WHITE, Cutler J. White 1818-1879

WHITE, CHESNUT, OTIS

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/13/2023 at 13:20:59

Announcement of the death, on Monday evening last, at his residence in this place, of Mr. C.J. White, Esq. was received with greatest surprise by the community. Apparently in usual health and vigor, he had passed the day in public places and among his neighbors as usual, and as late as seven o'clock was down town in more than ordinary genial frame of mind. Returning to his residence, and retiring for the night, he complained of illness, and in a brief time was a corpse.

At the desire of friends an examination of the remains was made by surgeons, who decided that death was the result of heart disease.

Cutler J. White was born in Vermont, in the year 1818. He received an excellent education at the Madison N.Y. Baptist Theological Seminary. We have no record of his earlier years, other than that he engaged in school teaching in the south, and was at one time a resident of Newbern, North Carolina.

It seems that he took up a residence in Allamakee county as early as 1854-5, residing on his farm in the Paulk neighborhood, in Makee Township. In 1856 he was elected Clerk of the Courts, taking the position in January, 1857, and served eight years (four terms) as such. In Sept., 1864, he was a candidate before the convention, held in Lansing, for re-nomination, but was defeated by Giles P. Eells. He resigned the office of Clerk, Jan. 2, 1865, being succeeded by J.G. Orr. He subsequently served as a member of the Board of Supervisors.

At the close of his official term Mr. White engaged in the mercantile business in Lansing, with George W. Hays. Subsequently he formed a co-partnership with J.G. Orr, at the close of the official term of that gentleman, and they engaged in merchandising at Waterloo. This was not a financial success, but Mr. White continued to reside at that place, until the year 1875, when he returned to Lansing, having continued to hold the residence on the park he occupied at the time of his death. At the general election in 1876, he was chosen justice of the peace, holding that position until the beginning of the present year.

The fact of holding an official position of onor and great trust for eight years attests the confidence reposed by the people of this county in the deceased. He was at that time one of the most prominent and active men in the county, and his record as an officer was without blemish. His official position was occupied at that period (during the war), when the duties of the Clerk were exceedingly important and onerous. He was at all times a generous man, a genial companion and a very warm friend. An appeal for a kindly service was always heeded, and his means were at the service of the needy and unfortunate. His faults were few; his generous impulses unbounded.

In years gone by the deceased was a prominent member of the Odd Fellow's Order. His original connection with the organization is not at hand, but he joined a lodge at Newbern, N.C., by card from elsewhere, October 3d, 1845, transferring his membership to the Lansing lodge, May 25, 1858, and withdrawing from active membership May 20, 1867, having in the meantime held the highest honors of a subordinate lodge.

He leaves a wife and three children. His son who resides at Hannibal, Mo., was present at the funeral, which took place yesterday afternoon.

~Lansing Mirror, Friday, February 21, 1879; pg 3

Notes from his wife's obituary:
Wife - Ann (Chesnut) White
Children - Alson A., Ella (White) Otis, Mamie White