BIO:  T. Kirk WHITE, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 56

T. KIRK WHITE, special agent and adjuster for the Phoenix Assurance Company, of 
London, was born in Cecil County, Md., September 18, 1826, son of Abner and 
Esther (Kirk) White, and of fourteen children (eleven living) he is the ninth.  
His father was born in England, and came to America at about twenty years of 
age, and settled in Chester County, Penn.  Here the mother of our subject was 
born February 4, 1792, and died in Morgan County, Ohio, at the advanced age of 
eighty-four years.  His father died in Lancaster County in 1847.  At twelve 
years of age subject began life for himself.  For some time he worked on the 
farm, and then learned the machinist’s trade, and while thus employed he 
sustained physical injuries from which he has never recovered.  In 1845 he 
entered Strasburg Academy, at Lancaster, Penn., where he remained two years, 
and then for a number of years taught school, and was one of the leaders in 
establishing the first district institute in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1851.  
In 1855 Mr. White came to York, and established what was known as the 
Pennsylvania Commercial College, which he conducted until the beginning of the 
late war.  In 1861 he was elected justice of the peace and held the office 
until 1865, when he began the insurance business.  In 1872 he was made special 
agent of the Home, of New York, and with that company remained until 1882, when 
he was given his present position.  His marriage was solemnized April 17, 1849, 
to Miss Susan J. Smith, daughter of William and Nancy Smith, of Lancaster 
County.  They have had seven children, five living, as follows:  Anna M., 
Walter B., George C., Charles S. and Harry C.  Mr. White is a Democrat, and a 
member of the I. O. O. F.