The White's House
The Ancestor Line of the John WHITE, Sr. Family
John White, Sr. 1758 Married Frances Mills
John "Jack" White, Jr. 1775 Married Susannah Marcum
Reubin White 1808 Married Mary Fannon (Fanning)
Abraham White 1828 Married Millie F. Garretson
Ulysses Grant White 1866 Married Victoria Shrewsbury
Wiley Johnson White, Sr. 1888 Married Laura Alice Akers
Dewey Columbus White 1910 Married Etta Pearlee Lindsay
Descendants of John White, Sr
John White, Sr. is the oldest recorded ancestor of the Mercer County, West Virginia Whites. His birth has
been recorded as 1758 and died 1840 in Giles Co., Virginia. It has been written that John came to America on a
ship called the Mayflower [this is not the original ship that arrived in Jamestown] with two brothers. It is reported
that the brothers were killed by Indians sometime after they arrived in America. John settled in Amherst County,
Virginia.
John enlisted as a soldier of the Revolutionary War between 1778-1781. He enlisted in March or April of
1778 for six months as a private in Colonel McClellanis' Regiment in the State of Connecticut. He also enlisted in
the fall of 1779 for two months; in the spring of 1780 for six months; and in the summer of 1781 for eight months.
He substituted for his Uncle Amos Grosvenor for two months.
In 1780, John settled on Sugar Run (one from Pearisburg) in Giles County, Virginia where he remained
until his death. John's death has been recorded as 1840, however, his death was reported as 1847 at the age of 83
years old in the book Giles County Personal Property Tax List and Land Tax List of 1806, by Charley Davis.
According to Charley Davis' book the following is an excerpt " . . . in 1780 . . . Benjamin White and
John White came from Amherst County and settled on Sugar Run, the waters of Walker's Creek. John remained in
the area his long life, and died in 1847 at 83 years of age. Benjamin moved to the area that became Logan County
and died in 1848/49." There is spectulation at this point, which has not been proven, that John, Sr. could have a
brother named Benjamin Harrison White a.k.a. "Chicasaw Ben."
Chicasaw Ben and John "Jack" White [son of John White, Sr.] were kinsmen, but no one has figured out
how. Some people feel that Wesley White was Chicasaw Ben's father. If Chicasaw Ben is related to Wesley White,
which he probably is, Wesley is probably Chicasaw Ben's grandfather. Wesley was from Maryland.
John was married twice. His first wife has been recorded as Patience or Biddy. John and his first wife had six
children. He married Franes Mills on August 17, 1792 in Montgomery Co., Virginia in a ceremony performed by Alexander
Ross, Minister. Thomas Copley served as surety for the marriage and Frances was recorded as a widow. There is some question
as to whether John, Sr. was married other than to Frances. According to Henry Clay Ragland, author of "History of Logan
County, West Virginia," if John White, Sr. were himself a widower at the time of his marriage to Frances, he could have been
the Indian Fighter who migrated to Logan County with a family of grown men and one daughter to become pioneer settler there.
Ragland identifies only four sons (John "Jack" is one) and a daughter of the Logan pioneer, John White and wife, identified by
descenedents as "Biddy." Frances could have been referred to as Biddy according to this report.
John Sr., Jack, James, Benjamin and Arthur White are listed as owning land in Giles County in 1806.
Children of John, Sr.:
1. *John "Jack" White, Jr. was born 1775 in Amherst County, Virginia. Jack was married to Susanna Marcum
on July 29, 1796 in Montgomery County, Virginia. Susanna was born 1776 in Franklin County, Virginia and died 1850. She
was the daughter of Major John and Susan Marcum. Jack had twelve children. See following article.
2. Benjamin White, Sr. was born 1784 on Pigeon Creek, Logan County, Kentucky. He married Anna Stewart.
Ben and Anna had eight children:
a. John White married Elizabeth Rutherford
b. Margaret White married John Chambers
c. Benjamin White Jr.
d. Nancy White married Pleasant Chaffin
e. James White
f. Mary "Polly" White married William Sansom
g. William White married Nancy Deal
h. Arthur White was born June 1801 and died September 1870. He married Margaret Rebecca Miller on
January 22, 1824 and Mary Ann "Polly" Harold on April 3, 1852.
3. James White was born 1785 and died prior to 1860. James married Lucretta Elkins July 14, 1814. Lucretta
was born 1795.
