WHITE, THOMAS J.

WHITE, MULRONEY, BRANNAGAN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/4/2003 at 13:14:54

Biography reproduced from page 29 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Thomas J. White is well known in journalistic circles of Kossuth county as the owner and editor of the Whittemore Champion, a weekly paper which he has published since October, 1904. At the present time he is also serving as mayor of that town. His birth occurred in Palo Alto county, Iowa, in September, 1869, his parents being James P. and Margaret (Mulroney) White, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Ireland. James P. White came to Iowa in 1855, locating in Fort Dodge, and about 1860 removed to Palo Alto county, teaching the first school and editing the first newspaper in that county. He went there as a special agent for the Des Moines Valley Railroad Company. Eventually he purchased a farm south of Emmetsburg, this state, residing thereon and hiring men to operate the place. During that time he was elected county treasurer and held the office for a period of eight years. He was an attorney by profession and after retiring from public office devoted his attention to the practice of law and also conducted a bank. In 1873 he went to Fort Dodge and embarked in the mercantile business in association with J. M. Mulroney, remaining there until he passed away in 1875. His widow then returned to Emmetsburg, where she has resided continuously since. She has now attained the age of sixty-four years.

Thomas J. White was reared and educated in the county of his nativity and at the time of his father’s death left the parental roof and made his way to Emmetsburg, Iowa, where he learned the printing business, with which he has been identified continuously since. In 1894 he purchased a newspaper in Emmetsburg in association with John Reardon, changing its name from the Conservative to the Tribune and publishing it until 1904. In that year he sold out and came to Whittemore, purchasing the Whittemore Champion the following October. The journal is a weekly publication devoted to the dissemination of local and general news and owing to the able editorship of our subject, has won public support and approval.

On the 2d of July, 1895, Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Brannagan, a daughter of John and Margaret Brannagan, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Emigrating to America, they took up their abode among the pioneer residents of Chickasaw county, Iowa, where Mr. Brannagan purchased a farm and successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for a number of years. He and his wife both died in November, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. White have seven children, namely: Joseph, a youth of fifteen; Helen, a maiden of fourteen; Harold and Vincent, who are thirteen and eleven years of age respectively; Marie, who is eight years old; James, a little lad of five; and Thomas, born July 28, 1912.

Mr. White is a democrat in politics and has been chosen to represent his fellow townsmen in the town council and also as mayor, serving as the chief executive of Whittemore at the present time. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Columbus. In religious faith he and his family are Catholics. His life was been well spent. In all of its relations he has been true to high and honorable principles and has never faltered in a choice between right and wrong but has always endeavored to follow a course that his judgment and his conscience have sanctioned.