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PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
By Joseph Wallace, M. A.
of the Springfield Bar
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL
1904



THOMAS P. WHITE. - Thomas P. White, whose home farm on section 15, Island Grove township, is neat and attractive in appearance and indicates the careful supervision of an enterprising owner, dates his residence in Sangamon county since 1870. His farm comprises three hundred acres of valuable land, pleasantly located five miles from New Berlin.

Mr. White is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Vigo county, February 8, 1830. He comes of Irish ancestry and the family was originally founded in South Carolina. His grandfather, John White, was born in South Carolina and his father, Thomas White, was a native of the same state, born in 1789. John White removed from South Carolina to Tennessee and subsequently to Indiana, becoming one of the pioneer residents of Vigo county. Thomas White was reared in Sullivan and Vigo counties of Indiana and was married in that state to Miss Nancy Porter, a native of Indiana. He became a resident farmer of Vigo county and reared his family there upon the old homestead place, which he operated for many years, with good success. He died June 26, 1869, having for a number of years survived his wife, who passed away on the 11th of March, 1852. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity. Josiah P., the eldest lived to the ripe old age of almost eighty years. John D. is a resident farmer of Sangamon county, living in New Berlin township. Rachel J. died at the age of sixty-three years. Mrs. Margaret E. Woods is living in Terre Haute, Indiana. Thomas P. is the fifth in the family. James G. owns and operates the old home farm, upon which he is living at about the age of seventy years.

Thomas P. White was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity, spending his youth on the old home farm, where, as his age and strength permitted, be came an active factor in farm work, assisting in the development of the fields and the work connected with the raising of stock. To the public schools of his neighborhood he is indebted for the educational privileges that he enjoyed and that prepare one for life's practical duties.

Mr. White was married December 19, 1867, to Miss Amanda E. Miles, who was born in Clay county, Indiana, a daughter of Franklin Miles, one of the early settlers of Illinois, who came to this state form Virginia. He was married in the Old Dominion to Lavina Ally, a native of that state, and on leaving the south he took up his abode in Clay county, Indiana, casting in his lot among it early settlers. He afterward removed to Vigo county, where he reared his family and subsequently took up his abode in Bollinger county, Missouri. Mrs. White is one of six children who reached years of maturity: Malinda, the wife of Edward Clautier; John, who resides in Altamont, Kansas; Mary, the wife of a Mr. Coleman, of Kansas City, Missouri; Sarah, the wife of Fred Brudt, of California; Rachel, the wife of Silas Jones, of Essex, Missouri; and Marion Miles, of Stoddard county, Missouri.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. White located upon the old homestead farm in Indiana, where they remained for several years and in 1870 they came to Sangamon county, Illinois. Mr. White here purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he now resides, and at once began to improve his farm. Later he added to this tract and is today the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred acres. Subsequently he purchased more land there, and fenced his place, erected good buildings and added all modern equipments and accessories so that he now has one of the very desirable farms of the county. He assisted in organizing the creamery association of New Berlin and became one of its stockholders. His entire career has been characterized by great activity in business and all that he possesses has come to him as the reward of earnest purpose and honorable dealing.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. White have been born eight children, of whom five are living: Josiah P., Thomas E., James B., and Guy and Jessie, twins, all on the home farm. The deceased are Charles and Anna May and Allie May, twins, all of whom died in infancy. Thomas E. married Flora Joslyn, a daughter of Luther Joslyn, of this county, and they have a daughter Olive May. The family is well known in Sangamon county and the different members of the household occupy an enviable position in social circles.

Politically Mr. White is an earnest Democrat, having always supported the men and measures of that party since casting his first presidential ballot for Franklin Pierce in 1852. He has never been an aspirant for office, however, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. For thirty-three years he has resided in Sangamon county and has witnessed much of its progress and growth during this period. He was a valuable addition to its citizenship because he is a man of energy, who is always found on the side of right and progress and who cooperates in all measures for the general good and benefit of his community.



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