Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-10-29
CAPTAIN ROBERT WHITE.

the most prominent and useful
men of his day. Capt. White made
his mark through his own individ-
ual exertions-the force of charac-
ter and the merit he possessed were
bound to rank him as remarkable
man under whatever circumstances
he might be placed and wherever
his lot might be cast. What for
tune he acquired and what reputa-
ton he possessed were the reward
of his own exertions, and compelled
the recognition Of virtues a dis
eliminating public could not fail to
appreciate. He was then what is
known in common parlance-a
self-made man.
CAME FROM IRELAND.
We are sufficiently acquainted
with his earlier life, by hearsay,
to know that he came to this
country from Ireland, poor boy,
his fortunes to make among strang-
crs. The first we hear of him is
of his arrival in the city Of Balti-
more where he invested few
hundred dollars in merchandise,
and with his little stock Of dry
goods set out for a location in
Virginia, to open store. He
settled upon the town of Middle
brook, in the county Of Augusta,
and there offered his wares to the
market of that vicinity,
PURPOSE OF RETURNING TO IRELAND.
We are told that he returned to
the city of Baltimore with the in
tention of re-embarking for his
native land, and the inference is
that he was rather discouraged
with the prospects this side Of the
great waters. But, at all events,
he did not carry out the purpose
of leaving America and abandoning
his citizenship in this country.
He was offered any quantity OF
merchandise he might see proper
to purchase of the merchants in
Baltimore, and was finally induced
to lay in a fresh supply and try
his hand again in Virginia. Hav-
ing procured large stock of goods,
Capt. White came to Lexington,
set up as a merchant, and this was
the beginning of a long and pros
porous careerwhich he subsequently
led among the people of Rock
bridge.
A LEXINGTON MERCHANT.
The foregoing event may be
considered as the turning point in
the life of Capt. Robert White.
Thus he met with that tide in the
affairs of men which taken, at the
food, leads on to fortune. He kept
store in the building at present
occupied as a store-fO0m by his
son, VIM. G. White, and his
family resided in the same build
ing. From accounts the house
room was much more limited in
those days than at the present
time, as the building was vastly
smaller than now; and still it
served for store-rOom and residence
for Capt. White and family. 1t
is no uncommon thing, in these
modern days, for us to be sur
prised to learn how little room our
ancestors required to raise large
family and carry on an extensive
business. This may be accounted
for, however, by there being more
of the substantial and less show
than in these later days.
SENT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
The people of Rockbridge soon
learned to appreciate the sterling
qualities Of their Irish settler. His
manners were blunt, but his heart
was in the right place and his head
was level. During his mercantile
life he was selected to represent
the county in the House of Dele
gates, and so popular did he make
himself as II representative, that
he was continued in that capacity
for nine consecutive years--possibly
he might have continued to repre-
sent the county in that capacity
for nine years longer, had it been
his pleasure to do so.
A VENERABLE CITIZEN.
Twenty-Five years ago the
venerable form of old Robert
White was familiar to the people
of Lexington and of Rockbridge
county. He had then made his
fortune-had settled from bust
ness to the enjoyment of his otium
cum dignitate, and that stoop-
shouldered old man with his
swallow-tailed blue coat and brass
buttons, walking stick in hand, or
during winter season, ehveloped in
u plain broadcloth cloak, was often
seen on our streets. The social
centre was enlivened with his
conversation. He spoke the truth,
let it be agreeable to his hearers
or not, but never with Il purpose
to offend. He had enough Of
Irish pleasantly about him to
make his conversation, though |
plain spoken, yet agreeable to