Edward Irving White 1862-1951

WHITE, SPEAR, DAY, PRINCE, BRUCE, BROWN, BLANCHARD

Posted By: Janet Nelson (email)
Date: 11/1/2006 at 08:59:11

Source: The Emmetsburg (Iowa) Reporter, page 1. (No date shown on clipping but from wording probably Monday, 19 Feb 1951)

Rites Held Here For Edward White

Funeral services for Edward Irving White, 88, an Emmetsburg resident for a half century, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Net A Brown, in West Bend Monday, Feb. 12, after a lingering illness, were held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Martin Funeral home with Dr. F.T. Mayer-Oakes , pastor at the Congregational church, officiating. Mrs Mayer-Oakes played Beyond the Sunset and other selections during the service.

Interment was in Evergreen cemetery with the local K.P. Lodge in charge of the graveside rites. Active pallbearers were Bart Salven, H.V. Wilson, E.A. Alin, L.S. Hanson, J.A. Scott and William Vandervelde. Honorary bears were Louis Peterson, W.A. Thayer, George Godden, V.V.Cregg, E.M. Thompson, A.J. Williams and Sim Stedman of Des Moines.

BORN in DeSoto, Wis. on Nov. 18, 1862, Edward White was the son of John Walker and Catherine H. Ashley White. He was the youngest of four children born to the Whites, pioneer farm couple who settled near DeSoto in the early 1840's. Edward spent his childhood in such an environment, learning in life many lessons from his natural surroundings. His father was a lay preacher with a strict Yankee background, while his mother was a kindly, happy and cooperative person. Young Ed inherited much from both parents.

He was graduated from the DeSoto High school at an early age, and soon thereafter set out to learn the trade of stonecutting.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Emily Felina Woodiwiss, on May 13, 1886 and the young couple settled on the White homestead. In 1894 they left the home place, Mr. White preferring stonecutting to farming. They lived in Postville, Clermont and West Union, Ia, in the next few years.

The family moved to Emmetsburg in 1900, where for many years Mr. White worked as a stone cutter at the Godden Monument Works on South Broadway. Later he went on the road and sold monuments. He was artistic and could approach the skill of a sculptor. Mr. White was a very modest man and found enjoyment in the common everyday things of life. He retired in 1940. His social life was almost entirely confined to Knights of Pythias activities. He was a K.P. for over 50 years, at one time acting as caretaker for the local lodge. He was an inveterate reader of good literature; his favorite authors being Charles Dickens and Mark Twain from whose books he could quote at will.

The Whites had three children, all of whom survive. Mrs. White died on March 24, 1939. Mr. White had been in failing health for over a year. Recently he went to West Bend to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. Brown. A few days before his death, his condition became serious and he was confined to his bed untill death came last week Monday.

He is survived by his children, Mrs. Brown of West Bend, Mrs. Claude Seeley of Hastings, Neb. and Lloyd Ashley White of LaPorte, Ind. Also surviving are eight grandchildren.

Among those from out-of-town who attended the final rites were Mr. and Mrs. George Oleson, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Seeley, Hastings, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. L.A. White, LaPorte, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Halgennon, West Bend.
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Note by submitter: Daughters' given names: Bessie Louise White Brown and Alice M White Seeley.