Fresno County, California Biographies Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919) History By Paul E. Vandor Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919 Notes: Missing+page1185-1186 Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm T. C. WHITE. � Something more than ordinary business sagacity is needed to attain to the success reached by T. C. White, the capitalist, and more than the good will of his fellow men is deserved by him for his con- tribution to the establishing here of the soundest commercial and financial conditions. Born in 1850 at Essex, four miles from Lake Champlain, Chit- tenden County, Vt.. he was the son of Calvin and Hannah (Furman) White, both of good old New England stock; and in the public schools of Essex he obtained his elementary education. Later he attended Burlington College in the same state. Coming to California in 1877, he located in Fresno County, soon pur- chased land, and in time, developed Central California's first raisin vine- yard. As a raisin grower, he came to occupy offices of responsibility and also gained an international reputation. He was once president of the old Pro- ducers Packing Company, the first co-operative raisin association in the state, and a prime mover and organizer as well as a director and treasurer of the California Raisin Growers Association. His products have taken many premiums, among which may be mentioned the special gold medal of the Mechanics Institute Fair at San Francisco. He also received a special gold medal from the San Joaquin Valley Fair, and diplomas and awards from state and world fairs. In 1893 he was chosen as the judge for the State of California to award the premiums for all products at the World's Fair at Chicago, and such practical knowledge of fruit culture as has been necessary in his own fortunate growing, made him the best of judges at well-known fairs � an honorable appointment frequently conferred upon him. Mr. White is more or less familiar with every phase of the fruit industry as thev are represented in California, and has also grown deciduous fruits. On November 27, 1877, Mr. White was married to Miss Augusta Fink, born in Wisconsin, by whom he has had one son, Harry F. White, for some time past associated with his father in business. In 1892, Mr. White entered the real estate field, and in realty he is now making new conquests. He has bought and sold thousands of acres, and by helping to secure better transportation facilities, has enabled the settler more rapidly to realize from his investment, and the community to sooner build up. As a firm, T. C. & H. F. White are extensively interested in San Joaquin Valley lands, while the son also represents the North River and City of New York Fire Insurance Company. Mr. White owns the corner of I and Merced Streets, 150 x 150 feet, 50 x 150 feet having been improved with a three-story building many years ago. Seeing the need for a modern theater building, and the time being ripe, he improved the balance of the lot with the New White Theater, 100 x 150 feet. This is one of the most modern theaters in the state, special attention having been given to ventilating, cool- ing, heating, safety and fire escapes. The theater has a seating capacity of 1,500, and is the largest in the Valley. The front is built four stories and is fitted up especially for the University Club, of which Mr. White is an hon- orary member. He also owns other valuable business and resident property in Fresno, and also valuable ranch property in Fresno, Kings and Madera Counties. Mr. White has for years been an important factor in the civic life of the county, has served several times as a member of the board of super- visors, and now and then as chairman of that body. While acting as the chairman, the old canal or ditch on Silvia Road and Fresno Street had be- come a nuisance, and dangerous as well. Silvia Road was in his road dis- trict and he gave orders to the overseer to fill it in above Fresno Street out- side of the city. It was begun and finished on a Sunday, thus stopping the water from running into Fresno Street. The people of the city at once be- gan to fill in the ditch in town, thereby doing away with the nuisance and Fresno Street has become a leading thoroughfare. Mr. White has been a director of the Twenty-first Agricultural District many years. In 1889 he helped to organize the first National Bank of Fresno, and has been a member of the board of directors ever since, also served as vice-president and secre- tary; he is also interested in other Central California banking institutions. He is a large stockholder and a director in the Fresno Hotel Company, a corporation which, in 1913, erected at a cost of about $350,000 and today worth over half a million dollars, the fine Hotel Fresno, and this last invest- ment is but a fair illustration of the manner in which Mr. White has always sought to build up the city. As a wide-awake, untiring "booster," he has served as president of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.