K^COMO J-'i^teii^Pii I C A L SKETCH 
 
 . ''HlQ^N'^^'^P WHITE. 
 
 THOS/H. WHITE.
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 
 h^<^ I 
 
 ■J
 
 Biographical Sketch. 
 
 BY E. A. CALKINS, 
 
 SENIOR EDITOR OF THE MILWAIKEE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, AND HONORARY MEMBER OF THE 
 WISCONSIN STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 The following biographical sketch of Hon. Philo White, a 
 prominent early settler in Wisconsin, conspicuous also in the 
 general politics and public service of the country, was prepared 
 for the columns of the Milwaukee Sunday Telegraph, by one 
 of its editors, from facts and data which he procured relating to 
 the subject, and was published in that paper of April 18, 1880. 
 The writer of the sketch, regarding it as a collection of matters 
 of pioneer history, and of events of general interest worth being 
 placed in a form more convenient for preservation than the files 
 of a newspaper, has caused the present re-print to be made, with 
 some facts and references of interest not contained in the pre- 
 vious publication. 
 
 A marked character in early Wisconsin history was Gen. 
 Philo White, a |)ioiiecr, legislator, journalist and diplomatist, 
 a useful and eminent citizen, an honest man in every fiber of 
 his composition, with sf)mc peculiarities ot mind and will, which 
 render his character an interesting study. TTo is still living at 
 a ripe age, active in his daily pursuits, a resident of W'^liites- 
 town, N. Y., his native jjlace, in the full enjoyment of all his 
 various faculties, and taking a lively interest, as is shown by 
 recent correspondence, iii Wisconsin affairs. A sketch of hia 
 life, wc are sure, will be of interest to every reader of 'J^ilE Sun- 
 day Telegraph, in the columns of which has appeared so 
 many entertaining chapters of the personal pioneer history of 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 Philo White was born at Whitcstown, N. Y., and educated 
 j)artly at Whitesboro, and partly at the jm^paratory department 
 of Montreal College, Canada, and-in tlie then Utica Seminary, 
 wli«'re he was prepared for college. He did not graduate, how- 
 
 650G30
 
 ever, but entered instead the office of the Columbian Gazette^ at 
 Utica, of which his former preceptor was one of the publishers, 
 in which he remained as learner and contributor three or four 
 years. A newspaper venture at Manlius, N. Y., afterwards en- 
 gaged his attention, but he held his interest in the establish- 
 ment but a short time, as the ultimate success of a newspaper 
 establishment at that point was not sufficiently inviting to tempt 
 him permanently to settle there. He then went to Washing- 
 ton, and from thence to Salisbury, N. C, where he and another 
 enterprising young gentleman established the Western Carolin- 
 ian newspaper. He subsequently purchased his partner's inter- 
 est, and continued this publication, until 1830. In 1822, he 
 married a daughter of Wm. Hampton, of Salisbury, and during 
 his residence there held many important local offices, including 
 that of Justice of the peace, chairman of the "Justices of the 
 Quorum" constituting the county court of pleas and quarter 
 sessions, and mayor of the municipality. He also held various 
 positions in the militia, and was at one time nominated for the 
 legislature, but declined. 
 
 In 1830, Mr. White's health became impaired, and a sea voy- 
 age being recommended, influential friends procured for him an 
 appointment as United States navy agent, on the Pacific coast. 
 The office included the duties of naval storekeeper and purchas- 
 ing agent for the government vessels on the Pacific ocean, which 
 had previously been discharged by agents at two stations, Val- 
 paraiso, in Chili, and Lima, in Peru, The new appointee pro- 
 ceeded to this distant field of official labor, via Cape Horn, in 
 the fall of 1830. He remained on that coast four years, fulfill- 
 ing his various and important duties with intelligence, zeal and 
 integrity. He resigned in 1834r, and returned to his then home 
 in Salisbury. 
 
 In the same year Mr. White removed to Raleigh, N. C, and 
 established a newspaper called the North Carolina Standard, 
 and was elected state printer by the legislature at its next ses- 
 sion. As a journalist and state official, he was a busy man, 
 indeed, for the few following years, writing numerous able and 
 trenchant articles for the columns of his paper, which acquired 
 a wide circulation and a commanding influence, and preparing 
 and publishing vast quantities of political campaign literature, 
 which he scattered throughout the state. 
 
 Tlie business demands of his position as public printer, were 
 also exacting, and entailed incessant labor, care and anxiety, 
 which lasted until the spirited and turbulent presidential cam- 
 paign of 1836. It was doubtless greatly due to the political 
 industry and effective management of Mr. White that the state 
 of North Carolina, which had before been ivhig in politics, was 
 revolutionized, and gave a democratic majority in that year ; 
 and he was appointed by the college of electors to carry its elec-
 
 toral vote to Washington. The constant toil and mental excite- 
 ment involved in this career, had again impaired Mr. White's 
 health, and he determined during this year to dispose of his 
 newspaper and other interests in North Carolina, and to remove 
 to the Northwest. In accordance with this determination, he 
 sold the journal which he had established, and launched on a 
 new and pioneer enterprise, and, in Ma}', 1886, visited Milwau- 
 kee, and purchased real estate both at this place and Racine. 
 Wisconsin was then a part of Michigan, and a separate territo- 
 rial government was not formed until the -ith of July follow- 
 ing. Mr. White remained here during the season, taking an 
 active part in public affairs, and in the labors of those who were 
 founding the new territorial government, and placing in opera- 
 tion the business, educational and moral systems upon which a 
 future great state was to rest. He was an occasional writer for 
 the Milwaukee Advertiser, published bv D. H. Richards, (our 
 "uncle Daniel," whose death a few years since was so sincerely 
 lamented,) on the W est side, or "Kilbourntown," as it was then 
 called. 
 