4. William White was born 1790 and married Mary Polly Sansom on February 7, 1824 in Lawrence, Kentucky. Mary was born 1800 in Tazewell County, Virginia. She was the daughter of John Riley Sansom, Sr. and Elizabeth
Davidson. William and Mary lived in the Logan County, (West) Virginia area. They had three children:
a. Elizabeth White
b. Hampton White
c. Nancy White was born September 1875 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died November
9, 1977 in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
5. Nancy White was born between 1772-1778 and married Robert Whitt on October 22, 1792. Robert was
born 1755 in Amelia County, Virginia. He enlisted in the Revolutionary Army under Shelby.
6. Thomas White was born 1787 and married Agnes Bradley on January 30, 1822 in Giles County, Virginia.
Agnes was born in 1803. Thomas and Agnes had the following children:
a. Julia White born 1822 in Bear Spring, Giles Co., Va married Preston White, son of James
White.
b. Sarah A. White
c. Rachel White
d. Nancy F. White
e. Margaret White
f. Mahala White
John could have had other children - possibly Arthur and Archibald.
John "Jack" White, Jr.2
John White, Sr.1
*John "Jack" White, Jr. was born 1775 in Amherst County, Virginia. Jack was married to Susanna
Marcum on July 29, 1796 in Montgomery County, Virginia. Susanna was born 1776 in Franklin County, Virginia
and died 1850. She was the daughter of Major John Marcum and Susan Marcum. John "Jack" and his father,
John Sr. were reportedly Indian fighters.
Jack had twelve children:
1. William White, Sr. was born 1794 and died 1866. He married Edatha White on September 2, 1816 in
Giles County, Virginia. Edatha died in 1866. They lived in the Elgood area of Mercer County, (West) Virginia.
William and Edatha's children included:
a. Louisa White born 1827 and married Thomas B. Massey on February 2, 1854 in Mercer County,
(West) Virginia. He was the son of John Massey.
b. Andrew Jackson White born January 4, 1818 in Giles County, Virginia and married May 24,
1845 in Giles County, Virginia to Mary Isabel Wiley born 1823. Mary was the daughter of
James Wiley. After Mary's death on March 27, 1854 in Mercer County, Virginia Andrew
married Elizabeth E. Foley. Elizabeth was born 1838 in Patrick County, Virginia. Andrew and
Elizabeth were married February 15, 1855 in Mercer County, Virginia. Elizabeth was the
daughter of James and Juda Foley. Andrew died on May 7, 1904 in Mercer County, West
Virginia.
c. Mary White born 1830
d. William M. White, Jr. born 1832 in Mercer County, Virginia. He married Margaret Shannon
who was born 1834 in Campbell County, Virginia. They were married January 3, 1853 in Mercer
County, Virginia. Margaret was the daughter of John and Margaret Shannon.
e. Martha White born 1834
f. Sarah White born 1836
g. Edatha White born 1843
h. Susan White born 1850
i. Harriett White
j. Elizabeth White
k. Aura White born March 30, 1816 and died November 30, 1910 in Mercer County, West Virginia.
l. Benjamin F. White
m. Floyd White
2. John White III was born between 1797 and died in 1848. He married Susannah Elkins and lived in Logan
County, (West) Virginia. Susannah was born 1805. She and John were married 1819. John and Susannah's children
included:
a. Green C. White
b. John White IV
c. Wesley White born 1833
d. Nancy White
e. Polina White
f. Emily "Emma" White
g. Hannah White
h. Martha White
i. Margaret White
j. Julia Yantis White married Abel Sansom in 1836 in Logan County, Virginia. Abel was born
1817 and was the son of John Riley Sansom, Sr. and Elizabeth "Betty" Davidson.
3. Thomas A. White, Sr. was born 1803 and died October 14, 1883 in Elgood, Mercer County, West Virginia.
He was married first to Mary "Polly" Jamison Bailey and second to Rebecca Blankenship. Polly was born 1801 and died
January 31, 1899. Thomas and Polly were married November 17, 1824 in Tazewell County, Virginia. Polly was the
daughter of Reuben Bailey, Sr. and Sarah E. Ferguson. Rebecca was born 1838 and married Thomas on October
9, 1868. Children included:
a. Patten G. White was born about 1823 and died between 1861-1865 in Beartown, Wyoming
County, West Virginia. Patten, a Confederate soldier, was killed by Yankee soldiers while on furlough
at his home. Patten was living on the A. J. Bailey homeplace in Beartown. He is buried in Bailey Cemetery.
