From: A Twentieth Century History of Allegan
County, Michigan
By
Henry F. ThomasPublished 1907, Lewis Publishing Co.
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM
WHITE.—The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch
bears a most honorable record in both military and private circles, and his
honesty and integrity is ever above reproach. He is one of three brothers who
emigrated to the United States, one of whom, David, is a resident of Saugatuck,
and whose parents were George and Jane (Desson)
White, both of whom were natives, of Scotland, but later took up reports
concerning the United States and the opportunities which it offered to young
men of ambition and enterprise, Mr. White, in company with his brother David,
decided to try his fortune in this country, and accordingly, in 1855, made his
way to Michigan, locating in Saugatuck township, and both he and his brother
have since continued their residence here to the present time. After a decade
had passed, Mr. White, having saved his earnings, was thus enabled to start out
in life on his own account and made a purchase of eighty acres of land, which
was in its wild and uncultivated state. He at once set to work to clear his
land and develop his fields, and soon his property was placed in a productive
and improved condition. He plowed his fields, planted his crops, and each year
annually harvested crops, and as time passed and his financial resources
permitted he further improved his property by the erection of good buildings,
which are modern and convenient in their construction and thus add materially
to the value of his farm. He later increased the boundaries of his farm by the
purchase of an additional twenty-acre tract, so that his place now comprises
one hundred acres of good land, which has greatly increased in value since coming
into his possession and today it ranks second to none in Allegan county. He has
a fine orchard, containing one thousand peach trees, four hundred pear, trees,
three hundred apple trees, one thousand plum trees, twenty-five cherry trees
and twelve hundred currant bushes, and thus it will be seen that fruit growing
is an important branch of his business. In addition he carries on general
farming and altogether has met with unbounded success in his business venture.
His private business
interests were interrupted when, in 1862, the call was made for loyal men who
were willing to give their service in defense of the
With the exception of
the year he was held as a prisoner he took part in all the battles and
skirmishes of his regiment, and during his service was never ill or wounded and
never missed a meal. At the close of hostilities he returned home, having made
a most creditable military record.
Mr. White was united in
marriage to Miss Caroline Martin, a daughter of Josiah and Amy Martin, who were
numbered among the early pioneer settlers of Allegan county.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born three daughters—Mrs. Jennie Marwedel, Mrs. Mary A. Koning,
and Bessie, the wife of William G. Tisdale. Mr. White has served as justice of
the