Jerome White, Kenosha, Wis., member of G.A.R. Post No. 230, was born July 28, 1833, in Oneida County, New York. He is the oldest son of Joseph and Philena (Topliff) White, and has three surviving brothers named Jay, Henry and Judson. The family went to Kenosha in June, 1843, making their journey thither on the Erie Canal and around the lakes. The parents were respectively of English and Scotch origin, and the father died in 1878; the decease of the mother took place Jan. 25, 1885. The son received a common school education and studied civil engineering, in which he was operating when the country called for soldiers. He was a musician and determined to enlist in that capacity, which he did in 1861 in the 1st Wisconsin Infantry on its reorganization. The regiment was mustered in October and sent to the front in November, going to Louisville, Ky., and Mr. White accompanied the command as bugler through all its movements until he was mustered out in June, 1862, under the General Order which dismissed all musicians from the service. The regiment was assigned to the brigade of General Negley at Camp Negley, after going from Louisville to West Point and Elizabethtown. He went to Ashville, passed the winter, went to Columbia, to Bigley Creek, to Rogersville, and to Bainbridge Ferry, afterward to Florence, returning to Columbia. Mr. White went to Nashville for muster out and returned to Kenosha, where, after recuperating for a time, he commenced recruiting for Battery D, 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, under a commission from Governor Lewis, and when the command was organized was made 1st Duty Sergeant. Orders were received to go to New Orleans, where they remained until February 9th and moved thence to Fort Jackson. Until June, 1863, they were engaged in fort and drill duty, including the varied methods of infantry, light and heavy artillery, beside heavy labor, such as all fortifications require. On the occasion of the visit of Admiral Farragut to Fort Jackson, he was requested by the man himself to turn his gun over to a subordinate, which he did, and conducted the naval hero through the fort, after which the officers were drawn up in line to receive him formally. While stationed there, many of the battery died of spotted fever. From Fort Jackson the battery went to Berwick Bay, where they operated against the guerrillas, and while there Mr. White was commissioned, August 3, 1864, 2d Lieutenant of Company H, 50th Wisconsin Infantry, and ordered to report to Madison. He was sent thence to Benton Barracks in pursuit of the regiment and went to join his command at Miami, Mo. In June, 1865, he went to Fort Leavenworth and thence to Fort Rice, Dak. They went from there up the Missouri to Omaha, where 150 of the command deserted. He was sent by Colonel Clark, with other officers, to bring them in, which they did with the exception of about 30; the refugees were court-martialed, sentenced to 30 days confinement and pardoned. Mr. White remained at Fort Rice until June, 1866, when he went to Madison and was mustered out June 14, 1866. He returned to Kenosha, engaged as a clerk for a time, and in 1872 engaged under General Wilson at Keokuk in the service of he government on the public works at Des Moines. Subsequently he went to Wichita, Kas., and was engaged with the Southwestern Stage Company 13 years. In 1884 he returned to Kenosha. He was married Aug. 3, 1868, to Selena B., daughter of William and Jane Sexton of Hamilton, Ill., and their only child, James, is a resident of Chicago. Mr. White was again married, Dec. 6, 1886, to Mrs. Helen Smith of Kenosha. Although he was not wounded in the war, he still suffers from disabilities incurred in the service. |