Patten was married to Rhoda Meadows. Rhoda was born 1824. They had five children:
a. Jane White born 1844
b. John A. White born 1846
c. Mary E. White born 1847
d. William B. White born 1850 in Mercer County, (West) Virginia married September 16,
1869 in Wyoming County, West Virginia to Olly Standley born 1849 in Russell County,
Virginia. Olly was the daughter of John and Polly Standley.
e. Louisa Jane White born April 18, 1849 married in 1866 to Harrison Henderson Bailey
born April 16, 1830 and died 1917. Harrison was the son of Masten Bailey and Juliet
Peters.
b. Harmon White born 1826. He was married twice, first to Mary unknown born 1831; second
marriage to Cynthia A. unknown.
1. Thomas H. White born 1854 in Mercer County, (West) Virginia married August 23,
1871 in Wyoming County, West Virginia to Zura Mills born 1854 in Wyoming County,
(West) Virginia
c. Reuben White born 1831 and married Martha ?
d. Milton White born 1833
e. Thomas Benton White born 1835 in Mercer County, Virginia and married Martha M. Scott in
Mercer County on March 22, 1855. Martha was born 1838 in Giles County, Virginia.
f. Lucinda White born 1837
g. Susanna White born 1840
h. John L. White
i. Nellie M. White
j. Howard White
4. Charles White was born 1802. He was married first to Rachel Jeffrey and second to Mary "Polly"
Garretson. Polly was born 1799 in Mercer County, Virginia and died on October 9, 1876 there. She was the
daughter of William Garretson. Charles lived and died in Logan County, (West) Virginia in 1880. Charles and
Rachel's children included:
a. Burwell White
b. Elizabeth White
c. Juda White
d. Reuben White was born 1839 and married on September 27, 1866 in Boone County, West
Virginia to Mary A. Walls who was born 1850. Mary was the daughter of Lee Walls and Sarah.
e. Alfred White
f. Albert White
g. Lewis White
h. Anthony White was born 1849 in Logan County, Virginia. He married Lucy A. McNeely who
was born 1850 in Logan County. Lucy and Anthony were married March 24, 1871 in Boone
County. Lucy was the daughter of Alexander McNeely and Rachel Elkins.
Charles and Polly's children included:
i. H. G. White who married S. E.
5. Issach White was born 1807 and married Mary unknown in 1828. He also lived in Logan County, (West)
Virginia. Children included:
a. Sarah White
b. Henderson White
c. Hiram White
d. John White
e. Eliza White
f. Jasper White
g. Floyd White
h. Docras White
i. Lilda White
j. Mary White
6. *Reuben White was born 1808 in Mercer County, (West) Virginia and died 1860. He married Mary Fannon
(Fanning) on May 12, 1827 in Giles County, Virginia. Mary was born 1807 and died after 1860. Reuben and Mary
had seven children. See following article.
7. Hiram White was born 1810. He married first to Nancy Sansom and second to Mary J. Collins on
November 21, 1859. Hiram lived in Logan County, (West) Virginia. Hiram and Nancy's children included:
a. David White
b. Lucy White
c. James White
d. Harmon White
e. William White
f. Hickman White
8. Masten White was born 1814 and died April 11, 1883. He married Susan "Annie" Sansom. Children included:
a. Susannah White
b. John White
c. Melvin White
d. Luannah White
9. Major White was born 1816 and married Sarah McNeely on June 4, 1823 in Cabell County, (West) Virginia.
Major and Sarah eventually moved to Shelby, Indiana.
10. Elijah White was born 1812 and married Mahala A. unknown. Mahala was born 1815. They lived in Logan
County, (West) Virginia. Their children included:
a. Yantis White
b. David White
c. Luanna White
d. James White
e. Susannah White
f. John White
11. James White was born 1796 and died 1828. He married Micca "Mickey" McKinney on May 30, 1821
in Giles County, Virginia. Mickey was born 1798 and died between 1852-1860, she was the daughter of
Joseph Floyd McKinney, Sr. and Elizabeth Copley. Mickey and James lived in the Oakvale area of Mercer
County, (West) Virginia. Children included:
a. James Russell White born May 5, 1828 and died March 22, 1908 in Mercer County, West
Virginia. He married Juliet Sarver Tiller, daughter of William Tiller, on November 20, 1849.
Juliet was born 1832. James served in the Civil War as a Confederate Soldier.
b. Eleanor White
c. Priscilla White married John A. McKenzie.
12. Judith White was born 1817 and married James Thompson.
Reuben White3
Jack, Jr.2, John, Sr.1
Reuben White was born 1808 in Mercer County, (West) Virginia and died 1860. He married Mary
Fannon (Fanning) on May 12, 1827 in Giles County, Virginia. Mary was born 1807 and died sometime after
1860. She was the daughter of Aclis and Mary Heath Fannon (Fanning). Reubin and Mary lived in the Elgood
area of Mercer County, (West) Virginia.
