Biography - Eleazar White
ELEAZAR H. WHITE, a prominent farmer of Bond County, resides on his two hundred and more acres of fine land two miles northwest of Greenville, Ill. The subject of this sketch was born where he now lives, October 5, 1835, and was the son of John B. White, who was a native of Rutherford County, N. C.
Thomas White, our subject's grandfather, was a native of the old North State, and was of Irish birth, and became a teacher and farmer in North Carolina. He made two trips north on horseback prospecting and looking out fine land in the State, and in 1820 he brought his family by wagon and located on section 9 in this township, where he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land. He was one of the first settlers and built a log cabin here.
The red men became his familiar visitors, and among them Mr. White found many who possessed fine traits of character. Deer and wolves abounded in the country, and wild turkeys flew over the streams, but as he was no hunter he did not pursue any of the wild creatures for sport. During the summers he farmed, and when the months of deep winter settled down over the land he taught school. He was the first teacher in Bond County, and at that time all of the schools were on the subscription plan. Mr. White was a giant in size and strength, weighing three hundred and thirty-three pounds, and he accomplished much in his life. His demise occurred at the age of seventy-six years, and in him the Presbyterian Church lost a member who had always performed his full duty. In politics, he was a Whig and later became a Republican.
The father of our subject came here when about thirty years of age, and here found the lady who became his wife. He settled upon the present farm, built a log house, and developed the farm and became the owner of two hundred and seventy-five acres. His stock was considered fine, and he carried on his farming in a careful manner. In the eighty-fourth year of his age he passed away, having been a member in good standing in the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he was a Republican, and had been a Whig in his earlier days.
The mother of our subject was Margaret Robison, a native of North Carolina, who came here with her parents when but a little girl and settled in Madison County, near Edwardsville. She was the mother of eight children: Mary, now Mrs. Elam; Thomas W., deceased; Boriah R.; Harriet, now Mrs. Robison; John M., deceased; Samuel E.; James A., deceased; and Eleazar H. The mother had been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and her neighbors and family missed a good, kind woman when she was called away at the age of forty -six years.
Our subject was reared on the home place on which he now resides, and was educated in the pioneer schoolhouse, and remembers the slab benches, and big wide chimney made of mud and sticks. In his day, deer and wolves were still seen in great numbers around his home, and one of the duties of the young boys in the families was to carefully close the sheep pens, as the wolves did not tire of mutton if the boys sometimes did. At the death of his father, our subject took the homestead, and later was married to Mrs. Harriet A. Goodson, who was born in this township. Four children were born to them: Ida E., John B., Hattie A. and George W.
John Goodson, Mrs. White's father, was born in Logan County, Ky., on the 7th of March, 1801, and his father was William Goodson, a native of New England, who, with his father, was an early settler of Logan County, Ky. There Mrs. Goodson’s father married, and moved to this county in 1826. The trip was made by wagon and all camped by the roadside at night by a fire of logs. One night the fire grew low, and while they were all asleep a panther crept up and was just about to spring upon the baby, when its father awoke and snatched a firebrand and drove the animal away. This child lived to become the mother of sixteen children.
The land which Mr. Goodson entered he lived upon until the time of his death, which occurred in 1863, when he was about sixty-two years old. He was a Cumberland Presbyterian and services were held in his house. The father of Mrs. White married in Kentucky, and had three children when he came to Illinois in 1826. At that time, he entered land on the southeast quarter of section 27, in this township, and there built a log house and worked very hard. At the time of his death, he owned four hundred acres of land, which he had obtained by good management. In his politics, he was a Democrat before the war, but during that struggle he became a Republican. A man of sound judgment and great foresight, he predicted many things at the outbreak of the war which came to pass afterward. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The mother of Mrs. White was Elizabeth Perry, who was born in Logan County, Ky., June 7, 1800. She became the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom she reared to maturity. She had embraced the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and died September 15, 1844. The land which is owned by our subject comprises two hundred and one and one-half acres, all of which is contained in one body and is mostly improved. He has successfully combined grain and stock-raising and has bred some very tine horses. Both Mr. and Mrs. White belong to the Presbyterian Church, in which the whole family far back has taken great interest. Formerly our subject was a Republican, but he now affiliates with the People's party, and at present is acceptably filling the office of School Director.
Extracted 20 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 338-339.
