Perry S. White

PERRY S. WHITE, who has large business interests in Labette county, Kansas, is located at Parsons, where he has the oldest lumber yard in the city. In addition to this, he conducts a branch lumber yard at Dennis, and also a hardware store. He is possessed of exceptional business ability, and his different ventures have been attended with the greatest success.

Mr. White was born in Warrick county, Indiana, in 1859, and is a son of James P. and Rachael (Gwaltney) White, and a grandson of John and Catherine (McCard) White. Catherine (McCard) White died in 1832, leaving but one child, James P. John White formed, a second union, February 19, 1833, by wedding Elizabeth Eckles, who was a daughter of Samuel and Nancy (White) Eckles. This union resulted in the following offspring: Samuel M., Catherine M., Nancy, Martha, John G., and Thomas B. The family moved to Warrick county, in 1849.

James P. White was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, and moved to Indiana, before his marriage. His early life was spent in teaching school, after which he followed farming in his native county. He was born in 1832, and died in 1896. He married Rachael Gwaltney, who was born in Ohio in 1834, and died in 1899. She was a daughter of John and Mary (Moore) Gwaltney, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter, of Pennsylvania. John Gwaltney left his native state and went to Ohio, when young. In 1857, he went to Spencer county, Indiana, and there reared a family of 15 children. He lived to reach the age of eighty-five years, and his wife reached a greater age. James P. White and his worthy wife became the parents of the following children: Rose B. (Heim), deceased; George W., who resides on the old homestead in Warrick county, Indiana; Perry S.; Sarah, deceased; and Jesse, deceased. He favored the Whig and Republican parties, and was a Presbyterian in religious belief.

Perry S. White was reared and schooled in his native county and followed farming until 1881. He came west in February, 1881, and was employed by C. F. Hodgman, who conducted a lumber yard at the present place of business of Mr. White. Mr. White was yard manager, and in 1886 bought out his employer, having purchased the land on which the business is located, in 1891. He has the first established lumber concern in Parsons, and does a very extensive business. He has a branch lumber yard at Dennis, Labette county, which he started in February, 1896, when he began his hardware trade there, also. He was one of the organizers of the State Bank of Parsons, in 1898, and has since been a director, and served as secretary of the board of directors. He is a member of the Missouri and Kansas Association of Lumber Dealers.

November 6, 1882, Mr. White was joined in matrimony with Mattie A. Barker, of Parsons, by whom he has had five children, as follows: Herbert, deceased; Walter G.; Fay; Helen; and Laura, deceased. He is a Republican in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, of which he was formerly a commander; and of the Knights of Pythias, of which he served as treasurer for six years.

Mr. White and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of Parsons. The former was a delegate to the grand lodge which was held in Kansas City, May 21, 1901. He was also a delegate to the grand lodges held at Pittsburg, Kansas, and Iola, Kansas.