Lewis County, West Virginia Biography of OLIVER P. WHITE ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , July 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 177-178 OLIVER P. WHITE, sheriff of Lewis County, is a native of that section of West Virginia and has enjoyed a growing appreciation among his fellow citizens for his integrity of character and the energy with which he was handled every undertaking. Mr. White was born on Alum Fork in Lewis County in March 13, 1883, son of Americus and Caroline (Hartley) White. His father was born on Freemans Creek in Lewis County January 31, 1852, was reared on a farm, had a com- mon school education and as a young man engaged in the sawmill business. In 1894 he bought a farm and was em- ployed in its operation until 1900, when he sold out and removed to Troy in Gilmer County, West Virginia, where he continued farming until his death in 1917. He was twice married, and had eleven children by his first wife and six by the second, and fifteen of the children are still living. The mother of Sheriff White was born at Shinnston in Har- rison County, West Virginia, in 1858, and was reared and educated in that county. She was a member of the Metho- dist Church, while Americus White belonged to the Non- sectarian Church and was a democrat in politics. Oliver P. White was reared on a farm, and after the com- mon schools he acquired an advanced education by corre- spondence courses and by one term of attendance at the Fairmont State Normal. At the age of seventeen he quali- fied as a teacher, and was a popular and successful worker in the public schools for nine years. On leaving the educa- tional profession he went with the Hope & Reserve Natural Gas Company, was employed in different departments, and only left this business upon his election as sheriff of Lewis County in November, 1920. He took up his official duties January 1. 1921. Mr. White was elected as a democrat in a county that is normally republican by thirteen hundred. He received a majority of sixty-three votes, a fact that speaks for itself in regard to his popularity as a citizen and his evident qualifications for office. On March 19, 1805, Oliver P. White married Delphia May Douglass. Eight children have been born to their union: Carrie V., Kent D., Iweita T., Wanda L., Floretta Mae, Arthur Wayne, and twin sons named Woodrow W. and Warren G. Mr. White is a member of Weston Lodge No. 10 A. P. and A. M., Bigelow Chapter No. 4, R. A. M., St. John's Commandery No 8, K. T., Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Parkersburg, and he and Mrs. White are members of the Eastern Star.