The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-07-08
Albert S. White.
Born in Belfast in 1910, Died in River
side, California, June 81, 1909.


announcement of the death, June 21st, at
his home in Riverside, California, of AL
bert S. White, son of Hon. James P.
White of this city. 1t came as a sur
prise to the many friends of this family,
so long prominent in the business and
social affairs of Belfast, who were not
aware of Mr.. Whites illness. The cause
of death was acute Bright disease, from
which Mr.. White had been sufferer at
intervals for a number of years. The
Riverside Enterprise speaks editorially
in the highest terms of commentator of
Mr.. White, and on the same page w. ].
Mcintyre pays an eloquent tribute to the
deceased. The Enterprise also publishes,
with portrait, the following obituary:
Albert S. White was born in Belfast,
Maine, in 1910, and attended school and
was reared in his native place. At the
close of his school days he located in New
York and his entry into business life was
in mercantile pursuits. He became asso-
ciated with Capt. George w. Gilchrist in
the Supplementary business. His keen
business tact and energetic management
rendered him valuable and under the firm
name of Gilchrist, White & Co., their
house became one of the best known in
the city and stood at the head of estab
lishments in their line Of business. In
the spring of 1875 Mr.. White was pros
trated by severe attack Of pneumonia,
and failing to rally from it's effects, his
physician recommended a warmer eli
70 olx cd f,.1Y, 70 fhar
Europe, but Mr.. White preferred Cali
fornia. In January, 1886, he crossed the
continent and visited many well-known
resorts of the Pacific coast in vain
search for health. Finding no relief
from the coast climate, he decided to
try the interior, with its higher altitude
and drier climate With this in view he
visited Southern California. In River
side he found the long sought fountain of
health and passed the winter here,
gaining rapidly in health and strength.
Convinced that he could live in no other
climate, before going East in the spring
he purchased 40 acres of land about four
miles south of Riverside, on what is now
Magnolia avenue, but was then dry plain.
At that date Riverside was but a small
settlement of 300 people.
Closing out his business in New Y ork
during the summer he returned to River
side in the fall of 1876, and entered with
his customary zeal into the improvement
of his ranch, bringing from the East the
choicest varieties of fruit trees and vines,
and became at once typical 'River
slider Of an enthusiastic and energetic
temperament, he threw himself into every
enterprise tending to advance and build
up the interests of Riverside, his chosen
section. Bringing to his new calling a
mind trained to reasoning and studying
in order to secure the best results from
whatever enterprise he engaged in, he
soon became an expert horticulturist and
rapidly built up one of the most produc-
tive horticultural industries in the colony
Together with Mr.. Rudisill, Mr.. White
organized in Riverside the first citrus
fair ever held in the world, which proved
such success that he went to work to
raise funds for suitable building in
which to hold such fairs. The Citrus
Fair association and the erection of the
pavilion was the result of those labors;
and in all succeeding fairs Mr.. White
was the leading spirit, devoting time and
money to their advancement and success.
Among the many prominent works with
which Mr.. White has been identified are
the building of the Universalist church
and the Arlington schoolhouse He was
founder of the Library Association and
was always a library trustee until recent
years. having leading part in the con-
struction of the present Carnegie library
building. Mr.. White was the organizer
of the Citizens Water company and its
successor, the Riverside Water com
pany, serving as director on each
of NV, TO-
table labors in Riverside was the work
ing out of the present domestic water
system, which is acknowledged to be
Riverside's choicest asset at the present
time, and the conclusion of which project
involved many financial and personal sac
rifces on his part. Mr. White was for
many years vice president of the River
side Land company, and was director
at the time of his death.
When the State board of horticulture
was organized, Mr.. White was appointed
by Governor Perkins to represent South
ern California on the board, which posi-
ton he held for two years
Mr.. White was one of the original in
corporators and directors of the River
side & Arlington Railway company. In
1887 he was one of the promoters and in
corporators OF the Riverside Improve
ment company and was president of the
company during the time that it de-
veloped and plped the domestic water
supply of the city Of Riverside, which
was done at an outlay of 5000, 600 Mr.
White was president and stakeholder
of the Riverside Water company, and
was one of the original stockholders and
directors of the Loring Opera House
company. Mr.. White was for four years
trustee of the city of Riverside and for
part of that time was president of the
board and acting mayor.
In politics Mr.. White has always been
an earnest Republican, and has at all
times until very recent years been an
active leader in the ranks of the party.
Mr.. White was member of the board
of supervisors of Riverside county be-
fore county division and then served a
part of a term and full term after the
organization of Riverside county.
Mr.. Whites enthusiasm in regard to
the destiny of Riverside sometimes car
ried him ahead faster than the people
were ready to respond and during the
boom days he incurred some heavy finan-
cial losses. Many of these he might have
avoided except for his sense Of honor,
which made it impossible for him to
avoid the payment of anything which
even by inference he had let it be under
stood that he would be responsible for.
In the disaster which overlook the River
side Improvement COMPANY. MIR. White