The Sterling Standard, 11 Mar. 1904, Page 1, Column 1 

Hon. J. W. White Dies at His Home in Rock Island.

Passed Away This Morning After Long Illness of Bright’s Disease. 

Funeral Monday From Rock Ralls M. E. Church. 

Remains to Be Brought Here Under Escort, the Knights Templar of Sterling to Have Charge of the Burial – Deceased Was One of the Most Prominent Men of Whiteside. 

Hon. J. W. White died this morning at 6:29 o’clock at his home in Rock Island.  He had been ill of Bright’s disease for some time and had been treated in a Rock Island hospital till a few days ago when he was removed to his home.  After returning to is home he improved some, but Thursday he failed rapidly and this morning passed away.  He was a great sufferer, but was upheld by Christian grace and

Hon. J. W. White 

did not complain at his hard lot. 

The funeral services will be held in Rock Island Sunday afternoon and the remains will be brought to this city Monday morning on the 9:58 C. R. & Q. train.  They will be taken from the Rock Falls depot to the Rock Falls Methodist church, where funeral services will be held at 10:30 o’clock in charge of Rev. C. A. Gage, pastor of the church.  Music will be furnished by members of the church choir and after the church services, the burial will take place in the Rock Falls cemetery.  The Knights Templar of this city will attend the funeral in a body and have charge of the burial.  They will meet the train at the Rock Falls “Q” depot and will, in all probability, be led by the Sixth Regiment band.  The remains will be accompanied from Rock Island by an escort from the M. W. A. of that place.   

Prominent in Law 

John W. White, “one if the most prominent and highly respected men of this vicinity,” was born Oct. 7, 1852 in LaSalle county, Illinois.  While yet quite young and soon after the death of his mother which occurred in 1854, his father moved his family to Hahnaman township, Whiteside county, and later to Tampico township, where he died in 1879.  John W. was a member of his father’s family until 1875, working on the farm and attending the local public school.  In 1875 he went to Minnesota and later to Iowa.  He became a student of law with the legal firm of White & Varner of Adel, Dallas county, and read for his profession with them until 1877, when he came to this county again and began the practice of law in Tampico.  He was admitted to the bar in Iowa in 1876 and in Illinois in 1878.  He was very successful in his work and by strict honesty and uprightness soon won the respect and high esteem of all with whom he had business dealings.  He was also successful financially and acquired by purchase some farm property and town property in Tampico.

Mr. White was united in marriage April 7, 1883, in Rock Falls to Miss Lizzie Payson, daughter of Mrs. Mary Payson, who now resides in Rock Falls and who went to Rock Island on the morning train today, arriving there only a very short time after his death.  One daughter and two sons were born to them, all of whom are living I Rock Island.  They are Miss Bessie, Leo and Ralph.  Mrs. White died in Rock Falls in 1898.  Besides the children the deceased leaves the following to mourn his death:  One brother, Adelbert White; two sisters, Mrs. Clara Spaulding and Mrs. Emma Dir, all of Western Kansas; Justin and Edson White, two half brothers who live in the west.  It is thought that some of them will be here to attend the funeral. 

Prominent in Politics 

In practice, Mr. White was A Republican of a decided type.  He held the office of supervisor for Tampico township for a number of terms and was also village attorney here for some time.  He came to Rock Falls and with H. L. Sheldon, formed the law firm of White & Sheldon in 1893.  This firm existed until his death.  Mr. Sheldon managed the business during the last few years while Mr. White has been busy in Rock Island. 

He was a member of the state legislature four terms.  He would probably have been elected to the congress after that had he not entered the head offices of the M. W. A. at Rock Island as director and later as head attorney which office he held till the time of his death.  He has been for a member of years a prominent Mason and has served in many of the offices of the fraternity in Tampico and in Sterling.  He was also a member of the Mystic Workers, the Court of Honor, the Royal Neighbors and the Maccabees.  While a member of the state legislature, Mr. White was the chairman of the appropriations committee, one of the most important offices.  He would undoubtedly have been chosen speaker of the house should he have returned another term, for he was one of the most influential members of the body. 

Prominent in Church Work. 

Above all of his other work and offices and honors, Mr. White placed his religion.  He was a true Christian and an influential and faithful member of the Methodist church.  He has always been deeply interested in the church and Sunday school work and many in Rock Falls and other places where he has lived and labored, have been greatly helped by his influence and interest in them.  Mr. White lived and died a good honest, earnest Christian Man, and he has certainly laid up for himself treasures in heaven where he goes to enjoy the fruits of his labor. 

Sterling Evening Gazette, 11 Mar. 1904, page 1, column 1. 

Hon. J. W. White Called To Rest 

Former Rock Falls Attorney Passes away at Rock Island Home. 

