Robert S. White

As printed in 1910

ROBERT S. WHITE.

Robert S. White, a retired farmer of Woodhull and one of its representative citizens, who has been prominent politically in Henry county for a number of years, was born February ii, 1832, in Lincolnshire, England, a son of James and Rose (Smith) White. The family came to America in 1851, settling in Lake county, Ohio, with the exception of Robert S. White, who remained in Buffalo, where he had secured employment. At that time the family consisted of Mary, Sarah, Maria, Charlotte, Robert S. and Thomas, but the two sons are the only members now living and both reside in Woodhull. In 1856 all of them came to Woodhull and the father engaged in farming in this locality, achieving considerable success. He was a man of strong character and sterling integrity and commanded respect everywhere. His death occurred in 1880, his widow surviving until 1894, and both are buried in Andover.

Robert S. White obtained but a limited education in England and since coming here he has devoted himself to business affairs, securing a well earned competency. All of his money has been made by farming, he now owning three hundred and sixty-six acres of excellent land, as well as a handsome town residence, where he has lived since 1899, when he retired from agricultural pursuits.

On February 22, 1852, Mr. White married Elizabeth Neal, who came to America on the same vessel as the White family, to join her mother who had preceded her, her father having died some years previously. Twelve children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. White, namely: Mary E., who married John Atkinson, of Sumner county, Kansas; William G., who lives in Clover township; John R., who resides in Knox county, Illinois; Maria, who married Irich Nelson, of Moline, Illinois; Angeline, who married Isaac C. Snow, of Geneseo; Alice R., who is at home; Ethel I., who married John Logan Stires of Oxford township; Leslie A., who lives in Galesburg; Nellie F., who married John Rogers of LTtah, Cambridge township; and Sarah, James and Frank E., all three deceased.

Mr. White is a republican and has been active in the affairs of his party, during the McKinley campaign of 1896 engaging in considerable work for the national committee that was productive of excellent results. He has been road commissioner for years, school trustee for several terms, and school director for twenty years. All of his children have been well educated and he has been interested in securing good schools for them and for other children of the district. Having been so efficient a public official, the people of his neighborhood have often endeavored to induce Mr. White to run for higher office but in vain as he always declines the honor. Mr. and Mrs. White are consistent members of the Methodist church, of which he is trustee. Some of his children are Methodists and others Presbyterians, and they are all active in church work wherever they are. Mr. White has been closely identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests of Henry county and no man stands higher in public esteem than he.

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.