 Mr. White was, in a certain sense, the founder of the Mil- 
 waukee Sentinel. During the time he spent here in the summer 
 of 1836, he saw, as a newspaper man naturally would, the ad- 
 vantages which the West side was jjaining: bv havin": a i)ubli- 
 cation in which its attractions were advertised. At that period, 
 a controlling interest in West side property was held by Byron 
 Kilbourn, called in frontier slang, ''Lord Byron." The largest 
 property owner on the East side was Solomon Juneau, known 
 as "King Solomon." Mr. White suggested to Mr. Juneau the 
 importance of a newspaper which should advocate the superior- 
 ity of the East side over the other sections of the city, and Mr. 
 Juneau adf)ptcd his views on the subject. Mr. White then re- 
 turned to North Carolina to clo.se his business affairs there, and 
 the following spring, (1837,) he came again to Milwaukee. 
 While in New York, on his way to the West, he purchased, by 
 Mr. Juneau's authority; the materials and outfit ot tiie Sentinel., 
 and employed John O'Rourke to come West with them, lie 
 was also induced by Juneau, on his return to Milwaukee, to as- 
 sume the management of the new paper, with O'Rourke and 
 J. W. Cliubbuck ;is j)rinters. Mr. VVIiite continued to edit the 
 pa{)er until tlie fall of tliat year, when he was appointed naval 
 disbursing agent for the New York station. lie was then suc- 
 ceeded by iIarri.son Reed in tlie editorshij) of the newspa[)er in 
 question. 
 
 Among Mr. White's purchases oi properly in Milwaukee, 
 wa.s a tract 120 feet front, on East Water street, at the corner 
 of Huron. On tliis site he subsequently erected the United 
 States lK)tel bluck, the mr)st imposing building at the time in 
 the city, and making that a bu.sy locality. In fact, that was,
 
 at the time, and for many years afterwards, so long as the lake 
 steamers landed at the old pier at the foot of Huron Street, sub- 
 stantially the center of travel and business, and real estate in 
 the neighborhood was held at a higher valuation than in any 
 other location. The late J. 11. Rogers was associated with Mr. 
 White in the erection of this building, and it was afterwards 
 sold to Ira Couch, and was destroyed by fire in 1854. Mr. 
 White's official duties called him away from his home in Mil- 
 waukee, a large portion of the time from the period when he 
 first made it his residence till 1844, when he removed with his 
 family to Racine, where he owned property interests, and he 
 remained a permanent resident of that place as long as he con- 
 tinued to be a citizen of the State. He there purchased of the 
 late Marshall M. Strong the materials of the Racine Advocate, 
 and resumed his original profession of journalism. He also 
 owned three or four farms in the vicinity of Racine, the culture 
 and care of which occupied a large portion of his time and at- 
 tention. Though not a practical farmer, Mr White acquired a 
 valuable experience in farm management, which he embodied 
 in a profound and able dissertation on agricultural subjects, at 
 the request of the State Agricultural Society, for its volume of 
 publications in 1851. 
 
 In 1846, Mr. White was elected a member of the territorial 
 council, (the upper house of the territorial legislature,) and he 
 served in that body at the sessions of 1847 and 1848. His col- 
 league in the council was the late Fred. S. Lovell, and that 
 county (Racine) then included the territory of the present coun- 
 ty of Kenosha, and it was the largest, most important and pop- 
 ulous county in the state, having two lake ports, and the most 
 thickly settled agricultural neighborhoods in the state. This is 
 apparent from the fact that Racine was the only county in the 
 state having two representatives in the council. 
 
 Mr. White was also elected, in 1848, after the admission of 
 the State, a member of the State Senate, and served two ses- 
 sions, a special and regular session, in tliat body. 
 
 While in the territorial legislature, Mr. White procured an 
 act of incorporation for Racine as a village. The powers of the 
 proposed municipality were as ample as those usually conferred 
 upon cities, but the ambition of the people was far from satis- 
 fied. Racine w^as then a rival of Milwaukee, and had a rival in 
 Kenosha, and to accept any municipal designation short of that 
 of cily, was regarded as humiliating; and on its being submit- 
 ted to a vote of the people, the village charter was rejected, 
 although a committee of the same people had prepared the doc- 
 ument, and sent it to Mr. White at Madison, with the unpopu- 
 lar word "village" in it. Subsequently, Mr. White being then 
 a member of the senate, he drew up and passed through the 
 legislature a city charter for Racine, which was accepted ; and
 
 under which, variously amended, that delightful place now ex- 
 ists as a municipal corporation. 
 
 In the State Senate Mr. White was chairman of the commit- 
 tee on education, schools and school lands, and the laws for the 
 management of the school lands, and establishing the educa- 
 tional system of the state as they stand on the present statute 
 book, to-day, are largely the fruit of his labors. He produced 
 an elaborate report on the subject of popular education, in which 
 the future policy of the state as to the maintenance of schools 
 was outlined. The school laws which were enacted in pursu- 
 ance of his recommendations, regulated the endowment of the 
 state university, and provided for the local institutions of learn- 
 ing, as they now exist in all parts of the state. 
 
