JAMES G. WHITE.
Holding distinctive prestige among the enterprising citizens of Audubon county, Iowa, is James G. White, a well-known farmer of Greeley township. The career of James G. White is that of a self-made man, who by the exercise of the talents with which nature endowed him has risen to the position he now occupies as one of the influential and well-to-do men of Greeley township. He is a creditable representative of one of the old and highly esteemed pioneer families of Iowa, and possesses many of the admirable qualities and characteristics of his sturdy ancestors, who came to Iowa in a very early day and who have figured prominently in the history of this section.
James G. White was born on July 17, 1867, in Wapello county, Iowa. He is the son of Lieut.-Col. E. G. White, who was born on February 22, 1823. and who died on March 28, 1889. Lieut.-Col. E. G. White was born in Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in three wars. When still a young man he enlisted in the Seminole Indian War. At this time Ephraim G. White was only sixteen years of age. He served throughout the Mexican War and fought in many battles during the period from 1846 to 1848. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until his discharge at Savannah, Georgia, as lieutenant-colonel, July 25, 1865. He was elected first lieutenant on September 9, 1862, and was promoted to captain on January 30, 1863. He was promoted to major on June 9, 1863, and to lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-second regiment, May 6, 1864.
Lieut.-Col. Ephraim G. White removed to Audubon county, Iowa, November, 1883. He lived on a farm in section 6, Greeley township, where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Nancy J. R. Robinson, who was born on June 7, 1841, in Maryland and who died on September 17, 1893. Before this, however, he had been married to Naomi Kemp, who bore him six children as follow: Eugene, who lives at Oskaloosa, Iowa; Frank, of Wichita, Kansas; Mrs. Florence Robinson, of Ft. Morgan, Colorado; Milton and Byron, of Ottumwa, and Seattle, Washington; Homer, of Oskaloosa. By the marriage to Nancy J. Robinson, who died on September 7, 1893, nine children were born, as follow: James, the subject of this sketch; Herbert, who lives at Ft. Collins, Colorado; Mrs. Mattie Clark, of Greeley township; Charles H., an attorney of Audubon; Samuel, a farmer of Greeley township; John, who lives at Spirit Lake, Iowa, where he is a farmer; Alpha, who lives at Ft. Collins, Colorado; Mrs. Esther Rabel, of Montgomery, Iowa, and Thomas, of Danbury, Iowa.
James G. White began life for himself just after having passed his majority. He began farming and has always lived in Greeley township on a farm. He has resided on the Garnett farm for twenty-two years.
James G. White was married on February 2, 1892, to Carrie Garnett, the daughter of R. H. and Nettie Garnett, natives of Illinois who came to Audubon county in 1881, and who are now living retired at Hamlin. Mrs. White was born on October 2, 1872. By this marriage six children have been born, as follow: Harry Robert, born on October 24, 1892; Walter, January 7, 1894; Ruth, December 7, 1899; Ralph, February 20, 1904; Helen, August 16, 1908; and Wayne, July 24, 1914. All of these children are living at home.
In politics Mr. White is an ardent Republican, and has served as trustee of Greeley township. His capable administration was one which was satisfactory to the people of his township. Mr. and Mrs. White and family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Old Hamlin. Mr. White is a member of the board of trustees. He is also a member of the board of stewards, and has served for many years. Mr. White is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 786-788.
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