Kansas City daily journal., 1896-10-29
To the Kansas CITY JournaI.


The news by telegraph received in this
city to-day announcing the death Of Henry
A. White will sadden the hearts Of thous-
ands of his former friends among the cit
izens, the teachers of our public schools
and the pupils of our city. He passed
away, presumably. at Berkeley, Cal, at
5:l5 this morning, where he was sojourning
on account of Ill health, with the members
of his family. It is doubtful if the death
Of any other citizen could be so keenly felt
by SO many people. His loss will be deeply
mourned by all who knew him. He had no
enemies.
Major White had been an educator in
Kansas City for twenty years. He was at
one time president Of the school board, but
resigned this office and became principal
of the Franklin school in 1876. From that
time he was continuously a principal OF
our public schools until 1885, when i'll health
interrupted his labors. He was principal
Of the Morse school and later Of the Wood
land school.
the first Puritans from England and set
tied at Weymouth, Mass. where the home
stead still remains and Is occupied by the
White family. They were active In the
early history of our country. One held
commission under George III. In the Colon
ial army. During the revolution they were
prominent in council and In the field on the
side Of American liberty.
Major White was born in New York city
December 2, 1895 His early youth was
spent in Kentucky and Indiana He taught
school when very young In NashviHe. Iehh.
In the early sos he emigrated to Califor-
mia by way of Panama. He became q
teacher In Sacramento and many friend
ships formed then have continued through
life. He studied medicine in California, but
q realizing sense Of the physicians limited
abilities in the presence Of human suffering
caused him to abandon the profession. He
afterwards went to Cambridge and grad
uated from the Harvard law school. He
entered the Union army at the outbreak OF
Of the War of Rebellion as lieutenant and
rose through merit to the rank OF major.
He received honorable mention IN the Of
fictal records of the war for bravery In bat
tie About the close of the war he was
married to Miss Canine near his old home
in Indiana and moved to Kansas City. His
widow. q daughter and two SONS survive
him.
He was endowed with a superior intellect.
His mind was storehouSe OF knowledge.
He was a student of books. of men, and
of affairs He believed 1t to be the duty
Of every man to continue to improve him.
self to the last, employing his faculties to
their intended use. He regarded mental
improvement and the requirement of
knowledge not only as necessary to the
uplifting of the race, but as being in ac-
light was in unfolding thes minds and inn
planting the seeds of future usefulness In
the young To have been his pupil was a
fortunate privilege and pleasure.
All who knew him intimately were I'M
pressed by the great purity of his life. He
was the embodiment of more that was
lofty, lovable, helpful. noble and generous
than any man 1 have ever known. 1 feel
safe in saying that his character was never
stained by an unworthy thought or deed.
He was singularly free from all contaminat-
ing influences. He was religious. but not
sanctimonious. He possessed the broadest
charity for the weaknesses, frailties and
even the vices Of mankind, while maintain
ing for himself the highest standard of
manhood. He had fixed convictions upon
all who differed from him. His superior
qualities of mind and heart made him a
natural leader. He properly estimated his
superior capabilities. but used them for
the betterment of mankind rather than for
himself individually. The thought of per-
sonal gain or of gratifying personal ambi-
tion actuated him least of all. could al
most say that he was without selfishness.
1t was his habit to seek out the lowly. the
distressed. the discouraged and the sinful
| and impart to them help and hope. His
| wise counsel and announcement have
| smoothed the rough places in life for many
truthfully say with the writer that next
to our mothers he exerted better and
greater influence over our lives than any
other being. This man is dead: his infiu-
| ence lives. U. 8. EPPERSON,
A Pupil Of 1867.