 A generation which regards railroads as a necessity of civiliz- 
 ation, and which can hardly imagine how mankind lived with- 
 out them, can hardl}^ appreciate the advantages which plank 
 roads then possessed over the common roads of the new country 
 in which they were laid. But the early settlers knew their 
 value, as they made impassable waj-s passable, opened feasible 
 routes to the lake shore ports and business points, enabled teams 
 with but little effort to draw the heaviest loads at all seasons of 
 the year, and added to the price of every product of the soil, 
 by cheapening and facilitating its transportation to market. 
 During Mr. White's term in the senate, as chairman of a special 
 committee appointed on the matter of plank roads, he made an 
 .exhaustive report on the subject in all its aspects, theoretical 
 and practical, displaying an amount of study and knowledge in 
 that direction in the highest degree admirable. It was a remark- 
 able legislative paper, of as much importance relating to plank 
 roads as any report or scientific work in relation to railroads in 
 our day. He explained the whole system, its cost, its adapta- 
 tion to new cout^tries, its management and advantages. Plank 
 roads were immediately projected in all directions, and many 
 were built which fully realized as a fact all the benefits to the 
 public at large which he had described as a theory. But for 
 the revolution in the modes of travel and transportation, which 
 railroads caused immediately afterward, connecting the interior 
 with the lake shore cities, and superseding the use of plank 
 roads, his thoughtful and rn.usterly discussion of the subject 
 would have been regarded of as much im])ortance as aiiv ])rac- 
 tiral authority on the subject of highway engineering. 
 
 If) the legislature Mr. White's course was marked by advo- 
 cacy of the strictest economy in public expenditure, and of 
 careful and thorough ])lans of legislation, as w(^ll as by the 
 utmost purity, fidelity and zeal in the discharge of legislative 
 duty. In the territcjrial legislature he opposed with uncommon 
 energy the divorce acts which were pas.sed nullifying nuptial
 
 \ 
 
 6 
 
 contracts, as he deemed them vicious, immoral, and violative 
 of the divine sacrament of marriage. 
 
 Mr. White was one of the founders of Racine College, hav- 
 ing been one of the first to agitate the establishment of an in- 
 stitution of learning under the care of the Episcopal Church, 
 and he was one of the committee of three by whom its plan was 
 proposed and its present location adopted. He was also among 
 the many liberal contributors to the fund necessary to erect 
 college buildings, and for the early support of the institution. 
 He has ever since been one of the most devoted, zealous and 
 generous friends that Racine College has possessed in the long 
 list of its patrons, supporters and donors. 
 
 Mr. White was closely identified with the Wisconsin militia 
 system, in which he gained his military title, by appointment 
 and by real service, not in the field, but in its organization as 
 an active available force under the militia laws. The militia 
 law of the state was passed in 1850. Gov. Dodge, in the early 
 history of the territory had organized an efficient militia sys 
 tem, which had fallen into disuse, however, under his unmili- 
 tar}' successors. Gov. Dewey desired to secure a similar degree 
 of efficiency in the militia under the newly enacted state law, 
 and with that view, desired to select a class of zealous and en- 
 ergetic citizens as militia officers. Among these appointments 
 was Mr. White, who made a thorough enrollment of tlie persons 
 within the limits of his command liable to do military duty, ap- 
 pointed a staff on which Jas. R. Doolittle was judge advocate 
 and Dr. P. R. Hoy was surgeon, and all his regiments and com- 
 panies were fully organized and officered, forming a militia force 
 of 7,616 rank and file, in the counties of Racine, Kenosha and 
 Walworth, which constituted the second brigade of the first di- 
 vision of the state militia. This is undoubtedly the closest and 
 most faithful enrollment of militia ever made in the state. 
 
 Gen. White was appointed and served as Consul General of 
 the United States at the "Free Hanseatic" Cities of Hamburg, 
 Lubec, and Altona, in the years 184H and 1850, during the 
 troublous times of the first Schleswick-Holstein war. He was 
 clothed with diplomatic powers, (those Free Cities not being then 
 within the jurisdiction of any full grade " Minister " of the 
 United States in Europe.) Very responsible duties devolved 
 upon Gen. White in protecting American citizens and American 
 commerce in those commercially " Free Ports " pending that 
 anomalous "war," the illy concealed purpose of wliich was the 
 governmental absorption by Prussia of Holstein, and portions 
 of Schleswick. His correspondence consequently involved com- 
 plex questions of international law, requiring laborious research 
 and firmness of purpose. As an illustration : On the 4th of July, 
 1849, Consul White invited some fifteen or twenty young 
 Americans temporarily there, together with the supercargoes
 
 and captains of vessek in port, to join him at the consulate in 
 celebrating the anniversary^ of the natal day of American inde- 
 pendence. On the pretense of rebellious indications by Grer- 
 mans in Hamburg, 10,000 Prussian troops had been suddenly 
 sent down there by rail from Berhn, who proclaimed martial 
 law in Hamburg ! All extraneous display of flags, including 
 the American, was prohibited ! This arbitary measure drew 
 from Consul White a peremptory protest, and an energetic and 
 eflfective correspondence ; which eventuated in placing the three 
 national flags, (American, Hamburg, and Prussian,) side by 
 side on the lofty flagstafi" of the magnificent "Hotel de I'Europe," 
 in which edifice the American consulate was located, the "Star 
 Spangled Banner" in the ce?ifer, where it continued to wave, in 
 the faces of the belligerent Prussian troops, during the entire 
 length of that consecrated day so dear to American patriotism. 
 
 In 1852 Gen. White was chosen on the democratic ticket one 
 of the presidential electors for Wisconsin, and at the meeting 
 of the state electoral college at Madison, to cast the presidential 
 vote of the state, he was made president of that body, and de- 
 livered fin instructive and eloquent address suitable for the oc- 
 casion. 
 
