Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/502

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WHITE
WHITE

WHITE, Emerson Elbridge, educator, b. in Mantua, Portage co., Ohio, 10 Jan., 1829. He was educated at Ewinsburg academy and the University of Cleveland, taught in the former institution, and was afterward an instructor of mathematics in Cleveland university, and principal of the Cen- tral high-school in that city. He became super- intendent of the public schools of Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1856, state commissioner of common schools in 1863, and was president of Purdue uni- versity, Lafayette, Ind.. in 1876-'83, and since that time has been superintendent of schools in Cincin- nati, Ohio. He was president of the Ohio teach- ers' association in 1863, of the National superin- tendents' association in 1866, of the National edu- cation association in 1872, and of the National council of education in 1884-'6. Mr. White was editor and proprietor of the " Ohio Educational Monthly " from 1861 till 1875, and of the " National Teacher" from 1870 till 1875, writer of the memo- rial to congress on the National bureau of educa- tion, and author of the accompanying bill that was introduced by James A. Garfield, and subse- quently passed. He has published several school text-books, and a work entitled " Elements of Pedagogy." — His nephew, Emory Calvin, traveller, b. in Monterey, Allegan co., Mich., 15 Oct., 1858, was educated at Michigan university and at Purdue university, where he taught for three years. He then became superintendent of schools at Albion, Ind., but resigned in order to accept the presidency of the American college at Callao, Peru. After filling this post for a time, he relin- quished it for the sake of studying the ruins of the Incas, among which he spent three years, ex- cavating, photographing, and surveying. He then traversed the upper Amazon, visited Bolivia, Chili, Brazil, the Argentine Republic, and Spain, in search of further information regarding the Inca and pre-Inca races, returning to the United States in 1886, and is writing histories of Peru, Chili, the Argentine Republic, and Brazil.


WHITE, Francis J., soldier, b. in New York city in 1842; d. in San Francisco, 29 Aug., 1875. He was the eldest son of James H. White, who was at one time judge of the superior court of New York. Francis received a good education, and early in life contributed articles to magazines. At the opening of the civil war he joined the 10th New York regiment, participated in the battle of Bull Run, and was subsequently on the peninsula with Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. He then served under Fremont, and in October, 1861, at the head of his "prairie scouts," recaptured Lexington, Mo. In the autumn of 1861 he was transferred to the Army of the Mississippi, and in the autumn of 1862 he followed Porter, the guerilla chief, for thirteen days and routed his band. At one period of the war he was provost-marshal and judge-advocate- general in central Missouri, and in the closing years of the contest he was governor of the eastern shore of Maryland. He was appointed brigadier- general of volunteers, 13 March, 1865, and was offered a captaincy in the regular army, which he declined. After serving a short time in Texas, he removed to St. Louis, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and elected to the legislature. He subse- quently went to California, where he resided till his death, which was the result of disease contracted during the war.


WHITE, George Leonard, educator, b. in Ca- diz, Cattaraugus co.. N. Y„ 20 Sept., 1838. He was the son of a blacksmith, and while attending school assisted his father in the shop. When he was four- teen years old his father's health gave way, and the support of the family devolved upon him and his sisters. He conducted his father's business, but studied in leisure hours, removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, and began to teach. In 1862 he enlisted in the 73d Ohio regiment, and fought at Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Valley, and Lookout Mountain. At the close of the war he entered the employ of the Freedmen's bureau, but in 1868 he resigned to give his entire time to the work of Fisk university. Mr. White had heard the simple negro songs that came into being dur- ing the days of slavery, and he resolved to form a band of his best voices to sing these songs in the large cities of the north in aid of the university. His means were limited, but, embarking his all in the enterprise, he left Nashville with his jubilee singers on 6 Oct., 1871. By May, 1872, he had re- mitted to the college $20,000. The troupe was everywhere received with enthusiasm, and a sec- ond tour netted as much as the first. Early in 1874 they went to Europe, where a like reception met them. They sang before Queen Victoria and nearly every crowned head on the continent, and returned with a gain of $50,000. The total sum that was realized to the institution was $155,000. With the funds thus acquired twenty-five acres on a commanding eminence near Nashville have been purchased, and a fine building has been erected, which has been called Jubilee Hall.


WHITE, George Savage, clergyman, b. in Bath, England, in 1784 ; d. after 1839. He studied at Chestnut college, and was ordained a clergy- man of the Church of England at Lady Hunt- ingdon's chapel, Brighton, in 1809. He afterward came to this country and was a minister in Rhode Island. His publications include "Christian Me- morial: containing God's Abundant Grace and Providential Kindness to the Author," and " Me- moir of Samuel Slater, the Father of American Manufactures" (2d ed., Philadelphia, 1846). WHITE, Harry, soldier, b. in Indiana county, Pa., 12 Jan., 1834. He received a collegiate edu- cation, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1855, and practised at Indiana, Pa., till the beginning of the civil war, when he entered the National service as major of the 67th Pennsylvania infantry. While in the army he was elected a state senator, serving in the winter of 1862-'3. He afterward returned to his command, was captured by the Confederate troops, and retained as a prisoner sixteen months, but escaped and reached the Na- tional lines near Atlanta in October, 1864. He returned to his command, served till the end of the war, was promoted to a colonelcy, and was bre- vetted brigadier-general of volunteers, 2 March, 1865. He was re-elected to the senate of Penn- sylvania in 1865, and served by successive elec- tions till 1874, being speaker at the close of the term of 1871. In 1872 he was elected a delegate-at- large to the State constitutional convention, and he served in congress from Pennsylvania in 1877-'81, having been chosen as a Republican.


WHITE, Henry, clergyman, b. in Wilbraham, Mass., 3 Aug., 1790 : d. in Garland, Me., 8 Dec, 1858. He was graduated at Bangor theological seminary in 1823. ordained over the Congregation- al church at Brooks and Jackson, Me., 19 Oct., 1825, and was pastor in various towns in that state and New Hampshire till 7 Nov., 1858. He published " Early History of New England, illustrated with Numerous Early Incidents" (Concord, 1841).


WHITE, Henry Clay, educator, b. in Baltimore. Md., 30 Dec, 1850. He was graduated at the University of Virginia in 1870. and was professor of chemistry in the Maryland institute, Bal-