Reuben White

BEUBEN WHITE, one of Lima’s es- teemed and honored retired citizens, is a valued member of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, Grand Army of the Republic, having gained his right to the same by over three years of loyal, faithful service in defense of his country in the perilous days of 1861-65. Mr. White was born in Bath township, Allen County, Ohio, November 7, 1837, and is a son of Adam and Rebecca M. (Walton) White.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. White, Adam White, was born in Germany and came to Brown County, Ohio, as a pioneer. His maternal grandfather. was Joseph W. Walton, a native of New York, who settled in Bath township in 1826. Adam White, the second, father of our subject, was born in Kentucky and became a resident of Bath township in 1828. He became a very prominent man of Allen County and was its first treasurer, in the days when Allen County included what is now Auglaize and Mercer. counties. He was a justice of the peace in Bath township for many years and was a man looked up to and respected by his fellow-citizens.

Reuben White was reared and educated in Bath township, his education being that afforded by the local schools. Up to the outbreak of the Civil War he led a quiet, agricultural life. In October, 1861, he donned the Union blue, became a member of Company E, 81st

Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and soon, with his company, was sent to Benton Barracks, Missouri. Here he remained until March, 1862, when his regiment was sent to Pittsburg Landing in time to make a record for gallantry at that great battle, and then followed Corinth, a name which brings sad memories to many household to this day on account of the brave soldiers who fell there. Mr. White was kept with his command in that vicinity for 17 months, and then entered upon the Atlanta campaign, taking part in all the engagements, including the battles of Jonesboro and Lovejoy. Mr. White was honorably discharged at Rome, Georgia, October 3, 1864. He had been wounded only once during all these years of danger, and was one of seven left in his company of the 85 who went to war with him, a fact which tells its own tale of the dangers encountered by this gallant band. After the close of his service, Mr. White returned to his old home and, as his parents were dead, bought out the other heirs and subsequently improved the property very much, subsequently selling it to great advantage. Later he purchased another fine property, within two miles of Lima; as indications here pointed to probable oil deposits, he sold it during the first oil “boom.” Mr. White next engaged for about five years in a mercantile business at Beaver Dam, and then retired to Lima, where he owns a very comfortable home on Second street. On August 21, 1859, Mr. White was married to Ann Eliza Edgecomb, the eldest daughter of Walter and Laura Edgecomb. Mr. Edgecomb was an early settler in Allen County, entering land here in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. White have had 11 children, namely: Sarah Alice; Ida Edella, deceased; Kirby; Laura; Albert, Walter Edwin, Emmet Oscar, John Errett, Carey Mott, deceased; Willis Adam; and Rebecca. Sarah Alice married John F. Witherill, of Spencerville, and to them were born nine children; Myrtle, the eldest, married Charles Simmons and has four children living, the eldest being named Hobart. Ida Edella was the wife of Daniel E. Fetter. Five of her children are now living; of these the eldest, Eva, married Lewis Wingate, and has one son, Edrow. Kirby, who is postmaster at Harrod, Ohio, has four children. Laura is the wife of

Frank Rudy, of Allen County, and has five children. Albert died in infancy; Walter Edwin reached the age of 18 years; Emmet Oscar died at the age of two years; John Errett, at his death, at the age of 29 years, left a wife and one daughter; Carey Mott died as an infant of one year. Willis Adam, who is a resident of Huntington, Indiana, has two children. Rebecca married Lee Higgins of Lima and has two children.

Mr. White has always been a Republican and has held office in both townships in which he has lived. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Church of Christ.

On preceding pages, in connection with this sketch, are presented two group pictures of the White-Edgecomb family, in each of which five generations are shown, Mr. White and his mother appearing in one, and Mrs. White and her mother in the other.

As printed in History of Allen county, Ohio and representative citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.