 In 1S53, Grcn. White was appointed by President Pierce, 
 United States Minister to Ecuador, in South America, and in 
 the autumn of that year he went with his family to Quito, the 
 scene of his diplomatic duties. It was in regard to this appoint- 
 ment that the late Isaac Woodle remarked, that "the president 
 hatl conferred on Gen. White the highest office in his gift," the 
 literal truth of which is indicated in the geographical fact that 
 Quito is situated in the Andes, some two miles up, in a magnifi- 
 cent valley of those peerless mountains. In a recent pleasant, 
 gossiping letter, in reply to an inquiry on this subject, Gen. 
 White writes : " The first time I saw in print the hon mot you 
 cite, as applicable to my case, was in a New York daily, after 
 my arrival in Quito, the central plaza of which city really is 
 some l<-),0(»0 feet above the level of the sea, an altitude said to 
 exceed that of any other seat of a national government on 
 earth ; so that, based on the science of mensuration, my ap- 
 pointment was in fact the 'hir/hest in the gift of the government!' 
 But, anterior to my being commissioned, Govenor Marcy, (the 
 secretary of state at the time) inc^uired of me which city in the 
 Andes I thought would be tlie most desirable to reside in, Chu- 
 nui.saca, (the capital of Bolivia) or Quito, (the capital of Ecua- 
 dor?) I unhesitatingly gave Quito the ))refcrencc; whereupon 
 he rejoined, with a twinkle in his eyes, 'I see you go in for the 
 hifjhf'M place!' And as I eventually got my choice, I felt flat- 
 tered at the gf»veriior's jocular humor ! ' 
 
 Gen. White applied himself to the duties of his diplomatic 
 office with characteristic a,ssiduity and earnestness. He rcceiv-
 
 8 
 
 ed immediately on reaching Quito, rigid instruction from' Sec- 
 retary Marcy, to close up the numerous pending claims of 
 American citizens against the government of Ecuador, some of 
 which had been in dispute for as much as thirty years. He 
 immediately applied himself to mastering the details of the 
 voluminous transactions in which the claims had arisen, in pro- 
 curing evidence as to their validity, in the study of internation- 
 al law applicable to the respective cases, as well as to almost 
 interminable discussions, written and oral, with the officers of 
 the Ecuadorian government, and to the thwarting of their at- 
 tempts to baffle and defeat the allowance of those claims, so 
 characteristic of the proverbial procrastination of Spanish au- 
 thorities in dealing with troublesome or unpleasant national 
 questions. During the five years which he served in this mis- 
 sion, he rendered more service to American citizens than the 
 whole sum of labor performed by his predecessors during a 
 generation ; and he left everj^ claim, founded in justice, fairly 
 docketed and proved, some settled, and others in process of 
 settlement. He returned from his prolonged residence abroad 
 in 1858; being recalled at his own request, leaving behind a 
 record of luborious usefulness in office and the respect and 
 affection of the people, officers and diplomatic representatives 
 of other nations with whom he had been associated. Unusual 
 formalities were awarded him by the Quito government, to ex- 
 press the national regret at the termination of his mission. 
 
 Upon Gen. White's return to the United States in 1858, he 
 did not resume his residence in Wisconsin, but settled with his 
 family at his native place, Whitestown, where he still resides. 
 
 Gen. White was last in Wisconsin in 18H2, when, at the re- 
 quest of the authorities of Eacine College, he delivered an ad- 
 dress at the College commencement of that year. He was cor- 
 dially and feelingly greeted by his old acquaintances and friends, 
 and his address, which related largely to his travels and obser- 
 vations in South America, was interesting and instructive in 
 the highest degree. 
 
 In one direction of cotemporary thought. Gen. White has 
 recently presented to the public a valuable contribution. In 
 the interest of the church organization of which he is an active 
 and honored member, and as chairman of one of its committees, 
 he prepared a report, forming a bulky pamphlet on the subject 
 of the taxation of the property of charitable and rehgious in- 
 stitutions. It is a full compilation of American laws and 
 usages on this subject, and a compendium of the arguments re- 
 lating to it more complete than can be elsewhere found, and it 
 furnishes to those interested a convenient manual for reference 
 as to facts and opinions, which will be found to be extremely 
 valuable.
 
 A striking instance of Gen. "White's generosity and public 
 spirit is of somewliat recent occurrence. The original plat of 
 ground donated by the pioneer patriarch of that region, Hugh 
 White, Sr., to Oneida county, as a site for a court-house and a 
 public green, reverted, with the old court-house upon it, to his 
 heirs, on the removal of the county seat to Utica. Gen. Philo 
 White, as one of those heirs, bought the interest of his co-heirs 
 in the reverted estate, and donated the whole, court-house and 
 all, to the town of Whitestown, for a town hall and village park. 
 The citizens have appropriately commemorated the event, by 
 placing a superb life-size oil portrait of Gen. White in the main 
 Hall of the edifice. 
 
 Gen. White, among his different experinces, has seen active 
 military service. In 1814, when quite a lad, he was with the 
 force called out for the defense of Sacketts Harbor, and served 
 through the brief campaign in that locality, for which he re- 
 ceives a pension from government, of significance to him far 
 beyond its amount, as a recognition of the youthful valor and 
 devotion which he displayed in a time of public peril, and as a 
 souvenir of the varied service he has rendered to the country. 
 
