COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY
Of Henry County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen
Surnames in this biography are: White, Halstead, Edwards, Hill, Gregory,
Fussell, Wishard, Brewington, McGavran, Hunt, Ibach, White, Smith, Morris,
Woods, Graham
J. W. WHITE, D. D. S.
Professional success results from merit. Frequently in commercial life one
may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift,
but in what is known as “the higher walks of life’ advancement is gained
only as the result of industrious efforts, and prestige in the dental
profession is gained only as the outcome of strong mentality, close
application, thorough mastery of the principles of the science and a delicacy
and accuracy of mechanical skill that are necessary in hardly any other
calling to which man devotes his energies. For almost half a century Dr.
White has practiced dentistry in Knightstown, Henry County, Indiana, and by
his devotion to duty, his close study and his pronounced skill has won a
liberal and lucrative practice. His high standing as a citizen also entitles
him to distinctive recognition in this volume, and with pleasure a resume of
his life record is herewith presented. The maternal grandfather of Dr. J. W.
White was one of the honored early pioneers of Hamilton County, Ohio. He was
a native of Pennsylvania, but migrated to the Buckeye state in 1796 and
settled near Cincinnati. The father of the subject, Rev. Levi White, was for
many vests engaged in the active ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church,
being a member of the Cincinnati conference for forty-four years. In the days
of the old “circuit riders” Levi White performed bravely his part in the
work of propagating the gospel and even as early as 1822 his circuit riding
carried him as far as Hagerstown and Connorsville, on the Whitewater circuit,
in Indiana. He remained actively in the harness until his death in 1866,
serving as a minister in forty-four appointments—a remarkable record. Dr. J.
W. White, the immediate subject of this review, was born in Lebanon. Warren
County, Ohio, on the 27th on June, 1833, but grew to manhood on his
grandfather’s homestead, near Cincinnati, that state. When he was seven years
old he entered the schools of that neighborhood and after attendance there
entered an academy- at Middletown, and later Farmer’s College, at College
Hill. In the latter institution Benjamin Harrison and Murat Halstead were
also at that time students, the latter being a classmate of the subject. The
latter did not finish his college course, however, but went to Cincinnati and
placed himself under the instructions of a dentist there and afterwards spent
a winter in a dental college. Leaving that institution equipped for his life
work, he commenced the practice at Redding, Ohio, and, with the exception of
about ten years, has, ever since been actively engaged in the practice of
dentistry. In October, 1852, Dr. White located in Knightstown and has never
had cause to regret his choice of location. From 1861 until 1867 Dr. White
was engaged in the grocery business at Knightstown. In 1881, he was appointed
superintendent of the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home at
Knightstown, retaining this position until May 1, 1885. His control of the
home was eminently successful and he retired with the good will of every one
interested in the institution. Dr. White has always maintained an interest in
societies appertaining to his profession and has at various times contributed
to the columns of the dental journals. Politically Dr. White has always been
an active member of the Democratic Party, though his attitude has invariably
been so fair and honest that his standing is high among those of the opposite
political faith. He has contributed to many papers, being a special
correspondent to the Indianapolis Sentinel. Socially he has been a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1855, and has passed the chairs in
all branches of that order, having also been a representative to the three
grand bodies of Odd Fellowship in this state. Dr. White has always maintained
a keen interest in charitable work, having given this department of sociology
a careful study. He is a member of the National Conference of Charities and
Correction, and usually attends its meetings. In November, 1855 Dr. J. W.
