WHITE, Lucy (1838-1933)

WHITE

Posted By: Karon King (email)
Date: 5/18/2010 at 15:53:16

Mrs. Lucy White, 95, Pioneer, Dies

The story of the life of Mrs. Lucy Snyder White, 95, Warren county resident for 88 years, who died at her home in Norwalk Oct. 25, is that of a typical pioneer woman. Her life recalls the westward trend of population, with encounters with Indians who plundered and robbed the oncoming settlers, the winter hardships, the covered wagon, and other settings of the great westward migration.

Mrs. White, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 12, 1838, moved to Missouri in a covered wagon with her parents when a small child. There lived there only a few years but moved away because they could receive no social recognition due to the fact that they owned no slaves.

Moved Here in 1846

When Iowa was admitted to the Union in 1846 they moved to Warren county. There were but two other families living north of North River, Joseph Young and his son-in-law, Samuel Crow and their families. They settled at Norwalk.

Indians were troublesome and on the war path much of the time and they were forced to move to Ft. Des Moines to protect themselves. There were a few scattered log houses and buildings along the river on the site of what is now the city of Des Moines, where Cherry Street now runs. Here government soldiers were stationed to protect the settlers.

Log House Built

Later the family returned to Norwalk where much of the country was heavily wooded and here Mr. Snyder, Mrs. White's father, bought a claim and built a log house on it 18 by 20 feet in dimensions. Greased paper was used for glass for windows and a fire place taking up the entire one side of the house was built. During the winter 12 people lived in the house. Later he bought another claim and built another log house, which was an object of curiosity for years because of its uniqueness.

During the first two years the family was in Iowa, they were forced to drive to Oskaloosa, 60 miles away, for groceries and flour. If they could not get to the mill they cooked corn on the cob and when soft enough they grated it for their flour.

Brother Carried First Mail

Samuel Snyder, a brother of Mrs. White, was the first government mail carrier after Uncle Sam had established a mail route. Over swollen streams that had to be forded and across dangerous country, he toted the mail for $130 per year.
New settlers continued to pour in, but there were no public schools until a building was built at old Greenbush a few miles away.

On Jan. 9, 1855, Miss Lucy Snyder and Geo. W. White were married. Soon they moved to Ringgold county near the present site of Shannon City. They returned soon to what is known as the North River settlement and lived for a time southeast of the present site of Norwalk. Later they located in old Ft. Des Moines where they lived a short time while hunting a suitable location. About 1858 they moved north of Norwalk, where Mrs. White died.

Charter Member of Church

Mr. White served for three years during the Civil War in the 34th Iowa, commanded by Major Kern. Mrs. White was left at home to care for three children during the term of his enlistment.

Mrs. White was a charter member of the present Methodist Episcopal church at Norwalk.

During her 88 years in Warren county she has see the borders of civilization extend westward to the Pacific, and under her very eyes the city of Des Moines has grown to a population of 140,000 from a mere settlement of less than a hundred people. In her childhood land sold for $1.25 per acre. That very land recently sold for $1,000 per acre for an airport. She has ridden in an ox cart, a covered wagon, a single buggy, a carriage, a railroad train, an automobile, and has seen mail delivered by airplane not far from her door. She has read by candle light, grease lamp, kerosene, and electric light.

Sees Country's Progress

She has seen communication develop through the stages of the letter carrier, the post who rode a horse across country, the stage coach, the train, telegraphy, telephone, wireless and radio. Indian trails have developed into hard surfaced roads. She has seen the growth of the great daily newspapers, and the log school house develop into the present day facilities. Slavery was abolished during her life. She has seen the wheat cradle and the husking peg develop into the modern combine and corn picker.

"So we in this community have witnessed the close of a life of one who saw practically all that we consider a necessity in our daily living, develop," the obituary read. "She watched with eager curiosity the new invention become the usual tool, the untried become the common."

Funeral Saturday

Mrs. White was the mother of ten children, three of whom, besides her husband preceded her in death. Survivors are: Charles and Carrie, Norwalk; W.T. White, Des Moines; Mrs. Nora Lippincott, Indianola; F.M. White, Pembine, Wis.; Mrs. Ella Winistead, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Mrs. Abbie Callen, Des Moines. She also leaves 18 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

The funeral was held at the Norwalk church last Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2 o'clock, the Rev. W.W. Watson, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Mr.. Spiller of Des Moines, and the Rev. Mr. Simpson and the Rev. B.F. Galloway, Norwalk, in charge of the services.

(Transcribed by Nancy Denty Breidenthal from a clipping in the possession of John Court Lippincott. The name of the newspaper was not preserved, but the year of publication was 1929.)