Merced-San Luis Obispo County CA Archives Biographies.....White, Lester Eugene 1892 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 13, 2006, 4:36 am Author: John Outcalt (1925) LESTER EUGENE WHITE Although a young man, Lester Eugene White has attained to a position in the mercantile and horticultural industries of which he may feel proud. While he has been practically reared in the mercantile business, yet his success has been the reward of perseverance and industry. His birth occurred at Los Banos, Cal., August 24, 1892, a son of William T. White, whose interesting sketch will be found in this history. Lester Eugene White received his education in the Los Banos Grammar School and the schools of San Luis Obispo, graduating in 1911 from the California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo after completing the mechanical course which included civil engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering. In the same year of his graduation he entered the county surveyor's office in Merced, where he held the position of draftsman and assisted in field work, remaining in that office until 1913 when he went to work in the county clerk's office, occupying a position until December, 1916. He then entered the employ of White & Crowell at Livingston and was in the dry goods department until his enlistment August 24, 1917, at San Francisco, entering the 117th Regiment of Engineers of the 42nd Division, known as the Rainbow Division. He was one of the three first men from Merced County to go across to France and served on the following fronts: Luneville Sector from February 28 to March 21, 1918; Baccarat Sector from April 1 to June 16, 1918; defense of Champagne, from July 1 to July 18; the Chateau Thierry front from July 26 to August 10, 1918. Then he served in the St. Mihiel Salient from September 12 to September 30; then to the front west of the Meuse River, October 13-31; and in the Argonne, November 1-8. On the 11th of November, 1918, he was on the Meuse River near Sedan when the armistice was signed. On November 16, being re-equipped, his company hiked through Luxemburg, up the Rhine, and was with the Army of Occupation until February 19, 1919, when they moved up to Kritz, on the Rhine, and were there until April 10 of the same year, when they were ordered home. They embarked at Brest on April 17, and landed at Hoboken on the 28th; they were at Camp Merritt, N. J., until May 12, when they left for the Presidio, S. F., arriving there on May 17, and on the 20th he was honorably discharged and the same day returned to his home at Livingston. Mr. White serves as secretary-treasurer of the White-Crowell Company, Inc., and also conducts a fire insurance agency, representing the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company of San Francisco; the Hartford Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn.; Fidelity-Phoenix Fire Insurance Company of New York; and the Liberty Underwriters of Sacramento, Cal. On April 20, 1920, Mr. White was married to Miss Louise M. Stayton, born at Fresno, Cal., a daughter of J. W. and Laura (Brazee) Stayton. Her father, J. W. Stayton spent his active years in the painting and decorating business and is now living retired in Fresno, Cal. Mr. White owns a twenty-acre vineyard within the city limits of Livingston on which he expects to build a fine country home in the near future. Fraternally, he belongs to Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. Elks; and is an active member of the Boosters' Club of Livingston. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH A Biographical Review OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY JOHN OUTCALT ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1925 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/merced/bios/white714nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb