John T. White (1879)

WHITE, SHAW, MCCAUGHAN

Posted By: Linda Brittain (email)
Date: 11/21/2007 at 18:44:06

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 27, 1879
Page 2, column 4

ANOTHER VACANT CHAIR

Elsewhere in this issue will be found the obituary of our late townsman, J.T. White, which is full of truthful words and is deserving tribute to one who was universally respected.

As will be seen, the article is full and complete, but we cannot forego a few words of eulogy for one whose loss is so acutely felt.

Perhaps there has never occurred a death in Winterset which cast so dense a cloud of gloom over the community. Its suddenness was a shock that cannot be described. While his illness was discussed in every household and on every street corner, the fact that J.T. White was dead, could hardly be realized.

The deceased was a man of unbounded popularity, his acquaintance extended to every corner of the county, and there is not left, perhaps, a man who enjoyed so large a circle of personal friends. He was among the leaders of our public spirited, every worthy cause of enterprise, either for the public good or for benevolent purposes, had in him an energetic, faithful and conscientious worker. He had always been identified with every public movement, and his familiar face and valuable labors will be sorely missed.

The deceased came to this county about twenty-five years ago, and he had had much to do in shaping and sustaining our public institutions. He was the senior member of the firm of White, Munger, & Co., who have, until lately, conducted a woolen manufacturing business, when their factory burned down and was never rebuilt. The firm, at present, is among the largest land and real estate owners, their interests extend all over the county, the laborious care of which was the great reason of not rebuilding the factory.

The funeral occurred Saturday afternoon at the residence of the family, Rev. J.H. Potter officiating, in which was given a very complete history of the deceased, and especially, his very successful and faithful work in the church. The procession was very large, and the concourse of people who followed the corpse to the Cemetery, were wrapped in sorrow and undisguised sympathy for the bereaved family.

The hearts of the people will be filled with a memory, both pleasant and easy to recall, one that will be sacred to many, and the sands of time will have run many a day ere this memory is effaced.

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Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 27, 1879
Page 6

It can be truthfully said that there never occurred a death in Winterset in which the general public took a deeper or more feeling interest than that of J. T. White.

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Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 27, 1879
Page 7

OBITUARY

Our community has lost one of its best citizens. On last Wednesday night at half past eight Mr. John T. White died of acute meningitis. He had been sick only about nine days; the attack was violent and he sank rapidly. He was unconscious most of the time for the last five days.

His funeral services were conducted at his late residence on Friday afternoon. The attendance was very large and sympathy very manifest. He had long been one of us, and was identified in many ways with this community.

He was born at White Pigeon, Michigan, January 23d, 1839. He was consecrated to God in his infancy by his pious parents, and taught the principles of the gospel in childhood by both precept and example.

His parents, and he with them, removed to Winterset when he was in his 16th year. His father died in about one month after arriving here, and John, as a true, noble son, took his father’s place as the support and comfort of his widowed mother who leaned upon him. When 19 years of age he gave his heart to God, and publicly took a stand on the Lord’s side, uniting with the Presbyterian church of which he continued a consistent member till his death.

When 21 years of age, he married Miss Clara L. Shaw, and at once erected a family altar at his own fireside. It was no new duty to him, for he had been accustomed to lead the family devotions in his mother’s home previous to his marriage.

In less than three years he was called to mourn the loss of his companion. His home was then for some years again with his mother, who tenderly cared for his oldest son. He spent about a year in Fontanelle, and returned to Winterset. In April, 1867, he married Miss Frank McCaughan, and again had a home of his own, and perhaps no man ever prized home more than he. He was unusually gentle and kind in his domestic relations. There was an air of knightly deference about him that was very noticeable and pleasing. As a son he excelled most men in devotion to his mother, being exceedingly thoughtful and unselfish in his attentions to her. Her wish was his pleasure.

In social life he had the faculty of making and retaining hosts of friends. With a generous heart the needy found in him a helper. In business life he was reliable, conscious, honest, and true. In this he was a tower of strength. In the church he was perfectly at home. He studied the good of the cause of God, and was ready modestly to make suggestions. His advice was highly prized, for his judgment was sound.

He was ordained a Ruling Elder in the church before he was 24 years old, which is of very unusual occurrence. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the church at the time of his death, and had been for many years. He was Church Treasurer also for a long time. He was a very efficient member of the Building Committee in erecting the new church edifice, ready to give his time and services for the good cause. He was decidedly liberal in giving of his means for the support of the church. Faithful in attendance on the means of grace, it was taken for granted there was some good reason if he was not at church and prayer meeting. He was deeply anxious for the good of others. He was a remarkably pure man in thought and speech; all manner of vulgarity he abhorred. He was dignified, yet accessible. Unusually free from the spirit of jealousy and fault-finding, he rarely said anything to the disparagement of another. He saw and spoke of others’ good traits rather than of their faults. He was truly a most worthy man, and will be greatly missed in Winterset.