California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


HUFFMAN MICHAEL WHITE. An extensive land owner and a pioneer whose earliest 
efforts have been enlisted in the cause of upbuilding and developing the western state that he 
made his home, Huffman M. White is esteemed as a citizen of worth and integrity and a potent 
factor in the commercial, political and social life of the community. He was born in Tioga coun- 
ty, N. Y., March 14, 1824, a son of Silas and grandson of Joshua White, both natives of 
Dutchess county, N. Y., where the death of the latter occurred. Silas White went to Illinois in 
1838 as a pioneer and located in LaSalle county, where he engaged in farming until his death. 
His wife, Maria McClave in maidenhood, was born in New York state and died in Illinois. 
They were the parents of five sons and four daughters, of whom Huffman Michael White 
was the third in order of birth. 

Reared to manhood in Illinois, to which state he accompanied his parents when he was fourteen 
years of age, Huffman M. White received his education in the public schools in the vicinity of 
his home. On attaining maturity he engaged in lumbering in Grundy county, in 1844 operating 
a sawmill in that section of country. In 1850 he followed the westward trend of civilization, 
making a trip across the plains by horse-teams, consuming one hundred and one days from St. 
Joseph, Mo. The trip was a pleasant one, even in the midst of hardships and privations which 
were necessarily incident to such travel. Upon his safe arrival in California Mr. White fol- 
lowed mining in Sacramento and Eldorado counties for about three months. The fall of 1852 
found Mr. White in Parajo, Santa Cruz county, where he farmed and raised potatoes and barley. 
He was probably the largest potato raiser in California at that time, having as many as seven 
hundred acres planted to that vegetable. He marketed his produce in San Francisco, by means 
of a line of vessels which he owned, and amassed a fortune of $100,000 in the business. One of 
his vessels, the Young America, was sent to Melbourne, Australia, in charge of his brother, but 
the boat was lost at sea with all on board. Mr. White suffered another loss in the burning of 
one of his vessels while anchored in the harbor. In the spring of 1865 Mr. White went to Sacra- 
mento, where he engaged in the wholesale mercantile business, and two years later came to 
Tulare county, and in Visalia was interested in mercantile pursuits for a year. Coming then to 
the Frazier river valley he pre-empted and purchased land, until today he owns twenty-three 
hundred acres. The land available for grain purposes he rents ; while the balance is devoted to 
the raising of stock. 

In Visalia Mr. White was united in marriage with Mrs. Jerusha (Anthony) Brown, born in 
New York state, and a daughter of Paul Anthony, Jr., and Hannah Eddy, natives of Massa- 
chusetts and Vermont, respectively. By her first marriage Mrs. White became the mother of two 
sons, Clinton T. and William W. Brown, the former residing in Piano, and the latter in Por- 
tersville. 

To Mrs. White belongs the distinction of planting the first orange tree in this vicinity. 
The seed was brought from the Society Islands by Captain McLaughlin, of the United States 
Volunteer army. One tree which came from this seed was planted in the White ranch, and is 
still standing, an honored patriarch of California trees, and the first tree to be planted in Tulare 
county. When seven years old this tree bore ten oranges, which were sold at $1 apiece, and 
the sum which they brought, $10, was given by Mrs. White to the building fund of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of Portersville. A lemon tree planted at the same time bore fruit when three 
years old. Mrs. White may well claim the honor and distinction of being the mother of horticul- 
ture in the San Joaquin valley. 

In his political convictions Mr. White is a staunch Republican and has always taken an 
active interest in the workings of that party. He served as a delegate to the first Republican con- 
vention held in Sacramento, and subsequently was a candidate for election to the assembly, 
being defeated by only fifteen votes. He has repeatedly served as school trustee, and for the 
year of 1905 was a delegate to the state convention, being the oldest man in that body.