Burial in Rock Falls. 

Funeral Services Will be Held In Methodist Church Monday Morning Conducted by the Rev. Mr. Gage. 

The Hon. John W. White who for many years was a respected citizen of Rock Falls died at his home in Rock Island this morning at 6:29 o’clock, after a long and painful illness of Bright’s disease of the kidneys.  Mr. White has been in poor health for a year or more, but he has been confined to his bed for a period of only four weeks.  He was taken ill while at his home, and his disorder became so serious that he was taken to the Rock Island hospital for treatment.  He remained at this institution about three weeks, but the attendants there saw the he was receiving no benefit and that his case was hopeless and directed that he be taken back to his home.  Though the deceased suffered intensely during his illness, his mind remained active until the very last.  He employed a stenographer to say [sic] at his bedside, and up till yesterday he gave his personal attention to his law business.  Last evening his condition took a decided change for the worse, and death came this morning at an early hour.  There were with him at the time [sic] of his death his three children and Dr. Franc Morrill of Chicago who was called to attend him several days ago. 

Funeral Monday Morning 

The funeral services will be held at the family home in Rock Island Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock.  The remains will then be brought to this city, arriving here in the 9:45 “Q” passenger Monday morning.  They will be taken at once to Rock Falls.  Funeral services will be held in the Rock Falls Methodist church Monday morning at 10:30 o’clock, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Gage, the pastor.  The Sterling commander Knights Templar, of which the deceased was a member, will attend the funeral in a body and conduct the services at the grave.  R. L. Letch is to have charge of the funeral music.  The internment will take place in the Rock Falls cemetery. 

A Prominent Lawyer 

Mr. White was a man of the highest integrity and his death is sincerely mourned by hundreds of people in Sterling and Rock Island.  He was a lawyer of a great deal more than the ordinary ability and his honest and careful methods won for him the confidence of a large clientage.  He has been for many years a member of the Rock Falls Methodist church, and it can be truthfully said of him that he lived up to the precepts and rules of the church faithfully and to the best of his ability.  He was an enthusiastic worker for his church and was actively interested in the church proper, the Epworth league and the Sunday school.  His life was consistent and manly and the record he leaves behind him in this world is well worthy of the emulation of his friends. 

Since 1893 Mr. White has been the law partner of H. L. Sheldon of Rock Falls, the firm having for a time conducted offices in Tampico and Rock Falls.  In 1894 he moved to Rock Falls and made his home there until about a year ago when he moved to Rock Island.  He was three times elected to the state legislature, and his record as a lawmaker is excellent.  For two years he was chairman of the committee on appropriations.  It has been said of him by fellow legislatures that he was one of the most influential of the republicans in Springfield.  

Attorney For Woodmen. 

Mr. White has been prominent in Woodmen affairs for the past fifteen years.  He was elected a member of the head board of directors in 1890 and for several years was e chairman of the board.  Four years ago he was made general attorney for the order, and in order to be near the head office he moved to Rock Island two years ago.  He but recently completed a handsome new home in that city.  He was taken ill soon after moving into it, and by his death he is deprived of the many delights of one of the finest residences in that city. 

The deceased is survived by three children, Bessie, Leo and Ralph, all of whom lived at home.  He also leaves one brother, A. Z. White of Tampico; two sisters, Mrs. Clara Spalding and Mrs. Emma Dir of northwestern Kansas; two half brothers, Justin White of Iowa and Edson White of Iowa City, Ia. 

Mrs. Payson of Rock Falls, mother-in-law of the deceased, went to Rock [continued] 

(Continued from page 1)

 Hon J. W. White is Dead. 

Former Rock Falls Attorney Passes Away Today. 

Funeral Services Will be Held in the Rock Falls Methodist Church Monday Morning, Conducted by the Rev. Mr. Gage, the Pastor – The Remains Will be Brought Here From Rock Island on the “Q” passenger Monday Morning 

Island this morning, and Mr. White’s law partner, H. L. Sheldon, left for that place this noon.  Both will return with the remains Monday morning.   

Born in La Salle County. 

Mr. White was born in La Salle county, Ill., Oct. 7, 1852.  He lived with his father’s family until 1875, working on the farm and attending school.  In that year he went to Minnesota and then to Iowa.  He became a student of law with the legal firm of White & Varner where he read until 1877.  In that year he came to Tampico and established his practice.  From the start he was successful, and at the time of his death he was considered one of the ablest lawyers in this part of the state. 

The deceased was married April 7, 1883 at Rock Falls to Miss Lizzie Payson, who died in Rock Falls in 1893. 

 (contributed by Chuck Rodekohr, ggrandson of J. W. White)