Source: History of Whiteside County, Illinois
By William W. Davis, M. A.
Vol. II
Chicago: The Pioneer Publishing Co. - 1908

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 953-954

Henry White, whose landed possessions aggregate two hundred and seventy acres, his home being situated in Lyndon township, is one of the worthy residents that Germany has furnished to Illinois. He was born in the fatherland, September 22, 1869, and was but three years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, Henry and Dora Kraken. The mother died of small pox soon after their arrival in the new world, and the subject of this review then went to live with Mathew and Sarah M. White, who resided upon a farm which our subject now owns. He received from them the care and attention of loving parents, being legally adopted by them and ultimately coming into possession of the old homestead. It was upon this farm that his foster father died, in 1882. Mrs. White still survives, and is now living in Nebraska, at the age of eighty-nine years, with her daughter, Mrs. Zella Slater, who is her only living child.

Mr. White is indebted to the public-school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed and he received thorough training in farm work, so that he was well qualified to take charge of a farm of his own when he was enabled to purchase one. In 1893 he bought one hundred and sixty-acres and later he purchased the old homestead property upon which he now  resides, this comprising one hundred and ten acres. At the present time his landed possessions aggregate two hundred and seventy acres on ssections 3 and 4, Lyndon township, upon which he has two sets of buildings. His farm is largely devoted to stock and in this connection he makes good profit from his investment and his labor. In the fall of 1907 he suffered a loss, having a barn destroyed by fire but altogether as the years have passed by he has prospered, owing to his unfaltering diligence and persistnecy of purpose.

In 1891 Mr. White was married to Miss Cora Pope, who was born in Manchester, Iowa, September 27, 1871, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Pope. They now have three children, Ernest, Ruby and Roy. The parents are well known in the community and have many warm friends who esteem them highly for their good traits of heart and mind. Mr. White gives his political support to the republican party and in matters of citizenship is progressive and enterprising, realizing the fact that earnest labor is the basis of all desirable success, while in h is business dealings he indicates his thorough understanding and belief in the old adage that honesty is the best policy.