White Family, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Sandra McLellan, Aug. 2005
Special thanks to Jim Perrin for donating it to the archives.

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THE WHITE FAMILY

In the Ponchatoula Enterprise, 22 Jun 2005

BY JIM PERRIN, Local Historian


Dr. Edward J. H. White, an early Ponchatoula physician, was born about 1803 in 
Virginia.  When the 1850 census was conducted, Dr. White was practicing medicine 
in the western district of Tensas Parish, LA.  He married Elvira S. Abrahms (b. 
ca. 1820).  By 1860, Dr. White had moved back across the Mississippi River and was 
living in Fayette, Jefferson County, MS.  He, Elvira, and some of their children 
moved to Ponchatoula by 1870.  In 1873, during the turbulent years of 
Reconstruction, Dr. White served as the mayor of Ponchatoula.  Dr. White seems to 
have died prior to the 1880 census, for Elvira was living in Ponchatoula and was 
listed as a widow on the 1880 census.  Elvira White and her son divided the 
property belonging to them as heirs of Dr. E. J. White, deceased, in Sept. 1881, 
which included several blocks of property in Ponchatoula.  Dr. White and Elvira 
had children including Anna Maddox, b. ca. 1846-1848, who was an early Ponchatoula 
school teacher, and a son, Eldridge Julian White. 

Eldridge Julian White was born in July 1852 in Jefferson County, MS.  He came to 
Ponchatoula with his parents and in the early 1880's married Lillie Amanda Mix 
(1860-1905, bur. Wetmore Cem.), daughter of Hiram S. Mix and Mahala Joiner.  
Eldridge and Lillie had five children: Laura Rosalie, Josephine D., Everett E., 
Lucian, and Patience Octavia White.  After Lillie's death Eldridge married Effie 
Wooten, and lastly in 1917 to Emily Manning.  He died 16 May 1924 at his home in 
Roseland, and was buried in the Roseland-Arcola Cemetery.

Anyone with comments, questions, or additional information about Ponchatoula's rich 
heritage may call Jim Perrin at 386-4476