WILLIAM SNODGRASS WHITE, retired agriculturist, is one of the highly respected citizens of Washington county. His grandfather, William White, came at an early date to this county, and was married here. He died in 1822, in Canonsburg, and his wife followed him in 1827. They had three children: one son, John, and two daughters. John White, father of our subject, grew to manhood in Canonsburg, and after attending the elementary schools of his native town, entered Jefferson College, where he graduated in 1804. He next began studying law at Steubenville, where he was admitted to the bar. Later he returned to Washington county, where he married Agnes Park, daughter of John Park, of Cecil township: he took up his residence in Washington, and acted as prothonotary one year. Abandoning the law about this time, he commenced the study of medicine at Thompsonville, Peters township, under the tuition of Dr. Robert Thompson. He resided in Cecil township, and taught school while he studied medicine. After taking his diploma, he commenced the practice of his new profession, and in November, 1815, located about one and one-half miles east of Hickory, where he practiced. In the following April he moved to Hickory, where he continued to follow his profession up to the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1853, he then being sixty-seven years of age. His wife followed him to the grave August 19, 1866, in her seventy-seventh year. In religion they were Presbyterians, and in politics he was a Whig. William Snodgrass White was born December 12, 1812, in Cecil township, Washington county, and was three years old when his parents moved to Hickory. He received his education in the common schools and an academy. From 1835 to 1841 he conducted a general store in Hickory, and then moved on a farm on which he remained until the spring of 1872, at which time he came to Canonsburg. On March 31, 1839, he married Miss Jane, daughter of Archibald Stewart, of Chartiers township, and of this union were born the following children: John Stewart (who died in April, 1880; he had served in the war of the Rebellion), Agnes Ann (widow of John M. Miller, who died in May, 1888), Margaret Jane (Mrs. R. H. Black, of Canonsburg), W. Vance (of Canonsburg), Rebecca Jane (who died in 1845), Archibald Park (who died April 19, 1859, at the age of twelve years), Jenette (living with her father), Howard (in Ohio) and Matilda K.D. (living at home). Mrs. White died at Canonsburg, August 21, 1881, at the age of sixty years. In 1856 Mr. White was a member of the old Know-Nothing party, but since the formation of the Republican party he enrolled under their banner. He has frequently declined to accept positions of honor and trust. The position of associate judge was offered him, but even then he found it necessary for various causes to refuse. For forty years he has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. His farm, containing 300 acres, lies about half a mile north of Hickory, and in addition he has ninety acres on which there is a coal mine, located near Hickory. Mr. White has retired from active life, and his home is cared for by his dutiful and affectionate daughters. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors were of Scotch-Presbyterian descent, from the North of Ireland.

Text taken from page 760 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed April 1997 by Jack McNatt of Valrico, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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