Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 241] one of New Castle's oldest and most highly respected citizens, who has done his share to build up and beautify New Castle from a small borough to a prosperous city, was born within the present city limits, Dec. 29, 1820, and is a son of Crawford and Elizabeth (Dunlap) White, and grandson of David and Mary (Crawford) White, who were farmers and reared a family of eight children, namely: James; Benjamin; Josiah; Crawford; David; Samuel; Mrs. McMillin; and Mrs. S. Hanna.
Crawford White was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., and in 1804 came to New Castle, and settled on lot No. 1953 of the "donation lands," on which he built a log-house. In 1806 he returned to his native county to marry Elizabeth Dunlap, daughter of John Dunlap, and at once began to clear the land on his New Castle property. In the War of 1812 he was a member of Capt. Fisher's Co., which went to Erie. In 1818 he erected a gristmill with three sets of stones and a saw-mill at the foot of Beaver Street, and did the principal part of the milling for the settlers for miles around. He died at the age of sixty about the year 1833; his wife died in 1875 aged ninety-six years. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and helped to build the old brick Presbyterian Church. Their children were: James D.; Amanda A.; Eliza A.; John C.; Joseph S.; and others who died young.
Our subject remained at home, assisting his brother James in the grist-mill and iron mills until his brother's death. He then was with his brother-in-law in the postoffice until he was twenty years of age, when he in company with Mr. Farley became interested for a time in a foundry at New Castle. He then carried on farming on a part of the old homestead. His next venture was with Dr. Joseph Pollock in carrying on the lumber business, and afterwards he was with Stevens, Craig & Co., in the lumber business in the manufacture of lumber, planing, sashes and doors, etc., under the firm name of Stevens, Craig & Co. When the mill burned down, Mr. White continued the lumber business for a few years and returned to farming on the old homestead, from which, because of its location near the borough line, he has sold many building lots, and still owns an excellent farm of 100 acres, on which he has a fine residence surrounded with large and beautiful oak groves—it is one of the choicest pieces of property still left within the city limits, and is located at No. 312 North Jefferson Street.
Mr. White married Miss Adaline Pollock, daughter of Dr. Joseph and Rachel (Morehead) Pollock. Dr. Pollock was born in 1788, finished his collegiate course in 1808, and in 1810 commenced his practice near Monongahela City, Washington County, but later came to New Castle, where he was interested in the lumber business to some extent. He reared a large family, and did much to further the progress of the town. He was not only very successful as a physician and surgeon, with a reputation for skillful work which extended through a number of counties, but he was also a leader in general business and industrial circles. He was recognized as one of the foremost men of the western part of Pennsylvania, and was a frequent and welcome contributor to various periodicals on many questions of current public interest. He died in 1856 at the age of sixty-five years. His wife lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years. Their children were: Periander; Milo; Camilia; Isaphena; Hiram; Belinda; Adaline; Laura; Caroline; and Josephine. The marriage of our subject has been blessed with twelve children, as follows; an infant son, deceased; Alice, who married George Greer, president of the New Castle Steel & Tinplate Co. of New Castle; Eva, the wife of E. C. McClintock of Boston, Mass.; John C.; Carrie M. married Rev. E. S. Willard, and they were missionaries to Alaska for thirteen years; Rev. Joseph P., of Eagle Mills Presbyterian Church; Arthur, who died in his twentieth year; Fred of Boston, Mass.; Adaline, who died in her eighteenth year; Belle May, who is a professional nurse, and a graduate of the Women's Temperance Hospital of Chicago, Ill.; Lizzie died young; and an infant daughter, now deceased. Our subject has living to-day seven children and twenty grandchildren. Mr. White cast his first vote in a Presidential election for a Democratic nominee, then supported the Free Soilers; since the organization of the Republican party he supported it loyally until they repealed local option in Pennsylvania when he supported the Prohibition Party, since which time he has been a steadfast adherent of that party of reform. In slavery days he was no idle looker-on of the terrible deeds of inhumanity that were perpetrated in the name of law and justice; rather he took an active interest in the great underground system, which was the means of rescuing many a poor slave from a life worse than death, and Mr. White and his good wife did all in their power to protect such unfortunates as came their way, and by every available means to assist the progress of abolitionist doctrines. His home and his money was at the service of the movement, for he thought he was on the right side, and we believe that the people of the land to-day will unite in saying that they are glad that there were a few men in the hour of darkness and danger, who were not afraid to risk their life and liberty for the sake of a people unjustly oppressed.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 14 May 2001