WHITE, HENRY CLAY (1843 - 1914)

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Watsonville Pajaronian (September 25, 1914)

Henry Clay White Has Passed Away
Well Known Civil War Veteran Answers to the Call of "Taps"

Early last evening Henry Clay White, a resident of this section for over twenty years and a well known Civil War Veteran, passed away peacefully after an illness that has lasted over a year, death coming at the home of Mrs. M.L. Allard, his sister, at 113 First street. About a year ago Mr. White began to fail in health and he departed for a well known mineral springs resort in Sonoma county. In May of this year he took a turn for the worse and was removed to a sanitarium near Sonoma where he remained until two weeks ago. But he knew that the final hour was not far distant and if he had to die he wanted to pass away in Watsonville, his old home. He was brought here two weeks ago and while he seemingly improved for a day or so yet his body could not recover from the ravages of the year's illness and death came as a result.

Funeral services will be held tonight at 8 o'clock in the undertaking parlors of Aston & Neal on East Third street under the auspices of Pajaro Lodge No. 90, I.O.O.F. The body will be shipped at 9:25 o'clock tomorrow morning for cremation in Mount Olivet cemetery at San Francisco and the ashes will be interred by; the grave of the mother of the deceased at Elk Grove, Sacramento county.

Mr. White was a native of Bettensport Iowa, and had he lived five hours longer would have been exactly 71 years of age. He was reared and educated in his native town and grew up to manhood there. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry and during the war performed a number of brave deeds that won him praise from his superior officers and from all sides. He served under Generals Joe Smith and Wilson, being with the latter on the occasion of Sherman's march to the sea. In one battle Mr. White won fame and glory by capturing a Confederate Officer's entire equipment, field glasses, saber, pistol and other parts of his equipment being taken. These articles are now to be seen in the Golden Gate Park museum in San Francisco. Mr. White was a member of the G.A.R. Post at Carson City, Nevada. He had also been a member of the Capay I.O.O.F. lodge a Capay, Yolo county, for twenty seven years.

When Mr. White first came to California it was to settle in the Sacramento Valley in 1868, residing in Sacramento and Yolo counties. In 1894 he came to Watsonville to engage in business. He was successful as a business man and a few years ago decided to retire. Mr. White was a kindly, affable, companionable old gentleman and all that know him will regret to learn of his death. He was always jolly, made friends with all that met him and will leave a host of acquaintances to mourn his loss. He is survived by the following brothers and sisters.

W.L. White, Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Haskell, Lincoln Nebraska; Byron B. White, Pasco, Idaho; Mrs. M.J. Allard and Mrs. J.B. Clements, both of Watsonville, two nieces, Miss Mabel Pasco and Miss Agnes Allard both of this city and a nephew, Ray Clements.

Date of Birth: 1843-09-25

Date of Death: 1914-24-09

County: Sacramento

Cemetery/City of Burial: Elk Grove

Mortuary: A&N

Cause of Death: Hepatitis

Occupation: Carpenter

Local Address: First St. 113

Last City: Watsonville

Native of: IA

Father Native of: Alvah (MA)

Mother Native of: Buctere_ Rebecca (KY)

Enlisted: 1861/09/23

Discharged: 1865/08/08

Military Unit: IA_ 4 Cav Co L

Rank: Sgt

Military Notes: R-Oskaloosa_ M/O- Atlanta

GAR#: M26

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: RLM 1908 Roster

Creator: Nelson, Robert L.
Source: Old Soldier: the story of the Grand Army of the Republic in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2004.
Date: Undated
Coverage: Santa Cruz (County)
Rights: Reproduced by permission of Robert L. Nelson.
Identifier: OS-1073

Citation

Nelson, Robert L. “WHITE, HENRY CLAY (1843 - 1914).” Old Soldier: the story of the Grand Army of the Republic in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2004. SCPL Local History. https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/134049. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.