Alameda County
Biographies
JAMES J.
WHITE
As a business man of Oakland James J White has accomplished much for the commercial upbuilding of the city, and has added no little to the general welfare of the community, while as a politician he has given his best efforts toward good government, both municipal and national, losing no opportunity to advance the cause of the Democratic party, whose principles he so warmly endorses. Since 1872 he has been identified with the business interests of the city, as a member of the firm of Rice & White, being located for twenty years in the Hook block, on East Broadway, and later for four years in the Bacon block, on Thirteenth street. In 1896 Mr. White sold out his business interests, and has since been retired from active duties, with the exception of handling some insurance, and somewhat extensive dealings in oil wells in Kern county. The most important of his official duties in the past was his service as postmaster of Oakland from 1894 to 1898.
Mr. White was born in Ireland, August 9, 1838, and is the son of James Livingstone White. In his infancy the family remove to Australia, that his father might accept the position of instructor of Latin and Greek in a college in Sydney, and there he made his home until the early 50s, when he set out for the California gold fields. For a few years he engaged in mining, first in Tuolumne county, and later in Oak Valley, Yuba county, where he remained for some time. In 1872 he married and decided to make Oakland his permanent residence. His wife was formerly Miss Mary Coughlin, third daughter of William English Coughlin of Bridgewater, Mass. This union has been blessed with four daughters and one son, William Basil White, who is of the firm of Frisbie & White, San Francisco attorneys.
Democratic in his political convictions, Mr. White has often been called upon to act in public capacity, and with the energy and ability which has ever distinguished the citizens of his native land he has fulfilled every obligation which has been pressed upon him by an appreciative constituency. Appointed to the office of postmaster of Oakland in 1894 he faithfully and efficiently fulfilled his duties for four years. As a delegate to the national convention when Cleveland was nominated for a second term he did effective work for his party. Fraternally he is a charter member of Keystone Lodge No. 64, A. O. U. W., established twenty-six years ago, and served for five years as receiver, and is also a member of the Catholic Knights of America, acting officially in this order as well, being ex-state president.
Transcribed
by: Cecelia M. Setty.
ญญญญSource: History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 691-692. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.
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