BIO: Martin WHITE, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 180-182. _________________________________________________________________ MARTIN WHITE, one of the successful and popular agriculturists of Darlington township, Beaver county, Pa., is one of the oldest Masons in the district. He is a prominent member of Meridian Lodge, No. 411, F. & A. M., and also of the Chapter and Commandery. Mr. White is a man of considerable intellectual ability. He is not only a sound thinker, but is also an interesting conversationalist, and expresses his views in a clear and concise manner. In politics, he is an ardent Democrat and assumes the aggressive, but could never be prevailed upon to accept office. Mr. White was born in Allegheny county, Pa., October 28, 1828. He is the eldest son of the late John White, and grandson of BEAVER COUNTY 181 Thomas White. Thomas White was a native of the north of Ireland, where he was reared and educated. He came to America just previous to the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. He took an active part in that long and bloody struggle, and after its successful termination, began trading in Mexico. Upon one of his trips to that country he was captured by bandits. All his earnings were seized, and he was imprisoned for six months. He subsequently purchased land in Kentucky and also along the Monongahela River, in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Pa., the present site of which city was then all farming land. After making some improvements on his land Mr. White sold it, and purchased another tract in Beaver county, whither he removed during the later part of the eighteenth century. Thomas White was united in marriage with a Miss Martin, and to them were born the following children: James, of Mexico; John, father of the subject hereof; Joseph; Jane (Duncan); Nancy, wife of Judge Caruthers; and Susan (Burns). John White, father of the gentleman to whom this writing pertains, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in January, 1802. He attended the public schools of his native county, and, although the opportunities for his mental culture were limited, he made the most of what he could obtain and became a fairly good scholar. He learned the art of tilling the soil and assisted his father for many years. A four-hundred-acre farm fell to him, as his heritage. To this he added eight hundred acres of land which he purchased in Beaver county. The latter was only partly improved. John White removed to his Beaver county farm in 1850. He further improved his place by building spacious and convenient barns. Besides carrying on general farming, he was a very successful sheep-raiser for many years, and made a great deal of money. But after some years the foot-rot caused much loss among his sheep and that branch of farming was discontinued entirely. T. Martin White's father was public-spirited and generous. He was one of the men prominent in building railroads from. New Galilee to the cannel coalmines. But his efforts in that direction were not appreciated. He failed to receive the support such an enterprise deserved, and lost heavily. He was quite prominent in political and church matters, and his opinions and advice were frequently sought by his neighbors and associates. He served many years as justice of the peace. Five children were born to him and his excellent wife. Their names are: T. Martin, the subject of this biography; John B.; Duncan, who was burned to death; Mary (Waterbury); and James, who died at the age of twenty-one years. T. Martin White obtained a fair primary education in the public schools, which was supplemented by a thorough course at Hookstown Academy, from which he graduated. Later he worked on the farm for some years, but discontinued that line of work to engage in contracting. He went to New York City 182 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES and engaged in business quite successfully as a street contractor. He was one of the first men who ever did wood block-paving in that great city. One large contract secured by him was for the paving of Fourteenth street, but he faithfully executed others as large. He did a very successful business. His success was all the more marked from the fact that he had lived most of his life on a farm, and, in a city so important as New York, he was successful in competing with men who had been born and reared there, and possessed the customary shrewdness of city contractors. Mr. White continued this life for eight years, and was then urged by his parents to return to Beaver county. With a sense of filial duty he gave up fine business prospects and returned home to brighten the declining years of a much-loved father and mother. He at once took charge of the farm, and faithfully fulfilled the obligations devolved upon him until the death of his parents. He and his brother, John B., succeeded to the estate. The subject of our sketch received as his share two hundred and twenty-five acres of the old homestead farm, where he still resides. This is conceded to be one of the best farms in Beaver county. It is almost an assured fact that if crops are poor on this farm there are no good crops in the county. Mr. White has been twice married. His first union was with Elizabeth Hall, a daughter of Joseph Hall, who was a well known boat builder of Freedom, where the birth of Elizabeth occurred. Her death took place in 1890. Mr. White's second marriage was contracted with Emma Blair, of sturdy Pennsylvania-German stock. She was born in Clarion county, and has presented her husband with one son, T. M., born in 1898. Mr. White is justly regarded as a representative farmer of Darlington township, and liberally supports all religious denominations, having no favorite one.