In August 1854, Alexandra Mahood was appointed Executor of the Estate of Reuben White because
Reuben was declared a "lunatic." Reuben is buried in a cemetery on Pisgah Road in Mercer County.
Reuben and Mary had six children:
1. *Abraham White born April 8, 1828 and died after 1890. He married Millie F. Garretson. Millie was
born January 22, 1827.
2. John White was born 1832.
3. Anna White was born 1836.
4. Marinda Jane White was born 1838 in Giles County, Virginia and married Hugh J. Fanning on May 27,
1857 in Mercer County, (West) Virginia. Hugh was born 1834 in Giles County, Virginia. Children
included:
a. William Fanning born 1862
b. Malinda Fanning born 1862
5. James White was born 1840 in Mercer County, (West) Virginia and married Sarah J. Owensby on
December 31, 1866 in Mercer County, West Virginia.
6. George W. White was born June 1845 in Mercer County, (West) Virginia and married Rebecca S.
Jones on June 13, 1866 in Mercer County, West Virginia. Rebecca was born 1851 in Wyoming County,
(West) Virginia.
7. Melvina White was born 1830. Children included:
a. Allen H. born 1856
b. Alia J. born 1860.
Abraham White4
Reuben3, Jack, Jr.2, John, Sr.1
*Abraham White born April 8, 1828 and died after 1896. He married Millie Garretson (Garrison).
Millie was born January 22, 1827. Abraham and Millie were living in Wyoming County, (West) Virginia during
the 1880 WV Census. His occupation was listed as farmer.
Abraham and Millie had three children:
1. Manervia Angie White was born November 5, 1856 and died 1942. She married Wiley Tiller. Angie
may have possibly been married to John H. White from Kentucky.
2. *Ulysses Grant White was born April 12, 1866 and married Victoria Shrewsbury,
daughter of John Shrewsbury on April 26, 1883 in Mercer County, West Virginia. See following article.
3. Reubin H. White was born 1852.
Abraham owned land in Tazewell County, Virginia and Wyoming County, (West) Virginia. He supposedly gave his
son Grant one piece of property in Wyoming County and gave one piece of land in Tazewell County to Angie.
Ulysses Grant White5
Abraham4, Reuben3, Jack, Jr.2, John, Sr.1
*Ulysses Grant White was born April 12, 1866 and married Victoria Shrewsbury on April 26, 1883 in
Mercer County, West Virginia. Victoria was born February 27, 1866. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth
Bailey Shrewsbury. Grant and Victoria lived on Osben Ridge in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
Grant left his family when their youngest child was just a baby. It has been reported that Grant left with
Mary Jane Meadows and her four children. The story claims that these children could have been Grant's since
Mary was not married. People during this time remembers Grant buying Mary's children clothes and shoes but not
his own children by Victoria. Grant left Victoria to raise their five small children.
No one knows for sure what really happened to Grant. It has been told that he moved to Kentucky or
Texas. Some believe that he stayed in the area and died there. Victoria died May 27, 1838 at the age of 72. She
was buried in the John Riley Shrewsbury Cemetery on Herndon Mountain in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
Grant and Victoria had five children:
1. *Wiley Johnson White, Sr. was born January 14, 1888 and died June 1933. He was married first to
Laura Alice Akers and second to Linda Stevens Gladwell. See the followiwng article.
2. James Abraham White "Jim" was born February 19, 1890 and died November 29, 1971. He was
married to Ida Edna "Edny" Shrewsbury.
3. George Winton White was born April 26, 1892 and died 1968. He was married to Martha Mills.
4. Phillip Sheridan White was born March 10, 1884 and died September 14, 1975. He was married to Alice
Stevens. Alice was the sister to Linda Stevens Gladwell who married Phillip's brother Wiley.
5. Mary Angeline White was born April 25, 1886 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died February 22,
1963 in Mullens, Wyoming County. She married Marion Sink on June 2, 1907 in Wyoming County,
West Virginia. Mary is buried in the Shrewsbury Cemetery on Arista Mountain. She died from
pneumonia in the lower lobe of the lung. Mary was tall and during her late years was heavy set. Mary and
Marion lived in Wyoming County on Knubbings Ridge near her mother, Victoria. Marion came from
Franklin County, Virginia to work on the railroad between Herndon and Mullens. He met Mary's brothers
at work and was looking for a place to board. Victoria took in boarders so the brothers informed Marion
and he stayed with the Whites. Victoria owned two log houses. The boarders stayed in the large house
while Victoria and Mary lived in the smaller house. Obviously, Marion met Mary while living there.