 In 1877 Gen. White took an active part in the celebration of 
 the one hundredth-anniversary of the battle of Oriskany, and, 
 as one of the officers of the occasion, delivered an appropriate 
 and patriotic address, in the course of which he reminded his 
 neighbors and fellow-citizens of Whitestowo, that it was their 
 natal soil which bad been honored and enriched by the blood 
 of those who fell in that memorable battle. The proceedings 
 of this celebration were embodied in an attractive volume print- 
 ed V)y the legislature, containing the proceedings of the three 
 centennial celebrations of Oriskany, (in the town of Whitestown,) 
 Saratoga, and Bemis' Heights, in Saratoga county. 
 
 It will be gratifying to the very many friends of Gen. White 
 to know, that in the evening of his long and well-spent life he 
 retains his constant habits of industry, stud}^, and zeal in i)ub- 
 lic affairs ; that neither his mental nor bodily vigor is materially 
 impaired, that he walks without a cane, and with something of 
 the elastic stej) and sprightliness of his early years. His choer- 
 fulne.ss and equanimity of disposition constitute, as they did 
 when he was a citizen of Wisconsin, an excellent trait of his char- 
 acter. His later life has h)een clouded by but one shadow, the 
 loss of liis dearly beloved and most highly honored wife, which 
 occurred about two years ago. They had lived together in domes- 
 tic felicity for over fifty years, and she had been his companion 
 and walked by his side through all his varied and distinguish- 
 ed career, modest, irreproachable, and su|)rornely womanly, and 
 the rupture of such ties was, to human apjirchension, well nigh 
 insupportable. But a cultured Christian i)hilosophy, and a de- 
 lightful trust in the graciousness of Providence, have softened
 
 10 
 
 the grief and mitigated the desolation created bj the calami- 
 tious event; and amid his books, in active charities, in arduous 
 labor for others, and in reasonable devotion, he is rounding out 
 the measure of his life, and completing his days in usefulness 
 and honor. 
 
 The interests of his town, his neighborhood, his church, he is 
 constantly seeking to promote. One of his latest labors was a 
 study into the title of a burial place in his native town, which 
 had become somewhat complicated, and his exposition of which 
 is a remarkable work, to which an instructive feature is added 
 in a historical sketch of ancient and modern cemeteries in gen- 
 eral. He has a competence, and his generous benefactions are 
 his monuments in every clime to which his official duties have 
 called him. In recent correspondence, he has made frequent 
 mention of his friends and acquaintances in this state, and he 
 cherishes a tenacious regard for Wisconsin and its institutions. 
 
 Gen. White is of medium height (vTfeet 7 inches,) and slight 
 build ; is remarkably active in his habits ; his conversation is 
 somewhat rapid, but gracefully intoned, clear in the current of 
 thought, lively in style, and enriched by an infinite fund of illus- 
 tration, personal recollection, varied and accurate observation, 
 and almost universal reading. His familiarity with public men 
 and events during the last sixty years, renders him a most en- 
 tertaining and instructive companion ; while the goodness of his 
 heart and the benevolence of his nature, are the gentle attrib- 
 utes which beauty his life-long career. His zeal and integrity 
 in the pubhc service, his respectable attainments in literature^ 
 and the tireless industry with which the labors of his hands and 
 his brain have fostered and aided the varied industries of life,. 
 are crowning virtues of his lengthened years of toil and study.
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Diocese of Wisconsin. 
 
 At the annual session of the Diocesan Convention of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church of Wisconsin, in 1855, the following letter from Gen. Philo 
 White, Minister Resident of the United States at Quito, Ecuador, was read 
 by the Secretary : 
 
 Quito, (Ecuador,) 18th April. 1855. 
 
 To the Diocesan Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Wis- 
 consin: 
 
 Cherishing a deep reverence for the character and services of our venerable 
 and beloved Diocesan, the Right Reverend Bishop Kemper, and knowing 
 that he has been subjected to an amount of labor in the holy office to which 
 his life has been dedicated, more extended and more ai'duoiis, perhaps, than 
 has been performed by any of his compeers in the Church, which, coupled 
 with increasing years, and a consequent decrease of his powers of endur- 
 ance, demand of those who have profited h\ his devoted ministrations, an 
 effort to relieve him of a portion at least of those labors, I feel it incumbent 
 on me, as an humble communicant of the Church within his Episcopate, to 
 contribute my mite toward replenishing the Diocesan Fund. Accordingly, 
 I send herewith an order on my agent in Racine for One Hundred Dollars. 
 And I trust that the Fund will receive such accessions from other sources 
 as will speedily swell it to an amount adequate to meet the temporal wants 
 of our Bishop, without resort to a Missionary stipend, and thus enable our 
 Church to avail itself of his entire Episcopal services within the Diocese. 
 With sentiments of sincere esteem, 
 
 I am your Brother in Christian fellowship, 
 
 PHILO WHITE. 
 
 On motion it was Resolved. That the thanks of this Convention l)e pre- 
 sented to Gen. White, for his welcome donation to the Episcopal Fund. 
 
 On motion. Gen. Philo White, Benj. McVickar, M. D.. Isaac J. Ullmann, 
 Esq., Marshall M. Strong. Esq., and Joseiih S. Colt. Esq., were elected 
 Trustees of the Episcopal Fund, under the act of incorporation. 
 
 [From the {New York) CJinrch Journal.] 
 A Good Example. 
 
