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William J. White, merchant, Nathan, Ark. This prominent business man is a
native born citizen of this county, his birth occurring March 17, 1866, and
is the sixth and last child born to the marriage of Pleasant and Nancy A.
(Rose) White, natives of Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively. The father
left his native State in 1829, emigrated to Pike County, Ark., and here he
has resided ever since. Of the six children born to his marriage only two
are now living, our subject and a sister, Mrs. N.L. Jones, who is residing
in Quanah, Hardeman County, Tex. William J. White was reared in this county
and received a good English education in the common schools. At the age of
nineteen years he started out to fight life's battles for himself and
engaged in the milling business, which he has since carried on. His
machinery was put up at a cost of $2,500. Mr. White is also engaged in
merchandising, and is doing a good business of $8,000 per year. He carries
an average stock of $2,000, sells on time and makes close collections. He
is also the owner of a farm of 115 acres, with about fifty acres under
cultivation, form which he always gathers and average crop. He was married,
in 1888, to Miss Mary M. Ferguson, a native of Howard County, Ark., and the
daughter of F.M. and Lucy (Merrill) Ferguson, who are an old and respected
family of Howard County. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born one child,
Ella May. Mr. White is at present postmaster at Nathan, and discharges the
duties of that office in a highly satisfactory manner. He is a members of
the Christian Church. Mrs. White is a member of the Missionary Baptist
Church.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
County, page 346.
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