Birth: 1845
Death: 1914
Location: Lot 15, Section 2, Outside the Old Cemetery
First wife: Frances Elizabeth Dunn, two children to this union: Etta & Ida Alice. Divorced in abt 1872.
OBITUARY: Found at Stuhr Museum, Grand Island, Hall Co., Nebraska in newspaper microfilm, Wood River Interests, Wood River, Hall Co., Nebraska dated October 9, 1914, Page 1, Column 4.
ABNER C. WHITE PASSES AWAY
“The last roll call has sounded for another highly esteemed old soldier and early settler of Wood River in the person of Abner C. White who passed away at his home Tuesday morning, Oct. 6, after a lingering illness of almost four years, from bright’s disease, aged 69 years and 5 days. For over a year past Mr. White had been in poor health but was able to be around much of the time, and was down town only three weeks ago. He was confined to his bed for about a week.
Funeral services were held from the Methodist Church Thursday afternoon at three o’clock conducted by Rev. Wagner in the presence of a church filled to overflowing with neighbors and friends come to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of the departed. Interment was had in the Wood River cemetery. E. Kuns, J.T. Rose, Peter Burmood, David Morgan, B.B. Hall, and G.W. Plummer acting as pallbearers.
Abner C. White was born at Richmond, Ind., August 31, 1845, where his boyhood was spent. In 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in Co. K. 18th Iowa Infantry and served about a year when he was honorably discharged. Soon thereafter he joined an Illinois Cavalry Regiment and served till the close of the war in 1865, again receiving an honorable discharge. June 10, 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Angelina A. Harris at St. Louis, Michigan, and of this union fifteen children were born, thirteen of whom survive, together with the wife, as follows: Mrs. M.S. Parker and Harry C. White of Arcadia, Nebr., Mrs. Robert Wiley of Yorkshire, England, Mrs. J.L. Sare of Lincoln, Nebr., and Mrs. Thomas McDonald, Mrs. Will Burmood and George, Benjamin, Arthur, Fred, Carlton, Hazel and Gertrude, all living at Wood River, the last six named living under the parental roof. The deceased also leaves three brothers and three sisters: Carl White of Wood River, John White of Lincoln and Charles White of South Omaha: Mrs. James Williams of Wood River, Mrs. James O’Fallon and Mrs. William Peach, both of Omaha. After his marriage, deceased came with his family to Hamburg, IA. in 1880 and in 1881 he removed to Wood River, at which place he has continuously resided and followed his trade of shoemaker for 33 years. Thirty three years is a long span in business life and if we understand it right only two business men in Wood River are still in business that were in business here when Mr. White came, and they are John Wilkinson, the blacksmith, and Carl White, the liveryman. A.C. Murphy commenced business a few years after Mr. White. Probably no man was better known in this community than Mr. White. For many years he had the only shoe shop in Wood River and everybody came to him to have their shoes repaired. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the community. He was a member of Bradley Post No. 184 and was for twenty years its Adjutant, and in all things patriotic was right to the front. He was a member in good standing of the A.O.U.W. and was for many years Recorder of the local lodge. For some ten years he was Justice of the Peace, and held that position at the time of his death. He also served several years as Village Trustee, Village Marshal and Constable and was widely known as a dispenser of justice and an enforcer of the law. In politics he was a republican and he was a familiar figure in caucus and convention. By reason of his many and deversified activities for so long a period of time Mr. White was known to almost every household and his cheerful smile and hearty greeting brought good cheer to the hearts of many. ‘Cot’ White’s shoe shop was a popular resort for men of high and low degree and many were the informal debates had there on matters of state, law, politics and religion. The deceased was possessed of many good qualities of mind and heart and leaves a wide circle of friends to mourn his death. The heartfelt sympathy of the community goes out to the grief stricken wife and children and relatives in their time of sorest bereavement.”
Note: Bright’s disease is a kidney disease.