Will County IL Archives Biographies.....White, John M 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

John M. White represents one of the old and honored pioneer families who 
emigrated to this country from Scotland. He was born December 23, 1823, in 
Bridgeton, which today forms a part of the city of Glasgow. His parents, Adam 
and Margaret (Watson) White, were likewise natives of the land of hills and 
heather, the former born in Perthshire, while the latter was a native of 
Musselburgh. They were married in Bridgeton, where the father followed his 
trade—that of a weaver, being engaged in the manufacture of Paisley shawls. In 
1837 he emigrated to the new world with his family, taking passage on an old-
time sailing vessel. The voyage required four weeks and upon reaching the 
harbor of New York, the father made his way to Ontario county, that state, 
locating seven miles west of Geneva, where he and his brother William engaged 
in weaving cloth, keeping two looms for this purpose. After a residence of 
about four years in that city, he removed to Pennsylvania, establishing his 
home at Blooming Grove, Lycoming county, where he acted as superintendent of 
the mill owned by George Ball. He lived in the Keystone state until 1845, 
when, thinking to enjoy better business advantages in the new west, he 
continued his journey to Wilmington, Illinois, where, during the winter of 
that year he was employed in a factory. He then entered government land on 
section 12, Wilmington township. The land was all wild and uncultivated, but 
he at once built a log house, in which the family took up their abode, and 
then began breaking his land and placing the fields under cultivation. The 
family suffered much from ague, and after two years Mr. White removed his log 
house to section 33, Florence township, where he had purchased a farm of 
eighty acres. He broke the land with ox teams and placed all of the 
improvements on the property. He prospered in his work, and, as his financial 
resources increased, added to his original holdings until he became the owner 
of two hundred acres, being numbered among the leading agriculturists of his 
locality. He took an active and helpful part in the development and progress 
of this section of the state and aided in many public movements and measures 
that tended toward the advancement of his home locality. He acted as 
pathmaster and served as school director for several years. He gave his 
political support to the whig party, while his religious faith was indicated 
by his membership in the Presbyterian church. In the family of this worthy 
pioneer couple were eleven children, of whom five still survive, namely: John 
M., of this review; Mary, the widow of George Blair, who now makes her home at 
Elwood, Illinois; Adam J., a resident of Wilmington; Robert, a resident of 
Indiana; and James, a resident of Florence township. The father died at the 
age of seventy-two years, two months and twenty days, while the mother's death 
occurred in Essex township, Kankakee county, when she had reached the advanced 
age of seventy-seven years. John M. White was a little lad of ten years, when, 
in 1833, he emigrated to the new world, the voyage being made on a sailing 
vessel, which was five weeks and two days in making the trip. He journeyed by 
canal boat up the Hudson river to Albany, whence he made his way by water to 
York Center, thirty miles from Rochester, in Livingston county, where lived an 
uncle, Rev. John White, with whom he remained for two years. He then went to 
Seneca, New York, where he joined his father and the family, they having in 
1837 also emigrated to this country. He remained with the family during their 
residence in the east and accompanied them on the removal to Illinois in 1815. 
He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, when he 
began life on his own account, being engaged in farming in Florence township. 
He was likewise engaged in threshing in connection with his brother William 
until 1849, while in the spring of 1850, in company with the latter and I. 
Axtex he started on the overland trip to California, the train comprising five 
wagons. He lost his brother William, who was drowned in the North Platte 
river. They left St. Joseph, Missouri, on the 9th of April of that year and 
arrived at Weaverville, California, on the 4th of August following. He spent 
two years on the Pacific coast, prospecting and mining, after which he made 
the return trip by way of the isthmus route, arriving home on the 4th of July, 
1852. He then engaged in breaking new land and built a home on his farm in 
Florence township, being there engaged in general agricultural pursuits until 
1886, when he retired from active business life and removed to Wilmington, 
which has continued to be his place of residence to the present time. In 1889 
he made a trip to his native land, spending about six months in that country, 
renewing his acquaintances of former days and visiting the scenes of his 
childhood and early youth. Mr. White has been twice married. His first union 
was with Marjorie S. McIntosh, their marriage being celebrated on the 20th of 
January, 1853. She was born in Little Falls, New York, January 13, 1834, a 
daughter of Daniel McIntosh, Sr. He was born near Inverness, Scotland, 
February 5, 1791, and there remained until he had reached the age of twenty-
seven, having followed the Caledonia canal from the time he attained his 
majority. On the 16th of June, 1817, he started for the new world, arriving in 
New York in October following. He remained in the Empire state for a number of 
years, being there engaged as a contractor and as superintendent on the Erie 
canal, making his home in the meantime at Norwich and Little Falls. In 1836 he 
came to Wilmington, Illinois, being among its earliest pioneer settlers. His 
death occurred in this city, May 18, 1874, when he had reached the venerable 
age of eighty-four years. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian 
church here, having become identified with that denomination in his youth. He 
served as elder of his church for fifty years and was a man of high moral 
principles, living an honest and upright life. He was likewise one of the 
founders of the common school and the Sabbath school. He ever stood ready to 
assist those in need and his life was one filled with good deeds and acts of 
mercy. By her marriage Mrs. White became the mother of six children, of whom 
five still survive: William W., who was born December 11, 1853; Daniel M., 
born November 20, 1855; John B., who was born December 2, 1859; Frank E., born 
November 26, 1861; and Arthur R., who was born June 3, 1867. The third in 
order of birth, Ida S., who was born October 11, 1857, died on the 3d of 
November, 1837(sic), while the wife and mother passed away on the 12th of the 
same month. After losing his first wife Mr. White was married a second time. 
Miss Bertha I. Hart becoming his wife in 1892. She is a native of Wilmington, 
born March 20, 1861. Mr. White is a stanch advocate of republican principles 
and has served as school trustee for nine years, while for thirteen years he 
has acted as school director. In 1864 he filled the office of supervisor of 
Florence township. Reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, he is still 
identified with that denomination in this city. More than six decades have 
come and gone since Mr. White first located in Will county and with the 
exception of a brief period spent on the Pacific coast has resided here 
continuously, so that he is thoroughly familiar with the progress and 
advancement that has been made in this section of the state. When he arrived 
in this locality much of the land was still unclaimed, Indians were almost as 
numerous as the white settlers, deer and other wild animals were to be seen 
roaming over the prairies and through the forests, while the homes of the 
settlers were widely scattered and frontier conditions were to be seen on 
every hand. All this is changed, however, and today the land is in possession 
of enterprising and prosperous farmers, thriving towns and villages have 
sprung into existence, and the work of progress and development along 
agricultural, commercial and industrial lines has been carried forward until 
today Will county bears little resemblance to the wild frontier of sixty years 
ago. Mr. White can now look back over the years with a sense of satisfaction 
and pride, knowing that he has been an active participant in the work which 
has placed his home locality among the foremost sections of this great state 
of Illinois, while he can now rest in honorable retirement, having through his 
diligence, industry and economy in former years won the competence that now 
supplies him with all the comforts of life. He is one of the few remaining old 
settlers of Will county and is accounted one of its venerable and highly 
respected citizens. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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