WILLIAM WILBUR WHITE

Sacramento County

Biographies

WILLIAM WILBUR WHITE

WILLIAM WILBUR WHITE, one of the most successful farmers of Brighton Township, was born in Iowa County, Wisconsin, January 18, 1852, the son of William and Elizabeth (Graham) White, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Maine. His father was a small boy when brought by his parents to Wisconsin, was married there when grown to manhood, and entered land from the Government about eight miles east of Mineral Point. About 1862 he sold that place and moved to Atchison County, Kansas, twelve miles west of Atchison; but in 1875, as soon as the advantages of California became fully known to the observant class of people, he came to this State, and is now living near Monte Vista in this county, on a place of two and a half acres which he bought in the spring of 1888. After coming to the coast he sold his Kansas property, then consisting of 160 acres; he had previously owned more than that. His wife died in February, 1877. There were ten children in this family, six sons and four daughters, all of whom are living except one, and all the living are in this county except one brother in Missouri. The subject of this sketch first started in life for himself by working for various parties in this county. May 1, 1876, he began driving dray for E. M. Leitch in Sacramento. Subsequently he worked at the depot for the railroad company six years and three months, during which time he laid up a portion of his earnings, $1,200 or $1,400. He next entered partnership with Mr. Casselman in the cultivation of a large hop ranch, which they leased in Brighton Township, and Mr. White cleared in this operation about $11,000. Then, intending to live in the city, he purchased a lot from T. W. Sheehan, corner of Fifteenth and O streets, and built a fine residence upon it. Cost of house and lot, about $7,000. Finally he purchased from George W. Lott, a rich tract of 113 acres, three miles from the city, where he now resides, and on which he has all the equipment's of a comfortable home. Being an ingenious and industrious mechanic, he is independent as a carpenter, blacksmith, etc. The deed is dated June 12, 1885. From this last purchase, however, he has sold off five and ten acre lots until now he has a trifle less than thirty-five acres. His town property he sold a short time after removing into the country. When he bought his present place there was nothing upon it except old fences, two wells, and a saloon kept by “Coffee Brown;” but now it is furnished with everything necessary to make it an independent home - sunny, neat and cheerful. His residence is a splendid structure, costing $2,000. His barn and hot-house for drying hops cost about $3,000. In this immense building, 64 x 96 feet, are the horse stalls, hay and hop press, and a large hop dryer; and the second floor is prepared for a dancing area, whereon as many as twenty sets can do their honors to Terpsichore at one time. There are also on the place a good blacksmith shop and other buildings, wells, windmills, etc. Although it is only fourteen feet from the surface of the ground to the water stratum, one of the wells is seventy-five feet deep, and the other eighty-five, thus insuring an abundance of water. On this farm are 460 Bartlett pear trees, nearly 500 peach trees, apricots, etc., and about twenty orange-trees. All of these are in fine bearing stage except a few of the pear trees, which also will soon reach the same stage. There are no scale-bugs in the orchard. The soil is a sandy sediment; twenty acres is first-class alfalfa land; about eight acres is sowed in alfalfa seed, and in small grain for hay. The land is especially adapted to almond and apricot. Mr. White was married April 18, 1883, to Miss Maggie R. Foster, who was born in this county, September 26, 1861. Her father, William B. Foster, settled here in 1849, and died in June 21, 1877; her mother was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1809, and died in 1865. The children of Mr. And Mrs. White are: Pearl Agnes, born March 26, 1885; Ida May, May 13, 1886; and Ada Estelle, January 21, 1888. Mr. White is a member of the order of Foresters, Lodge No. 6742, in Sacramento.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 730-731. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.