 Messrs. Editors: I have just received a kind and interesting letter from 
 Bishop Kemper, from wtiicli I make the following extract, with the hope 
 that others will be incited to follow the exainplc of the alj.sent donor. The 
 Bishop writes thus: "I have a letter from the Hon. I'hilo While, Minister 
 resident of the United States for the Republic of Ecuador, dated at Quito, 
 23d April, 1850, from which I cony the following: 
 
 "As an earnest of my approval of the beneficent purposes of the Western 
 Church Extension Society, I must ask your acceptance, in l)ehalf of that 
 Society, of a Bounty Land Warrant for forty acres, awarded to nie for 
 juvenile militia services in defense of my country, rendi-rcd at a period of 
 great peril, while the armies of a powerful enemy were menacing all our 
 frontiers." 
 
 This Christian gentleman, while away from his home and country, does 
 not forget his Church. Mr. White has also sent home, from time to time,
 
 12 
 
 $100 for the Episcopal Fund of the Diocese of Wisconsin, $100 for the 
 Theological Institution at Nashotah. |100 for enlarging St. Luke's Church 
 at Racine. $300 towards purchasing a parsonage for the Rector of St. Luke's 
 Church, Racine, and $600 for endowing "Racine College," in the vicinity 
 of the city of Racine. 
 
 Alas! how many of our citizens, while abroad, if they do not forget their 
 country, neglect the claims of the Gospel and the church, spending large 
 sums on follies, while the cause of Christ languishes in all our borders at 
 home. — New York, May, 1856. 
 
 {From the, Racine ( Wisconsin) Journal. ] 
 
 At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Luke's Church, held on Saturday even- 
 ing, on the 19th ult., the following preamble and resolutions were unani- 
 mously adopted: 
 
 Whereas, the Hon. Philo White, formelya member of St. Luke's Parish, 
 Racine, Wisconsin, but now a resident of Whitestown, New York, has 
 generously presented the sum of $300 on behalf of himself and wife, for 
 the purchase of a Rectory for St. Luke's Parish: Now. therefore. 
 
 Resolved, That we, as officers of said Parish, hereby tender to the Hon. 
 Philo White and his wife, our grateful thanks for the disinterested munifi- 
 cence, and our kindest wishes for theii' future welfare. 
 
 Resolved. That the Seeretarv of this Board be directed to communicate 
 to Hon. Philo White a copy of these resolutions. 
 
 _ The above is a merited expression of gratitude to Mr. White, who is dis- 
 tinguished for his liberality in behalf of every good object. 
 
 "Nashotah." 
 
 [From the Racine {Wisconsin) Journal.^ 
 
 We are permitted to publish the following correspondence, which evinces 
 a warm and pervading interest in the continued pi-osperity of that noble 
 "enterprise of faith," the "Nashotah Mission." 
 
 Nashotah Mission, Wis., April 15. 
 
 Hon. Philo White — Dear Sir: In my next acknowledgment in the 
 Gospel Messenger, I intend to acknowledge seventy-five dollars from you. 
 It may surprise you. and therefore I send the enclosed letter to explain the 
 matter. 
 
 Please accept my best thanks for your warm interest in Nashotah, and for 
 the many substantial benefits it has brought to this enterprise of faith. 
 Allow me to hand you, through the mail, two catalogues. ***** 
 Your ever grateful and ob't serv't, 
 
 A. D. COLE. 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y,, April 6th. 
 
 To the Superintendent of the Nashotah Theological Seminary, Wisconsin: 
 
 Dear Sir: A few years ago, while the Hon. Philo White was Minister 
 Resident at Quito, Ecuador, I received the hospitalities of his house, and 
 other kindnesses from him. I have been wishing to show my appreciation of 
 this by some testimony, and cannot think of a better way than by the en- 
 closed sum (seventy-five dollars) to your Institution, in which I know he 
 has always taken an interest. Please, therefore, accept this money as if it 
 were a contribution from him ; while at the same time it may show my grati- 
 tude to him and Mrs. White for the many acts of kindness from them while 
 under their roof. I wish the sum were larger, for this does not approximate
 
 13 
 
 the amount of mv obligations to them ; but it is all in my power to send, 
 consistently with other demands. 
 
 Vfery respectfully vour friend, 
 
 GEORGE JONES * 
 
 Racine College Commencemext. 
 [From the Racine, (Wis.) Journal, July, 1862,] 
 
 Hon Pliilo White delivered a discourse on miscellaneous topics in the 
 Chapel of the College, on Wednesday afternoon, before the Faculty and 
 Corporation of the Institution, the students, distinguished strangers and an 
 appreciative audience. The discourse was replete with valuable information 
 culled from a life-time of investigation and observation. 
 
 The most interesting and novel portion of the address was drawn from 
 the speaker's own experience and research while a U. S. Minister to Ecua- 
 dor, in South America, 
 
 [From the Milwaukee Sentinel, 1862.] 
 
 We are in the receipt of a pamphlet, veiy neatly printed at the Racine 
 Journal Office, entitled "Pichixcha," being extracts from a discourse de- 
 livered in the Chapel of Racine College, during the week of commencement 
 in July, by PhiJo White, Esq. Col. White, of Racine, is well known to 
 the early settlers, as a man of prominence at home, and as having served 
 the Government in many capacities, his latest position being that of Min- 
 ister lo Quito, "Pichincha" is the name of a volcano, near Quito, and the 
 extracts in question refer to the phenomena to be met with in the crater of 
 the volcano. There are also passages referring to pioneer incidents in Wis- 
 consin : and altogether it makes an exceedingly readable pamphlet. The 
 Colonel has our thanks for the copy forwarded, as well for its intrinsic meints, 
 as for its '"auld lang syne'" reminiscences. 
 
