Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08

life well spent. And to whom should we more
naturally look for first-hand knowledge of the
dim and distant past than those whom we look
upon today as veterans
Indeed, it is great privilege to be able to
sit down and quietly to talk ever events Of long
ago with an octogenarian or perhaps some one
80 or even a hundred years old. One OF the
writer's friends was an old newspaperman who
died q few years ago at the ripe old age of 80.
With q mind still clear for details and facts, he
could easily relate unpublished "reminiscences
of Washington, his native city, by the hour,
and always hold the attention of those who
were fortunate enough to be lsteners-in. But
unfortunately he did not record the valuable
information acquired during his lifetime, and
much Of his vast knowledge died with him.
So it is with one who is buried in Rock
Greek Cemetery, right in front of the church,
and before whose grave the writer stood few
years ago and read this inscription:
I'm Remembrance of
JAMES WHITE
Who Died March g. 1901
Aged So yrs"
Just few feet away was this slab, which
marked the resting place of his consort and life
companion, which read:
ELEANOR WHITE
Wife to Jms. White departed
this life Aug. 18TH 1895
in the Both year of her age and
Goth of her marriage"
What a fascination these old weathered
relics Of the stonecutter's art have for those
seeking historical information, and how very.
limited at times the Inscriptions really prove
to be. Who, for instance was this James
White? And what of his ancestry? The first
question can be only partly answered. and the
second one answered only with uncertainty.
That he lived nearby is quite certain, other
wise it is probable he would not have been
buried there. Fortunately, the record of Old
st. Pauls tell us that he was an early vestry-
man Of this church, which was founded Just
four years after his birth. and other evidence
leads to the site of his old home in Brightwcod,
still occupied by his descendants.
THERE is every reason to believe that James
White was originally of Prince Georges
County Maryland, and that he lived in that
part OF the county which in 1776 became Mont
gomery County, and subsequently part of the
District Of Columbia. He was a very large
owner Of land, which he either received direct
as grant from the crown or by way Of in
heritance from his father, whom sonie give
supposedly, as Robert White, who married Ann
Burgess, while others give his fathers name as
zachariah. Either guess however, is hazy.
In 1735 James White married Eleanor-
whose grave is in Rock Greek Cemetery, and
they are believed TO have taken up their resi-
dence in the White homestead then a log
house which occupied the identical spot where
later was placed the present dwelling which
faces the city. and occupies the south half of
the block between Georgia avenue and Thr-
teenth street and Longfellow and Madison
streets.
Tradition has it that this old log house was
equipped with portfolios for defense in case of
attack by Indians or wild animals, such as
wolves and bears, which were still to be feared
when the original house was built. Indeed
the story even goes so far as to include the
burying Of an Indian chief in the cellar, where
he might sleep until called upon to take up
his abode in the happy hunting grounds
Though James White was unquestionably Of
patriotic impulses yet just four years before the
signing Of the Declaration of independence he
received direct grant of 536 acres, the tract
being Known as Pleasant Hills and lying close
to Turkey Thicket and Mount Pleasant Both
OF these tracks. the writer is told make Up the
Soldiers Home grounds, which include lust a
few more acres than the number mentioned IT.
the grant.
In 1863 Zachariah White (pro6ably a
brother to Capt. James White) was granted a
tract OF 301 acres, called Partnership which
adjoined Groves Hunting Outlet, Kendall's
Meadows and Fletchers Good Will Upon one
occasion Capt. James White received a power
OF attorney from zachariah White, which
would lead one all the more to believe that
they were brothers In the senior James
Whites will are mentioned Groves Hunting