The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-02
MORDECA| WHITE,
PATRON Of EARL HAM,
TAKEN BY DEATH
Funeral of Generous Bene-
factor of Friend School
Held Today.
DEATH WAS EXPECTED
Cincinnati Financial Circles
Mourn Death of PrOmi-
nent Banker.
DEATH WAS EXPECTED

Mordecai Morris White, for many
years member of the endowment
board of Earlham college, and one of
the largest contributors to that insti-
tuition, who died at his home in Gin
cinnati Wednesday, was buried in that
city today.
Earlham college was represented at
the funeral by Pres. Kelly, B. B. John
son and Timothy Nicholson, of the
board of control, and John B. Dougan.
Mr.. White was chairman of the
board Of directors of the Fourth Ma
tional bank at Cincinnati.
The intense heat of the past sum-
mer, coupled with his advanced age,
83 years, prostrated him, and he had
not been able to visit the bank for
some time. His condition gradually be-
came more serious, so that even after
the weather moderated it became ap-
parent to the members of his family
that the end was not far away.
or Quaker Stock.
Mordecai Morris White was the son
of John F. White. He was born in Per-
qulmons, County, North Carolina, Feb
ruary 3, 1880, and the same year, with
his parents, came to Washington Coun-
ty, Indiana. After the death of his
mother he and his brother, Francis
Toms White, lived with their grand
father, Mordecai Morris, until 1845
Mr.. White entered Earlham college,
an institution under the management
of the Quakers. He graduated in 1850,
after taking the full course, and then
took a commercial course in Cincin-
natl.
In 1851 he went to Philadelphia,
where he secured a position with the
mercantile house of Wood, Bacon &
Co, and remained there two years and
nine months. Discouraged at the pros
poets OF ever becoming a member of
the firm, because the senior mem
Der had six sons he was training for
the business, Mr.. White with his
brother began preparing their North
Carolina plantation, which they inner
tied from their grandfather Morris,
for their future home, intending to
manage and develop it.
Enters Banking.
In the meantime Mr.. White became
interested in banking. In 1861, in con-
neetion with John H. Hewson, receiv-
ing teller of the banking house of
Evans & Co., he organized the firm of
HeWson, White & Co, private bank
ers. Mr. White and his brother fur
capital. The firm was dissolved in
1872 and the capital and profits dis
tributed, the business being transfer
red to the Fourth National bank of
Cincinnati. the ninety-third national
bank established in the United States,
and of which Mr.. White had on June
4, 1871, been elected director and
Mr.. Hewson cashier Mr.. White was
elected cashier August Z, 1872, and
president December 13, 1875, contin-
uing so until January IA, 1908, when
desiring to be released or some of the
burdens of business, he retired from
the presidency of the bank to become
chairman of the board of directors,
which he was at the time of his death
Mr.. White retained until his death
a warm and intense interest in Earl
ham college and was for many years
on the Executive Committee. He also
contributed largely to its financial
support and was devoted to the Quak-
er faith.
In politics Mr.. White was a Republi-
can of the most earnest kind. He new
er held office, but he never failed to
vote in the elections, considering it a
duty he owed to the state.
He has contributed largely from his
great fortune to religion, art, educa-
tion and philanthropy. Among the
beneficiaries of his generosity. besides
Earlham College, are the Art Museum,
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion, the Cincinnati School of Tech
nology, the Union Bethel and the
Children's Home all of this city, and
a Quaker mission in Mexico. All OF
this he did unostentatiously so that
few knew of his contributions.
Besides his fortune in stocks and
other securities, Mr.. White was a large
owner of real estate.
Mr.. White was married Novem Der 5,
1858, to Hannah Amelia Coffin, daugh.
Ter of Elijah Coffin, an Indiana bank.
az. She survives him, as do their
flour daughters, Mrs. John Gates, Gin.
cinnati; Mrs. Theodore w. Cramp
Philadelphia; Mrs. Clarence Price
49,, yorG and Mrc Gaorpa n Eucris