 [From the North Carolina Standard,] 
 
 Hon. Philo White. — We are glad to see in the city, on a visit to his old 
 friends, this distinguished and worthy gentleman, late U. S. Minister to 
 Ecuador. Mr. White appears to be in excellent health. Time touches him 
 but lightly. The country contains no truer man than Pliilo White. The 
 founder of this journal, the North Carolina Standard, it gives us peculiar 
 satisfaction to know that it »i'\\\ breathes tlie spirit and expounds the prin- 
 ciples which he infused into its first numbers. 
 
 *iVWe— The Rev. George Jones is a cleruyiTian of llic Kpi.xcopal Church, 
 and a Chaplain of tlie U, S, Navv, of many years standing, lie was Chap- 
 lain and Astronomer \<> Commodore I'erry's Naval I''iXpi-<lilion and Diplo- 
 matic P^mba.ssy to Jay)an, t lie result of his Astronomical labors in thai re- 
 mote country filling the entire of one of Hie .several largo volumes puiilislied 
 by the (Jovernmcnt of the oflirial aceotint of that celebrated Expedition 
 and EmVmssy. And he was engaged .'jome five months in the "heart of the 
 Andes" of Kcnador, at the time he speaks of above as being a gur.sl of the 
 United States Mini.ster at the Ami-riean Lrgation there, in making Asli'oii- 
 omical oViservations in that elevated region, principally willi regard to the 
 Zodiacal Liylit. II is elaborate researches into the |)lienomena of that de- 
 partment of Astronomy, have been approved and comnu-nded by (he most 
 eminent astronomers of both Europe and America, there having been an 
 unqualified aequicscence in. ami aumiration of his theory and demonstra- 
 tions, by the World's Scientific Congress which assembled nt Montreal a few 
 years since.
 
 14 
 
 {From the Raleigh (N. G.) Sentinel.^ 
 
 Hon. Philo White. 
 
 We have read an interesting letter from this true friend of North Caro- 
 lina, addressed to John C. Palmer, Esq., of this city. It was not intended 
 for publication, nor did his friend mean that we should make public men- 
 tion of the letter. After mentioning family and Church matters, the letter 
 breathes a kindly feeling for the State and her people. We need say here, 
 -there are thousands in North Carolina who reciprocate the kindly feeling of 
 Philo White, and are glad to know of his continued good health and pros- 
 perity. It is such men that make this world fit to live in. 
 
 [From the '" Artesano,"' of Quito, Sept. 23, 1858.J Translated for the TJtica 
 
 Evening Telegraph. 
 
 Mr. Philo White, a true representative of liberty, of civilization, and the 
 progressive principles which pervade the North American Union, has been 
 relieved from the duties which devolved upon him as Minister Eesident of 
 the United States in Ecuador, by another gentleman of equal grade. And 
 on his retirement, he leaves behind no element of discord nor cause of di- 
 plomatic scandal, as has unfortunately been the case with some of the other 
 foreign diplomats accredited at this Capital; on the contrary, sentiments of 
 profound regret pervade our community on his departure from among us — 
 a regret proportioned alike to the probity of his oharacter and the conser- 
 vative principles he inculcated, as well as to the conciliatory course of policy 
 he ever pursued, which was eminently pacific, republican, popular and social. 
 
 [^From the Carolina Watchman.] 
 
 The Hon. Philo White and lady are stopping at Mr. Michael Brown's, in 
 this place, at present. They have been in the vicinity, and here, visiting 
 and receiving visits from old friends and acquaintances, for several weeks. 
 We are pleased to see they are in excellent health and preservation. 
 
 The Salisbury band did them the honor of a sernade, a few evenings ago 
 — selecting for the occasion that sweetest of pieces — " Home Sweet Home." 
 We can well imagine the effect of this simple offering upon those who have 
 just returned to their native land, after an absence of five years, spent in a 
 far distant country. Doubtless it foiind its way to the heart, and awakened 
 many a tender thought. Mr. White appeared in the portico, and in a few 
 appropriate remarks thanked the band for the compliment they had paid 
 himself and lady. 
 
 [From the Salisbury (N. C.) Watchman.] 
 
 A suitable and highly finished marble monument has been erected by the 
 Honorable Philo White over the grave of his son-in-law, the late Gov- ' 
 emor Ellis, in Oak Grove Cemetery, of this city. With the exception of the 
 pedestal, which is of granite, the monument is of fine white marble, very 
 nicelv polished. It is about eleven feet high, surmounted with a cross; and 
 stands side by side with a simple shaft eight or nine feet high, erected by 
 the late Governor, years ago, to the memory of his wife, Mary White, 
 daughter of the Hon. Philo and Nancy R. VVhite. Beautiful and lovely 
 in their youth, these monuments, handsome and tasteful though they be, 
 but poorly commemorate the persons and the lives of those whom they rep- 
 resent. 
 
 /
 
 15 
 
 Inscription on Gov, Ellis" Monument. 
 
 On the front panel of the "die:" In commemoration of the life and pub- 
 lic services of John W. Ellis, who was born in Rowan county, N. C, Nov. 
 23, 1820, and died July 7th, 1861. 
 
 On the right side panel: Erected as an affectionate memento of the 
 many virtues and noble attributes, of the late Governor John W. Ellis : By 
 Mr. and Mrs. Philo White, and other relatives. 1874. 
 
 ^ On the left side panel : Governor Ellis was educated at the University of 
 North Carolina, and adopted the profession of law at his graduation. He 
 was two years a member of the Legislature; nine years a Judge of the Su- 
 preme Courts; tw.ce elected Governor, and died "at the age of 41 years, 
 while yet in office as Executive of the State. 
 
