DR. MARSENAS WHITE. This gentleman has been for nearly twenty years a successful practitioner in the Eclectic School of medicine, and is well-known in Riley County, not only as a physician but as a land owner, having been possessor of as much as 1,400 acres. Having given to each of his married children farms of from eighty to 120 acres each, the same extending up and down the Mill Creek Valley for six miles, he has now but 320 acres in his personal possession. Increasing age has led Dr. White to seek a more quiet life than his practice for many years allowed him, and he now answers only urgent day calls, endeavoring to entirely abandon professional work. Having many years ago to handle a great many horses and cattle, Dr. White made a study of their diseases and for some time practiced as a veterinary surgeon. He afterward began reading medicine with a view to caring for the health of his own family, and being the only man for miles about who had any knowledge of that science he was called upon by those whose friends were ill, and in this way drifted into the work which he followed successfully for many years.

Dr. White is of English descent through both his paternal and maternal line. His father, Josiah White, was born in North Carolina and at an early day settled in Indiana among the Indians, following farming until about forty years old, and being engaged in shoe making the balance of his life. He married Miss Hannah Marshall of Tennessee, who bore him six children. Isaac M. died in Indiana about thirty-five years ago, leaving a widow, formerly Miss Mary Thomas, and three children. He was an engineer and followed building and repairing saw-mills. His widow subsequently married again. Emily died at the age of twenty years unmarried. Phineas A., died in Marshall County, Ind., on Christmas Day, 1888, his wife, Miss Debby Robinson, having departed this life several years previously, and eight children were left to mourn their loss. He was an engineer in the earlier years of his life and during his later years was a farmer. Lavina is the wife of E. B. Stevens and the mother of seven children, her home being in Los Angeles, Cal. Minerva A. died in Grant Township, this county, in 1881; she was the wife of Zachariah Williams, and left five children. The maternal grandparents of Dr. White died before his birth, while his paternal grandmother lived to be nearly ninety years of age.

Dr. White was the recipient of the advantages which could be obtained at subscription schools in his boyhood, and his early education was somewhat limited, he being reared on a farm and having the usual experience of a farmer's son in a new country. His boyhood's home was in Jackson County, Ind., where his birth had taken place on Christmas Day, 1830. His mother died in 1847, and he shortly afterward left home and started in life for himself with a money capital of twenty-five cents. He worked by the month as a farm hand until his marriage in 1851, three years after which he removed from Indiana to Clay County, Ill., where he purchased 160 acres of land and cultivated the same until 1856, when be sold and the spring following came to this county. He settled on Mill Creek in GrantTownship, there being but three families besides his own in Mill Creek Valley. These were the families of Messrs. Condray. Cress, and Jesse White, the latter of whom had Arrived just a week before our subject. The removal of Dr. White's family had been by ox team from the Hoosier State and by the same medium, supplies were hauled from Leavenworth. To the west of his home lay the unsettled wilderness with Indians roaming over its surface, and there was no assurance that they would remain peaceful. The first location of the Doctor was sold by him a year after the settlement and he then bought 160 acres on section 64 (?), which forms a part of his present estate, at the same time purchasing a quarter section in Pottawatomie County, which he soon afterward sold, since which time he has by various purchases, increased his landed estate to the acreage above noted, from which he has been enabled to present his children with comfortable holdings. He had two visitations of grasshoppers during his first season in Kansas, all his growing corn being destroyed by them, but success has attended his efforts in life notwithstanding his early discouragements. His fine two-story stone residence is attractively located on Mill Creek, three miles above Stockdale, and the 320 acres which surround it are thoroughly and intelligently cultivated and cared for. the management of the same being now in the hands of his son, Alexander.

At the home of the bride in Jackson County, Ind., Aug. 17, 1851, Dr. white was united in marriage with Miss Rachael, daughter of William and Susan Stanfield. who were natives of North Carolina and Kentucky respectively. The estimable bride was born in the Hoosier State, where she was reared and educated, growing to a useful and honored womanhood. Nine children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. White, three still remaining under the parental roof and the others having homes within a few miles. Mordecai W. married Helen Shumway and they have one child. Joseph A. married Anna A. Gaten and has three children. Perry 0. married Emily Anderson, and has three children. George W. married Elizabeth Summer and is the father of one child. Mary A. married Francis E. Crowell, and is the mother of three children. Alexander is unmarried and has active supervision of the home farm, besides making regular trips to Kansas City, where he buys cattle for feeding and fattening on the farm. He is now feeding over 200 head. He has a fair English education and fine business capacity, and at the age of twenty-one ranks among.the successful stockmen of the section, having bought, fed, and sold cattle since sixteen years of age. Elizabeth, aged sixteen, and Emma J. aged eleven, are at home and attending school.

Dr. White served for many years as a Justice of the Peace, and has been Township Trustee and a member of the School Board. He has for many years been a Republican and in National affairs still casts his vote with that party, while in local matters he votes for the candidate whom he considers fittest for the position, irrespective of party lines. He has frequently served as Delegate to County Conventions. Both Dr. White and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and have high standing in that society. Dr. White is the possessor of keen business qualities as well as marked intelligence and an upright character, and for all these traits is entitled to the respect which he receives from his associates. His portrait occupies another page of this volume.