Untitled Surnames: Walker, Lewis, Sloan, Lewis, Burns, Wery, Snyder, Pike, Ousley, Moore, McDermott, Morton, Handy, Harrower, Decker, Russell

From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 289-290

WILLIAM WHITE, of Mount Hope, Grant county, is a well-known citizen and a veteran of the Civil war, having been a member of Company I, 20th Wis. V.I.

Mr. WHITE is a native of the land of Burns, having been born in Corshill, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1831, a son of Alexander and Jane (WALKER) WHITE. The former died when the subject of this sketch was about ten years of age. In 1852 the mother and her three sons immigrated to the United States, and their first home in the New World was in Bovina, Delaware Co., N.Y., where the mother died in 1865. All of this good woman's sons served their adopted country in the war for the preservation of the Union. Robert was a member of the 144th N.Y.V.I.; he now resides near Denver, Colo. Alexander, who was also a member of a New York regiment, still lives in Delaware county, New York.

William WHITE served a three-years apprenticeship and one year as journeyman at the baker's trade. He came to Wisconsin in 1855, about three years after coming to America, having been given a glowing description of Grant county, Wis., by a Mr. LEWIS, father of the well-known citizen of Lancaster, Wis., William LEWIS. Deciding that it would be a good place in which to settle, he accordingly accompanied by Alexander SLOAN, turned his steps westward, traveling directly from the State of New York to Galena, Ill., and thence to Platteville, Wis. The young travelers reached Platteville by stage, but by that time their scanty hoard of money was exhausted, and as it was Saturday they asked to be kept over Sunday, continuing their journey to Lancaster, on foot on Monday. At this latter place William WHITE bargained with the driver of the stage to take them to Patch Grove for a shotgun which he had brought with him from the East. In addition Mr. WHITE received a dollar in currency, but it proved to be counterfeit, there being so much "wild cat" money in circulation at that time that it was difficult to distinguish genuine from false. Arriving at Patch Grove, Mr. WHITE went directly to the home of John LEWIS, a brother of William LEWIS, with whom he remained for some time chopping wood for his board, until he had an opportunity to work for money. It was not long before a man named Moses BURNS, who had learned Mr. WHITE wanted work, came to John LEWIS's in Patch Grove, to hire him. Not having received any money, Mr. WHITE was beginning to be destitute of clothes and resolved to make an extra effort to buy a vest, which he very much needed, on credit. With this end in view he called on the merchant of the town, I. G. WERY, and stated his case, promising to pay as soon as he had earned the money. However, as he was a comparative stranger to the merchant, the latter refused. There happened to be present, at that time, a countryman of Mr. WHITE's, Alexander PAUL, who interceded for him, and promised to stand security for the young stranger. Just at this time the employment was very welcome, but after working two weeks Mr. WHITE found it impossible to continue with his employer, and was therefore obliged to ask an extension from the merchant. However, he soon obtained another place, with a man named Jacob SNYDER, with whom he remained two years. At the end of this time Mr. WHITE had paid for his vest, purchased another necessary clothing, and saved one hundred dollars, which he applied toward the payment of a quarter section of land he and his friend SLOAN had bought, each contributing one hundred dollars. Later SLOAN wanted to sell his interest, but Mr. WHITE had no money, although he was very anxious to get the land. At last he obtained the name of a man, George PIKE, with whom he had become acquainted while working for Moses BURNS, upon a note, which enabled him to get the land he desired.

After securing his land, the next thing was the building of a house, and again the money question confronted the ambitious young settler. However, to the sturdy pioneers who developed these Western States, difficulties were overcome with surprising energy. Not having the money to buy materials, Mr. WHITE, with a friend, E. Y. OUSLEY, went to Crawford county, in the timber land, built a winter cabin, sawed the logs, and in the spring rafted them to Millville. One of those oxen died from the effect of a rattlesnake bite, the rattlers being very numerous in that country. From there Mr. WHITE hauled his lumber to its destination, and erected his first residence, a building 16x 24 feet. When it was finished, Mr. WHITE began to feel that he was making some progress in the world.

At about this time occurred the most important event of Mr. WHITE's life, his marriage to Miss Mary MOORE, a native of Ohio, a daughter of William MOORE, one of the pioneers of that State. The wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. WHITE was not one that would be recognized as a model one in these days. When the home was ready Mr. WHITE journeyed in an ox-cart to the home of Mr. MOORE, returning with his bride in the same manner. The happy life of the young couple was destined to be rudely broken upon. The war cloud burst, and among the early enlistments was that of Mr. WHITE, who enrolled himself in Company I, 20th Wis. V.I., and took part in the various marches, campaigns and engagements in which his regiment participated, including the battle at Prairie Grove, in which the gallant Capt. McDermott, and the first lieutenant, Bintliff, were killed; siege of Vicksburg, from which the regiment went to Yazoo City, then to Port Hudson, and from there to New Orleans. From that city the regiment marched to Brownsville, on the Rio Grande, Texas, where they boarded a Gulf steamer, and encountered heavy storms during the sixteen days they were on the Gulf of Mexico, thence to the siege of Forts Morgan and Blakely, and finally to Mobile. At this latter city occurred an unfortunate event, in which Mr. WHITE had a narrow escape. By accident, a large amount of ammunition exploded, and a large number of men were killed. Mr. WHITE was near the place of explosion, in charge of a detail of men, but fortunately a piece of timber fell upon him in such a way as to protect him, without seriously injuring him. However, he was nearly unconscious when rescued, and has never fully recovered from the shock, one of his legs having since been shorter than the other as a result, and the halt in his walk is a constant reminder of his services to his country. A horse that was in his charge at the time was killed.

Returning home Mr. WHITE, with the help of his good wife, commenced improving his home, and their efforts were attended with success. His first purchase was largely added to, until he became one of the largest and most successful farmers and stock raisers in his township, and he remained on the farm until 1900, when he sold out to his youngest son and built a fine residence in Mount Hope. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. WHITE, three sons and five daughters. Jane, wife of Anthony MORTON; William, a contractor and builder of Minneapolis, Minn.; Alexander, a carpenter and builder, a resident of Mount Hope; Ulysses, wife of Harly HANDY; Jessie, wife of George HARROWER; Edward; Mary, wife of William DECKER; and Cora, wife of Otis RUSSELL.

William WHITE enjoys good physical health, considering his age and experience as a soldier. Politically he is a Republican, and has served as member of the town board for five years, and on the school board for fifteen or sixteen years. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the G.A.R. post at Mount Hope. Mr. WHITE inherits from his Scottish ancestry a high sense of honor and integrity; his word is esteemed as good as his bond, and he enjoys the blessing that come from an active, honorable and industrious life.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck