Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILLIAM
McLENNON WHITE
William McLennon White, who came to California in the Gold Rush Days of ‘49 was a native of Massachusetts, born September 30, 1821, in the village of Wrentham of a long line of Puritan ancestry who took a prominent part in the Colonial history of America.
William McLennon White was educated in his native state and in his young manhood came west to California arriving by boat at San Francisco in June, 1849. Possessing courage, enterprise and initiative, good judgment and energy in the new country he soon ventured into business.
A prominent business man in the early days of San Francisco, he owned and operated the Fashion Stable, a livery business that was very popular and patronized by the best families of the city. He also owned large mining interests in Northern California.
In 1886 due to poor health he went to Arizona. The last twenty-five years of his life was spent in Los Angeles, an invalid.
He formed many friendships over the state and had a wide acquaintance, particularly among the makers of the pioneer history of the Gold State.
William McLennon White married at San Francisco in 1875, Miss Martha A. Lawless. At the time of her marriage she was vice-principal of the Lincoln Primary school. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Lawless of Kirkwood, Missouri. The Lawless family came to California in the pioneer period where they were prominently identified in the business and social life of San Francisco.
Mrs. White during the long illness of her husband resumed her teaching and for thirty years was a well known educator in Los Angeles. For one year she taught in the Pearl Street school, and for twenty-nine years in the Ann Street school. A beloved character she passed away at Glendale, California, May 15, 1921, at the age of seventy-two years. She was a native of Missouri, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. She was a member of the Women’s Civic Club. To the union of William McLennon and Martha (Lawless) White were born two children: Harriet Martha and William McLennon, Jr. William McLennon, Jr., died in 1890.
The late Mr. White, who died at Los Angeles, April 26, 1904, was a member of the Old Pioneers Society of San Francisco and the Vigilante of Law and Order also of that city.
Transcribed 3-8-13
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 664-665,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2013 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES