In the spring of 1887, Henry White and his bride, Emma Florence Elgan White, moved in a lumber wagon from their home in Harper county, Kansas, to a quarter of land Henry had previously filed on -- the SE1/4 of Section 4, Township 31, Range 19, 10 miles northwest of Coldwater. their first home was a dug-out, but, as neighbors became discouraged by poor crops and hard times, Henry was able to buy adjoining land, and moved to the SE 1/4 of Section 10, Township 31, Range 19, where a small building was moved in for their home.Three children were born to Henry and Emma: Arthur, Ethel and Lorene. Emma died on the 8th of November 1893, and was buried at Coldwater. The little girls were taken to the Elgan Grandparents in Missouri. Later, Ethel was taken to Hancock county, Illinois, where Henry had been born on the 5th of November in 1861. Arthur stayed with his father on the farm.
In October of 1896, Alice Baker, daughter of the A.H. Bakers, signed a contract to teach a six month term of school at the Kirk school house which was also the meeting place of the Prairie Vale Friends Church. Her brother Edgar Baker taught in the Red Top School, half way between the White and Darroch homes, and lived with Henry and Arthur White. In the spring, the two schools went together for a last day of school dinner and program. During the school year, Henry and Alice had become engaged and they were married after prayer meeting on May 13, 1897, at the school house - church building.
The little girls, Ethel and Lorene, were brought back to their home, and three more children were born to Henry and Alice White: Dora Deane, called "Deanie", Urven, and Geneva.
In the fall of 1909, the White family moved to Haviland, Kansas, so the older girls could attend the Friends Academy, and on January 26, 1910, Arthur married Anna Maris, and this couple took over the farm. Their son John and his wife Doris now live on it.
In 1910, the Henry Whites moved to San Diego, California. They lived for three years on an alfalfa farm near Lakeside, a suburb, then moved back into the city. Ethel, Lorene and Deanie married in San Diego, and on April 1, 1939, Henry died there. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery. He was 77 years old at the time of his death.
Alice, Urven and Geneva came back to Coldwater where Alice was needed to help care for her mother, Martha Ellen Baker. Alice continued to live in Coldwater, busy helping all her family and her church. Her hobby was quilt making. she gave at least one to each daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, and many more to friends. She died the 26th of July, 1961, and is buried in Coldwater. She was 85 at the time of her death.
-- By Geneva Hewett, Comanche County History, pp. 749 - 750, published 1980. The article includes photos of Alice Baker White and Henry White.
Major Urven White, U.S. Army, Chaplain.
The Western Star, November 25, 1893
Obituary: Emma WhiteMrs. Emma White entered into her heavenly rest at two o'clock of the afternoon of November 8th, 1893. She was born in Christian county, Illinois, in 1862; was married to Henry White in 1887; lived 8 miles northwest of Coldwater, Kansas. She united with the Baptist church when quite young and lived a Christian life. In 1891 she was taken with la grippe and after all was done to cure her that medicine and help could offer, it was determined consumption had brought her where no cure could be found.
In the two years of suffering she was cheerful and constant in thought and care for others. She leaves 3 children, her husband, a sister, two brothers, parents and many friends to mourn her loss. But she has gained her inheritances in a heavenly land, with kindly sympathy or affectionate interest she followed the fortunes for weal or woe of her friends. With rare thoughtfulness she remembered whom others forgot. It was a grievous trial for her to give up doing for others, but she showed her love and interests in the objects which had ever filled her life; so good a life must lead to a happy death; so useful a life must have cherishing memories; so devoted a life must furnish bright example to which many will refer and others will endeavor to imitate.
Three days previous to her death she said, "I am hungry for prayer and song; I know my redeemer liveth. The Lord is my Shepherd, I know I shall not want."
If we could but hear the singing,
As they are singing now,
If we could but see the radiance
Of the crown on each dear brow,
There would be no sign to smother,
No hidden tear to flow,"
None knew her but to love her;
none named her but to praise.
-- S. E. Ross.Another home has been robbed of its crowning glory. Mrs. Henry White has passed to the Great Beyond - that "borne from whence no traveler has yet returned." She died Wednesday, November 9th at 2 o'clock, at her home, 6 miles northwest of Coldwater, surrounded by family and friends. She was truly a good woman, loved and respected by all who knew her. Death came to her as sleep to a child and she passed quietly into the other world. Her death was caused from consumption, of which dread disease she had been suffering for the past two years. She leaves a husband and three or four children to mourn her irreparable loss. The funeral services were held at the M. E. church, Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Latham officiating, and the remains laid to rest in the Coldwater cemetery.
Greenwood Cemetery is located at 4300 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding and transcribing the above obituary!
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