henry County Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

On the 4th of October, 1871, Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Harriett E. Sims, who was born in Cazenovia, New York, where her parents, James and Sabra (Blodgett) Sims, lived for some time, going there when that part of the country was infested with the Indians and remaining residents of the locality until called to their final rest. The father lived to the remarkable old age of one hundred and two years, while his wife died when about sixty years of age. Mrs. White is the only survivor of their family, which numbered nine or ten children. By her marriage she became the mother of four children but the first born, Frank J., died in infancy. Kate L., the second, married Clyde B. Taylor, cashier of the Farmers National Bank of Cambridge and mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Harry S., who for several years was paymaster at the Western Tube Works in Kewanee, Illinois, where about five thousand names were on the payroll, is now conducting a grain elevator in Cambridge in partnership with Harry Kellogg. He married Gertrude L. Bradbury. Herbert D., the youngest, is a graduate of the high school and now lives in Cambridge.

Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Baptist church, in which he is serving as deacon, and the work of the denomination has been greatly forwarded by their cooperation and generous support. Mr. White has long been an active factor in community affairs, serving for several years as president of the village board of trustees, has also been a member of the board of education, was treasurer of the Old Settlers Association and treasurer of the Henry County Agricultural Society for.a number of years. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party and it is well known that, while at all times amenable to reason, he never serves from a course which he believes to be right and just in his relations to the public or in his relations to his fellow-

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.