John R. White Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 739-740

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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JOHN R. WHITE. Unconscious of the truth though we may be, yet our 
tribute of respect is accorded to those who have fought their way to 
success from an unfavorable beginning, developing not only a bright and 
sturdy character by the discipline imposed upon them, but whose 
persevering efforts have enabled them to succeed to the high aim of 
their ambition, and to a prosperous and successful life. Such is the 
position that the one whose name heads this sketch has rightfully 
attained. Mr. White, who is one of the most prominent farmers and stock 
raisers of Hanson county, is of English extraction, a native of North 
Carolina, and was born April 22, 1850. He was the eldest of a family of 
four children born to the union of Augustus E. and Margaret (Bundy) 
White, both deceased. When our subject was four years of age, the 
father was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Henry county, Indiana. 
At the age of fourteen years he began earnestly to contemplate a 
college education. His father by this time had passed away, and had 
left but little property, so that a college education could only be 
procured by his own efforts. He entered Earlham College, and received 
from there the degree of B. S., and at once obtained the position of 
principal of Le Grand Academy, of Marshall county, Iowa`. He there 
purchased a home and remained for five years. As the schoolroom work 
affected his health, and that he might better his condition 
financially, he decided to come west. In the fall of 1879, he purchased 
a farm on the banks of the James river, and also formed a partnership 
with Thos. Schofield, erecting the flouring mill known as the Mitchell 
Water Mill. After ten years of this work, and having become possessed 
of a considerable tract of grazing land, he sold his milling interests 
to his partner and began the stock raising business, dealing in cattle, 
sheep and hogs. About this time he also erected a private elevator near 
his farm, on the Omaha railroad, and which has but recently passed from 
his possession. He is at the present time retained as the buyer of this 
elevator. In 1898, he formed a partnership with Samuel Green, of 
Mitchell, and erected the James River Valley Creamery, one of the model 
plants of the state so far as arrangement and location are concerned. 
At the present writing Mr. White has a farm of four hundred and forty 
acres, upon which he is completing such improvements as will do credit 
to the Valley, and combine to make one of those model stock farms for 
which the state has its reputation. Politically he is well known 
throughout his county. He was a member of the Revolutionary 
legislature, while Dakota was yet a territory. He was an ardent 
believer in the principles of the Populist party, from its earliest 
organization, and has always maintained a close adherence to that 
party. He has devoted his time and energy to his chosen party, and has 
done much toward bringing the Populist party in Hanson county to its 
present state of efficiency. As an old teacher, he is ever interested 
in all educational matters, and he has given his aid and talent to 
school interests and has many times taken his time from his business in 
attending, and sometimes instructing in the various county institutes. 
He was married in 1874, to Miss Mary Willits, a native of Ohio, but at 
the time of her marriage a resident of Iowa, who was born August 26, 
1850, and to their union were born five children, viz.: Everet, who is 
now a student of the South Dakota University; Marie M., who at the age 
of nineteen is a graduate of the Madison, South Dakota, Normal School. 
She began teaching at the age of seventeen, and at present is one of 
the teachers in the Mitchell High School. Walter W., Ralph and Robert.