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WHITE, Ammoron "Otis"

WHITE, BREWER, SMITH, CAMPBELL, WALDEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/19/2016 at 01:54:07

Biography ~ Ammoron "Otis" White
May 23, 1877 ~ August 29, 1930

Otis White, Lamoni merchant and business man, who passed away August 29, 1930, was equally well known for the public spirit in which he had the best interests of the community at heart. With his family he was closely identified with the religious, social and educational activities of the locality.

Mr. White was born at Newton, IA, in 1877, son of David C. and Anna D. Brewer White. He acquired a practical education took up commercial lines of work, and from 1902 conducted the leading furniture store and undertaking establishment at Lamoni. This business was only one, however, of several activities and connections by which he gave evidence of his good citizenship and practical enterprise.

He was one of the four public spirited men who instituted the Coliseum at Lamoni, a unique building serving at once as a community hall and also as an important adjunct to Graceland College. It is operated on a trust plan. Mr. White was also a director of the managing board of the Lamoni Development Association and for a number of years was president of the Lamoni Business Club.

He was chairman of the Decatur County Republican central committee and for sixteen years was a member of the city school board, and from 1920 served as president of the board. For eight years he was chairman of the Lamoni Red Cross and served as chairman of the Sixth Iowa District of the Red Cross. Mr. White was representative from Iowa for the Business Men's Council of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, an international organization.

He married in 1902 Miss E. Louise Smith. She was born at Lamoni, daughter of James R. and Eliza Graham Smith. Her people have lived in Decatur County since 1866. Mr. and Mrs. White had three children. The son Rollin S. associated with his father's business, married Mildred Campbell, of Mount Pleasant, IA, and has two children, Jeane Ann and James Warren. Max O. White is a student of Graceland College, has won honors in his college courses, has been active in college musical affairs and is editor of the college annual. The daughter, Gertrude Louise, also a graduate of Graceland College and a talented musician, is the wife of Evan Walden, supervisor of the college property. They have a daughter, Carolyn Louise.

NOTE: Otis White died on August 28, 1930, Independence, Missouri. Eliza "Louise" (Smith) White was born on March 14, 1878, and died on September 30, 1971. They were interred in Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.

SOURCE: Harlan, Edgar Rubey, Curator. The People of Iowa: With Special Treatment of Their Chief Enterprises in Education, Religion,Valor, Industry, Business. The American Historical Society, Inc. Chicago & New York. 1931.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2016


 

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