 On the reverse panel: "The memory of the just is blessed." 
 
 In these varied and responsible positions, as in all the relations of private 
 life, he displayed a high order of talent, of moral worth, and of patriotic 
 devotion to the best interests of his native State. 
 
 {From the Utica {N. Y.) Observer.] 
 
 The Hon. Philo White has just returned from North Carolina, greatly im- 
 proved in health. It was a labor of love causing him to visit that State. 
 There in his youth he found favor in the Lord in wedding a woman of rare 
 virtues. More than half a cent_uj"y they enjoyed each other's wise coun- 
 sels, and thus theirs was an attractive home. At the ripe age of 75 she was 
 called to her etenial mansion; and wishing to sleep with her kindred, her 
 honored husband fulfilled her request. At Salisbury her precious dust now 
 reposes till the resurrection morn. Anew we tender to him our warmest 
 sympathies in his loneliness. 
 
 ^/ 
 
 Whitesboro, 28d March, 1860. 
 Ifo7i. Philo White, Dear Sir: 
 
 The undersigned beg leave to present to you a copy of the resolutions unani- 
 mously adonted at the annual town meeting of Whitestown, held in this 
 village on tne G h day of March inst. 
 
 Allow us, dear sir, to take this occasion to express our deep and earnest 
 appreciation of your noble donation to our Town and Village; and to assure 
 you of our sincerest respect and best wishes for your health, prosperity and 
 happiness. We are, sir, sincerely and faithfully. 
 
 Your ohliiroil fellow citizens. 
 C. M. SCIFOLKFIHLI), .SWrt'/.sor o/" Whitesfown. 
 WHITING SMITH. President of the Village of Wtite-sboro. 
 
 At the annual Town .Meeting of Whitestown, held this day, (6th of 
 March, 1860.) at Whitcsljoro, the following rosulutions were adopted with 
 entire unanimity: 
 
 Uesfjlved. that the propo.sjtioii made by tlic Hdii. Philo While, to donate 
 the Court House, in this Village, to the Town of U hitestown, with the 
 view of its being i)repar(d and ihciI as a Town Hall, be accepted. And fur 
 ther, that n tax of si.x hmiiiicd <lolhirs be as.ses.-^ed and collected in this 
 town, during th<- present year, for the pur[)ose of making such repairs upon 
 the edifice as will adapt it to the purposes desired \>y the donor. 
 
 Resolved, That we, the citizens of Whitestown, in anniuil Town Meeting 
 assembled, do liereliy express to Hon. Philo White, our sincere gratitude 
 for his munificent gift to our town; ami in the use of this gift, we pledgi; 
 ourselves to secoiwl I he efforts so creilitablc to tlie head and heart of tlu; 
 generous donor, in advancing the interests, honor and prosperity of tiiis 
 town.
 
 16 
 
 Whitesboro, May 19th, 1860. 
 Hon. PMlo White, Sir: 
 
 Your note of 31st April, offering to give to the Village of Whitesboro the 
 remainder of the "public green " in this Village, not embraced in your 
 recent donation to the town of Whitestown and village of Whitesboro con- 
 jointly, was duly received, and has been submitted to the Board of Trustees, 
 who have been pleased to authorize me to inform you of their acceptance of 
 your valuable donation, on the conditions named. And I now have the 
 pleasure of tendering you, for myself, and in behalf of the Trustees, our 
 thanks and most respectful consideration, for this renewed expression of 
 your liberality. 
 
 Your opinion of the intention of your ancestor, the Hon. Hugh White, 
 Sen., is undoubtedly correct. It is evident that his purpose was to make 
 the donation of this plot of ground to the public irrevocable; but the tech- 
 nicalities of the law having, under existing circumstances, rendered that 
 conveyance equivocal, it remained for you, a beneficent descendant of that 
 honored patriarch, to consummate his generous purpose. 
 
 Permit me, sir, to avail myself of this opportunity, in behalf of the Trus- 
 tees and citizens of Whitesboro, to welcome you from long public service 
 abroad, back to your native town ; where, I hope, you will find your future 
 residence pleasant and agreeable to yourself and' family, and which your 
 repeated benefactions for the public g' ^od have rendered you so worthy to- 
 enjoy. I am, sir, most respectfully. 
 
 Your Very Obedient Servant. 
 
 WHITING SMITH. 
 President of the Village of Whitesboro. 
 
 Whitesboro, Sept. 24, 1876. 
 To Eon. Philo White: 
 
 Sir : Your communication, under date of June 24th, to the Town Board 
 of the town of Whitestown, proffering to the town the gift of a SAFE, for 
 the safe-keeping of records in Whitestown Hall, was this day laid before 
 the Board in session. The Board unanimously voted to receive the gift, and 
 adopted the following expression of thanks: 
 
 Wliereas, Our distinguished townsman, Hon. Philo White, in continunace 
 of the great liberality which has ever characterized his course toward his 
 fellow citizens, as manifested in the gift of a Town Hall and site, and other- 
 wise, has now tendered to the town the gift of a Safe for the use of the Town 
 Hall— 
 
 Resolved, That in accepting the gift on behalf of the Town, we, on the 
 same behalf, return to the donor our most hearty and sincere thanks for his 
 very useful and generous gift, in the hope that the remembrance of his lib- 
 erality may remain in the memory of his fellow citizens as enduring as are 
 the gifts he has bestowed. 
 
 By direction, I hereby tender to you this copy of the resolution of the^ 
 Board. S. B. WATERS, Clerh.
 
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