DAVID WHITE is a well-known farmer and worthy representative of one of the oldest Pennsylvania families. His grandfather, James White, was born in eastern Pennsylvania, coming with his parents to North Strabane township, Washington county, where he died in 1835. James, son of James White, was born in 1788, on the home farm in North Strabane township, where his youth was passed. In early manhood he was married to Isabella May, who was born December 11, 1798, in Cecil township. He served in the war of 1812 as first lieutenant, and in politics was a Whig, casting his Presidential vote for Gen. William H. Harrison. In April, 1827, the young people settled on a farm in Cecil township, and the following children were born to their union: Jane Ann (deceased in 1866), Margaret (widow of John Ralston, of Cecil township), Phoebe (deceased in youth), John M. (living in Wayne county, Ohio), David (whose sketch follows), Eliza Jane (widow of William Stewart, of Canton township), Samuel (living in Canonsburg) and Phoebe (widow of John McLaughlin, of Chartiers township). The parents were members of the Seceder Church at Chartiers The father died in 1871, having been preceded in 1863 by the mother.
David White, whose name opens this sketch, was born May 30, 1832 in Cecil township, receiving his education in the schools of the neighborhood. On January 7, 1864, he selected as his life companion Anna E. Anderson, a native of Chartiers township. She was a daughter of John and Ann (White) Anderson, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter born in Chartiers township, where their married life was passed. He died in 1868, and his widow lived several years afterward. Two children were born to the union of David and Anna E. (Anderson) White: James R. (who married Anna Scott, and lives in Cecil township), and Annie Bell, who died in infancy. The mother died December 15, 1866, in Chartiers township, where they had resided after their marriage. In 1869 Mr. White moved to Cecil township, and was married November 11, 1869, to Lizzie E., daughter of Joseph and Martha (Andersen) Reed. Joseph was a son of David Reed, who was born and reared in Lancaster county, Penn. David Reed was married in early life, and brought his bride to the farm in Mt. Pleasant township, where they remained until Gen. Washington had proven his title to this tract of land. The famous General took dinner one day with Mr. and Mrs. Reed, and is said to have declared that he would allow the settlers no rights or compensation for improvements, but would take possession of the land, offering, however, to sell it at an exorbitant price. Mr. Reed harvested his crop, and September 22, 1784, bought and moved upon a place in Cecil township, this county. He died in 1824, his widow surviving him until 1840.
Joseph Reed was born April 30, 1796, on the home farm in Cecil township, where his boyhood was passed. He was first married to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Alexander, who died six months after the wedding, and for his second wife Mr. Reed was married to Anna, daughter of Rev. David McLean, of Ohio. She bore him four children, viz.: Margaret (deceased wife of Robert Henderson, resided in Chartiers township), Mary (deceased wife of John Nesbit, Chartiers township), David (a leading physician of Cedar Rapids, deceased in 1878) and Jane Ann (wife of John B. Moy, Venice, this county). The mother of these children died, and he was afterward married to Martha Anderson, who was born October 2, 1816, in Chartiers township. They settled on the old homestead where children were born to them, as follows: Elizabeth (Mrs. David White), John (deceased September 21, 1863, in Indiana. He was a minister in the U. P. Church), Matthew Anderson (living in Allegheny City, Penn.), Thomas Alexander (living in Pasadena, Cal.), George Murry (a U. P. minister of Cumberland county, Penn.), Julia Ann (wife of Alonza F. Hemphill, Houstonville, Penn.) and Lidlie Campbell (living in Cecil township). Mr. Reed was always identified with the interests of Cecil township. He possessed a strong constitution and lived to be ninety-eight years of age, dying in October, 1885, his wife having gone before in October, 1882. In 1877 David White bought his present farm in Cecil township, containing 110 acres of good land, and moved upon it the following year. Two children have blessed his second marriage: Joseph A., a graduate of the Iron City Commercial College, at Pittsburgh, and Elva Minetta (deceased in 1889, in her thirteenth year). Politically Mr. White is a Prohibitionist. He was formerly a member of the U. P. Church at Venice, but he and his wife are now connected with the Canonsburg Chartiers Congregation.
Text taken from page 1229 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]