White was united in marriage with Miss Harriet A. Edwards who was born at
Knightstown the daughter of Morris F. Edwards. This marriage has been a most
happy one and has resulted in the birth of the following children: Omar is a
machinist in the employ of Gaar, Scott & Company, at Richmond this state:
Leora is the wife of Thaddeus F. Hill formerly of Richmond but now residing
at Tacoma, Washington; Cary is a traveling salesman and makes his home at
Omaha, Nebraska: Carrie is the widow of G. P. Gregory. Mr. Gregory became
connected with an orphan school in Iowa and also worked in the government
schools in Indian Territory. He was superintendent of the Indian school at
Anadarko, Indian Territory, and also of the one at Blackfoot, Idaho. Then for
two years he was connected with a mission school in Chili, South America, and
later with the State Reform School at Whittier, California. From the time he
took tip work in the Indian schools his wife accompanied him and was also
actively connected with the work in which he engaged. Later he was sent to
Guannajay, Cuba, to organize an agricultural industrial school, but had been
there only two months when he contracted yellow fever and died. His widow now
holds the position of storekeeper in that institution. The fifth child in the
family, Morris, is a successful dentist, practicing in Elwood. Indiana. The
subject and his wife have many friends in their home city and are actively
interested in everything tending to the moral, social or intellectual
advancement of their community. The Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’
Home is an institution under state control at Knightstown. The home had its
first inception in 1863, when a meeting of about fifty gentlemen was held in
the office of Gov. 0. P. Morton for the purpose of devising ways and means to
establish a state soldier’s home. A board of directors was appointed and
incorporated, and at the outset the city hospital building at Indianapolis
was used as a home. In 1866 Knightstown Springs. With fifty-four acres of
ground and a hotel and other buildings, was purchased, at a cost of eight
thousand five hundred dollars raised by private gifts. However it was found
impossible to maintain the home by voluntary contributions and the property
passed into the hands of the state on the 1st of March, 1867. At the meeting
in the Governor’s office in 1865 George Merritt made a strong plea that the
organizers would include in their scheme soldiers’ orphans, and offered in
that event to give five thousand dollars for the benefit. However it was
thought that to undertake both would be too great an undertaking and that the
soldier’s home had better be provided first. This left Mr. Merritt free to
fulfill his share of what he considered his country’s obligation and the
promises he had made to dying soldiers during the war. His wish was that the
orphans be divided into families of ten, each under the care of one woman,
who should receive a fixed monthly allowance of money, to be expended as in
her judgment, would best promote the welfare of the children. He expected to
find these foster mothers among the soldiers’ widows and maiden ladies whom
the war had left alone, and thus he thought to provide in a measure, for both
classes. In April, 1866, Miss Susan Fussell, who had been selected to care
for the first orphan family, moved her charges from the Indianapolis Military
Hospital to a little cottage on the hill at the east side of the road, at
Knightstown Springs, the Soldiers’ Home, a private enterprise, being on the
opposite side of the road. When the state assumed control of the home, in
1867, the legislature appointed Henry B. Hill. Charles S. Hubbard and William
Hennman. Trustees, and the following classes were admitted to the home:
Totally disabled soldiers and seamen: partially disabled soldiers and seamen:
orphans, under fifteen years of age, of deceased soldiers (neither father nor
mother living); orphans of the same class whose mothers are living; widows of
deceased soldiers. Dr. M. M. Wishard was appointed the first superintendent,
a position he long retained, while Miss Fussell still maintained her orphan
family independent of the home. Soon the demands upon the home were so great
that more room was required, and five acres of ground was bought across the
road from the hotel home and a new building erected at a cost of sixty-five
thousand dollars. The old soldiers at first occupied this, while the children
remained in the hotel, but eventually they exchanged quarters. December 25,
1871, the hotel was burned and the soldiers were removed to the National
Military Home, Dayton, Ohio. The orphans were then alone until, in 1879, an
asylum for feeble-minded children was attached to the institution, but on May
I 7, 1887, the last named were removed to Richmond, leaving the orphans sole
possessor of the ground, as they have since remained. The home has been twice
destroyed by fire, on the 8th of September, 1877, and the 21St of July, 1886,
but has been each time promptly rebuilt. The present buildings consist of the
main building, a school building, industrial building, Lincoln hail and six
cottages. The home farm consists of two hundred and forty-seven acres. The
following named gentlemen have served as superintendents of the home: M. M.
Wishard, September, 1865, to February 14, 1877; Rev. R. F. Brewington
(acting), February 14, 1877, to November r, 1877; W. B: McGavran. November 1,
1877, to May 29, 1879; John Hunt, M. D., May 29, 1879, to November 1, 1879;
B. F. Ibach, November 1, 1879, to April 1, 1881; J. W. White, D. D. S., April
1, 1881, to May 1, 1885; Rev. T. M. Smith, May 1, 1885, to August 5, 1885;
Rev. A. H. Morris, August 5, 1885, to March 1, 1890, Rev. J. W. Harris, March
1, 1890, to June 11, 1891; H. H. Woods (acting), June 11, 1891, to July 1,
1891; A. H. Graham, M. D., July 1, 1891. During Superintendent White’s
administration the most of the feeble-minded children were admitted to the
institution, ninety-one being enrolled, and of the orphans there were about
two hundred and fifty.
I do not know any more about this family. Typed by Lora Radiches.