When Marion and Mary married, Victoria gave them a peice of land to build their home on. All of their
children were born there. After Marion and Mary died, the field at their home caught on fire and burned
the house. No one lives at the old homeplace today. It is reported that the remains of the house can still be
seen. Mary and Marion had nine children:
a. Lillie Arabelle Sink was born August 3, 1908 and married twice. First to Bennett Ballard and
second to Luther Mullens. Lillie and Bennett had a daughter named Ruth Bennett.
b. Vercie Sink was born December 5, 1910 and married Opie McKinney. Vercie and Opie had five
children:
1. Christine McKinney
2. Willard McKinney
3. Charles McKinney
4. Verline McKinney
5. Gaye McKinney
c. Ada Sink was born April 23, 1912 and died in 1995. She was married to Foster Hylton. Foster
and Ada had seven children:
1. Laquetta Hylton
2. Jimmy Hylton
3. Jo Ann Hylton
4. Peggy Hylton
5. Dextor Hylton
6. Fayda Sue Hylton
7. Mary Edna Hylton
d. Gracie Sink was born May 10, 1913 and married Bernard Milam. Bernard and Gracie had four
children:
1. Juanita Milam
2. Darlene Milam
3. Freddie Milam married Nova Janette McCroskey
4. Emmalee Milam
e. Woodrow Sink, Sr. was born March 14, 1914 and died October 17, 1971. He was married to
Sonia Morgan. Sonia and Woodrow had four children:
1. Woodrow Sink, Jr.
2. Denny Sink
3. Donna Sink
4. Pam Sink
f. Julie Sink was born September 4, 1915 and married Nathan Shrewsbury. Nathan and Julie had
seven children:
1. Alvin Dale Shrewsbury
2. Lillian Shrewsbury
3. Helen Shrewsbury
4. Roger Shrewsbury
5. Shirley Shrewsbury
6. David Shrewsbury
7. Carolyn Shrewsbury
g. Jacob "Jake" Riley Sink was born August 2, 1917 and married Montie Meadows. Jake and
Montie had six children:
1. Mildred Sink
2. Patsy Sink
3. Virginia Sink
4. Nellie Sink
5. Jerry Sink
6. Gerald Sink
h. William "Bill" Sink, Sr. was born April 17, 1919 and married Gladys Vines. Gladys and Bill
had five children:
1. Mary Ann Sink
2. Faye Sink
3. Brenda Sink
4. Bonnie Jean Sink
5. William Sink, Jr.
i. Unnamed Baby Boy was born in July 1921 and died two days later.
Wiley Johnson White, Sr.6
Ulysses5, Abraham4, Reuben3,
Jack, Jr.2, John, Sr.1
*Wiley Johnson White, Sr. was born January 14, 1888 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died June
1933 in Wyoming County. He was married first to Laura Alice Akers and second to Linda Stevens Gladwell.
Laura was born 1890 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died of tuberculosis on July 18, 1925 in
Wyoming County. Laura was the daughter of William Lewis and Martha Frances Little Akers.
Wiley and Laura had three children:
1. Luther White was born 1906 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died 1929 in Wyoming County. He
is buried in the John Riley Shrewsbury Cemetery on Herndon Mountain, Wyoming County, West Virginia.
2. William Ulysses White "Ulysses" was born May 5, 1907 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died
October 19, 1933 from kidney damage after he fell from a chimney. Ulysses married Ester Mills.
3. *Dewey Columbus White was born June 9, 1910 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died February 7, 1946
due to a cerebral hemorrhage after a mine cave in. He married Etta Pearlee Lindsay born February 3, 1913 in
Swain County, Bryson City, North Carolina. Etta was the daughter of John Robert and Lillie Jane Gasaway Lindsay.
Wiley married Linda Stevens Gladwell "Lindy" after Laura's death. Lindy was born 1898 in Virginia and died May
15, 1935 in Wyoming County, West Virginia. She and Wiley are buried in John Riley Shrewsberry Cemetery on Herndon
Mountain in Wyoming County. She was the daughter of Pleasant Stevens.
Wiley and Lindy had four children:
1. Raymond White married Hester Shrewsbury.
2. Arlon White married Zelma Bishop.
3. Goldie White married Paul Simmons.
4. Wiley Johnson White, Jr. was born December 26, 1924 in Wyoming County, West Virginia and died March
21, 1995 in Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia. Junior was married first to Velma Mills and second to Nova
Janette McCroskey Millam.
Comments or suggestions welcomed - please email me at grose@i-plus.net
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