William White, Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Jane P. McManus
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Willam M. White
William M. White (17 Aug 1823 GA / 27 Jan 1884 Vernon, LA), son of
James M. White and Sarah Dryden, married first, Martha Ann Riggan,
and three children were born: William, Riggan and Susan White. After
the death of Martha Ann, William married second on 21 Dec 1858 (Monroe),
AL, to Helen McMillan (21 Oct 1832 AL / 30 May 1914 Vernon, LA), daughter
of Murdock McMillan and Helen Marr. William M. White is buried on the 
old White homestead, north of Hicks (Vernon), LA. Helen White is buried
in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
William White was a well-educated man. While living in Monroe County, AL, 
he was a merchant, but also practiced medicine. In the fall of 1859/60,
he and his family joined a wagon train consisting of 18 wagons pulled by
oxen and headed West. When they arrived in the area of Rapides Parish, 
which later became Vernon in 1872, the decide to settle here. Although
Dr. White set up his medical practice, he was a farmer as well as 
officiating as a surveyor on many occasions in the Parish.
When the Civil War broke out, Dr. White joined the Confederate Army
serving in Vicksburg where he was captured when the city fell to the
Union. After his pardon by the Union Army, he returned to Rapides Parish,
where he remained until his death.
After the war, Dr. White and others in the community became interested in
establishing a Baptist Church in the area. Being a learned man, he was an
ideal choice to organize the group, locate a minister, and elect leaders
to run the church. In 1869, Laurel Hill Baptist Church was constituted,
and William and Helen White were listed as Charter Members of that body.
Dr. White was elected an elder of the Church, and served as its first Church
Clerk, a post that he held for many years. He officiated as delegate and
alternate to the Missionary Baptist Associational meetings on several occasions,
and even preached at the Church during the pastor's absence.
The issue: (1) Henry M. (9 Oct 1859); (2) James Warren M. (2 Oct 1861); 
(3) Joseph Robert M. (1864-5); (4) Welborn N. (1867/8); (5) Will M. White
(14 May 1866/16 Feb 1931 LA) married Rosie Temple (19 Feb 1882/22 Aug 1923 LA,
both buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery); (6) Josiah Melton M. (17 Jun 1870/18 Apr 
1950, Laurel Hill Cemetery), married Roxanna (Rogsa Anna) Carruth (23 Mar
1868/11 Mar 1922); and (7) Andrew McMillon White (1872/3, buried Fellowship
Cemetery, Rapides LA).
References:
1850 Rapides Parish, Louisiana Census Records
1880 United States Population Census Records, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
1900 United States Population Census Records, Vernon Parish, Louisiana
Ruff, Verda Jenkins, Central Louisiana Families in 1880, (Forest Hill,
LA: Privately Published, 1986)
Personal Records of Billy H. Parker, Simpson LA (1974)
McManus, Jane P., L'est We Forget, Volume I-III (Revised), Parker Enterprises, 
Ball, LA, 1995 (Welcome Cemetery & Good Hope Cemetery)
McManus, Jane P., A Backward Glance, (Pineville, LA: Parker Enterprises, 1986)
McManus, Jane P., Pioneers West of Appalachia, Revised, (Seattle, WA: Parker 
Enterprises, 1984)
McManus, Jane P., Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church Vernon Parish Louisiana 
1869-1920, It's People and Its History, (Englewood, Co: Parker Enterprises, 1988)