WHITE, Charles - b. January 6, 1823 - d. June 11, 1910

[Janet Harrington]

                                       FIRST SHERIFF OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS

Charles White was born in Tompkins county, New York, in 1823.  Died at the home of his son in Overbrook, Kansas, June 11, 1910, at 1 a.m; aged 87 years, 5 months and 5 days.

He worked at farming until manhood and then learned the blacksmith trade.  In 1848 he removed to the then Territory of Wisconsin where he worked at his trade, then returned to farming.  In 1849 he made the overland trip to California in search of gold, and was very successful, returning by the way of the Isthmus.  In 1858 he was elected to the Wisconsin legislature.  In 1861 he volunteered in company E, 16th Wisconsin Infantry for three years.  Was elected first lieutenant and most of the time of his service acted as captain of his company.  He was discharged on account of injuries received in battle.  Removed with his family to Fayette county, Illinois in 1864, where he lived until 1869, then removed to Independence, Kansas, taking a claim near that city.  He was the first sheriff of Montgomery county and took an active part in the organization of the county.  He moved to Longton 1882, where he engaged in the mercantile business.  He held numerous positions of trust there and was elected to the Kansas legislature from Elk county in 1888.

In 1846 he was married to Harriet M. Vincent, who preceeded him to the better land July 11, 1901.  To this union were born eight children, two of whom are dead, the others who were all present at his death are E. B. White of Independence, C. H. White, of Overbrook, Mrs. D. C. Krone of Sycamore, W. E. White of Longton Mrs. F. C. Flory of Howard and Miss Ada White of Longton.  He had fifteen grand children and five great grand children.

The body was brought to Longton and the funeral was from the home of his son conducted by Rev. J. K. Morgan, of La Fontaine, the three sons and three grand sons Jesse White, Floyd Flory and Dallas White, acting as pallbearers.  He was laid to rest in the Longton cemetery.

The life of Charles White needs no eulogy.  He bravely did his share of the world's work, and though his life is ended the work he did endures.

[patyrn]

Charles White was born January 6, 1823 in Tompkins County, New York and died at the residence of his son, C.H. White in Overbrook, Kansas, June 11, 1910 at the age of 87 years, 5 months, and 5 days.

On May 4, 1846, he married Miss Harriet Melissa Vincent who died July 11, 1901.  To this union were born eight children, six of whom are living and were at his bedside when he died.  They are E.B. White of Independence, Kansas, Mrs. D.C. Krone of Sycamore, Kansas, C.H. White of Overbrook, Kansas, W.E. White of Longton, Kansas, Mrs. Fred C. Flory of Howard, Kansas; and Miss Ada W. White of Longton, Kansas.

The funeral service was held Monday, June 13, 1910 at the residence of W.E. White in Longton, and the interment was in the Longton Cemetery beside his wife.  The funeral service was in charge of Rev. J. Kansas Morgan, a former pastor of the Longton M.E. Church, but now of Lafontaine, Kansas, who read the 91st Psalm and also a part of the 14th chapter of John from which he preached a sermon.  The hymns were "Lead Kindly Light", "Jesus Savior Pilot Me", and "Abide With Me".  The pall bearers were his three sons and his three grandsons, Jesse White, Floyd Flory, and Dallas White.

Charles White's life was a busy one.  He was brought up on the farm, but in early life learned the blacksmith's trade at which for a number of years he toiled. Shortly after his marriage, he removed from New York to Waushara County, Wisconsin, where he served a term in the Legislature.  In 1861, he enlisted in Co. E, 16th Wisconsin Infantry and was elected 1st Lieutenant but commanded his company most of the time and participated in the battles of Shilo and Corintn and all the skirmishes and marches of Grant's Army till the spring of 1863, when owing to injuries he received at Corinth, he resigned. 

In 1864, he moved to Fayette County, Illinois, and in November 1869 he moved to Montgomery County, Kansas where he took an active part in all that was being done to build up a new county.  He was the first Sheriff of the county.  In August 1882, he moved to Longton, Kansas in Elk County and entered into the mercantile business, and for some years had a general store there. He also had one at Horace, Greeley County, Kansas. 

About fifteen years ago, he retired from active business and spent his time in resting, reading, and traveling, again going to California and visiting the scenes of early days.  For several years, he was nearly blind, but one seeing him on the street would not know it as he moved about as well as most men with two good eyes.  Politically, he was always a Republican, but he was a deep thinker and was liberal in his political and religious beliefs. 

"Goodbye!  It is but for a moment
    The way to our home lies straight.
We'll enter it - some in the morning
    And some in the evening late."