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Judge James Madison WHITE, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Lawrence County, Mo., was born in Giles County, Middle Tenn., August 6, 1809, and is the son of John and Sarah (GAMBLE) WHITE, whose ancestors on both sides were from South Carolina, and were principally tillers of the soil. John White was a carpenter by trade, and served with Gen. JACKSON at New Orleans. He died in Tennessee when Judge James M. White was a lad. The latter, in October, 1831, came to Missouri, and made a settlement, where he has lived for fifty-seven years. He was married in his native county and State to Miss Annie GIBSON, whom he buried in 1858. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and died, leaving him with five sons and three daughters, all living. The{y} had buried two sons, young men: Moore Gibson and William Newton. Those living are John, Sarah (wife of John MARBUT), Gideon Lafayette (of Lawrence County), Alfred B., David L., Leona (wife of Dr. I. B. YOUNG), Mary (wife of William DYER) and Finis E. Judge White has given his children good education, and is one of the prominent citizens of his township. He has been an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for fifty-four years, and helped organize the first Sabbath-school ever held in Southwest Missouri. He was elected judge of Lawrence County, and served through 1856 and 1857. He formed a second marriage, in 1859, with Mrs. Nancy IRWIN, widow of Rev. James H. IRWIN, a pioneer of the county, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
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William S. WHITE, a prominent merchant and farmer of Forest Home, Mo., was born in Adair County, Ky., on August 24, 1843. He is a son of Albert and Polly (STOTTS) WHITE, who are now residing on a farm in Lawrence County, Mo., on which they located in 1850. William S. White was reared on a farm, and early chose farming as his life vocation, which he has followed very successfully. Of late years he has been engaged in merchandising in connection with his farming interests. In partnership with F. M. HOLMES, he purchased the store owned by S. M. WHALEY, and has since been doing a good business. They carry a large stock of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, queensware, plows, hardware, harness and everything to be found in a first-class country store. Mr. White was married in Lawrence County in 1864 to Adaline GREER, who was born in Allen County, Ky., on August 1, 1843. To them were born six children, three of whom, Amelia (Mrs. J. M. OWENS), Frank (who married Elma TURK) and Hattie, are living. Mr. White's first wife died in 1879, and he was afterward married in Lawrence County to Eliza G. PETTY. She was born in Mount Vernon, Lawrence County, and is a daughter of W. I. and Ruth (RAY) PETTY. By this marriage Mr. White is the father of two children, Della and Opal. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion is a Cumberland Presbyterian. Mr. White is an Odd Fellow, being a member of Lodge No. 452.
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