Harry Caldwell White (1880 - 1967)

Born 28 Jan 1880 in Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Adele May (Swift) White — married 4 May 1909 in Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States

Died 16 Dec 1967 at age 87 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Harry Caldwell White was born in January of 1880, the third son of Henry White and Eliza Dancy. ^[1] Shortly after his birth, the White family moved from Madison parish, Louisiana, to St. Louis, Missouri, so that his father could change careers. Henry White died in 1885 while trying to cross a creek in the course of his job as a traveling salesman. Harry's mother Eliza died about two years later, in 1887.

The White siblings were split up after this, Harry's younger siblings living with or near family in Louisiana and Alabama. It is unclear where Harry lived during the 1890s. In 1900, Harry, then 20 years old, and his 23-year-old brother Lafayette Dancy White lived in a boarding house in St. Louis. ^[2] During the early 1900s, the brothers both moved to California.

In May of 1909, Harry married Adele May Swift in Berkeley, California. ^[3] Adele and her family were well-known in the Bay Area, with Adele having been a debutante, and her father, J.W. Swift, being a construction contractor in Berkeley. ^[4] The wedding was covered in several of the local papers -- Adele was described as a "talented musician of delightful personality," and Harry was described as a "young business man of Oakland with a promising future." The San Francisco Examiner noted that Adele and Harry were taking a "two weeks' honeymoon trip" to northern California, and were planning to "make their home in Oakland, where Mr. White holds a responsible business position." ^[5]

In 1910 the couple was living in Adele's parents' home in Alameda county. ^[6] In March 1911, Adele gave birth to their only child, William Harry White. ^[7]

Harry registered for the World War I draft in 1917, when he was 38 years old. At this time, he was working as a salesman at Swift & Wilcox (i.e., his father-in-law's building materials and contracting company), and was living at 2439 Grove St. in Berkeley, California. The draft card also serves to confirm his full name and date of birth. ^[8] It does not appear that Harry took part in active military service.

Harry, Adele, and William continued to live in Berkeley. In 1920, they were still living on Grove St., with Harry working in sales and Adele employed as a movie theater organist. ^[9] When the 1930 Census was taken, the White family had moved to Shafter Street in the city of Oakland. Harry had changed jobs at this point, and was now working as a "collector" for a company listed as "Chronicle" (perhaps the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper). Adele was noted as being a musician, and William, then 19 years old, was a student. ^[10]

As of 1938, the White family was back in Berkeley; Adele was interviewed for an advertising section in the San Francisco Examiner which noted the Whites' current address and detailed Adele's struggle with arthritis that had kept her from playing the organ for two years. ^[11] When the 1940 Census was taken, son William had moved away, and Harry and Adele were living on Carleton Street. Harry was working as a guard at a bank, while Adele had no occupation listed. ^[12]

It appears that the Whites moved to southern California at some point during the 1940s or 1950s. Adele Swift White died in Los Angeles on December 13, 1963, and was buried in Corona del Mar. ^[13] Harry passed away in 1967. ^{[14] [15] [16]} His place of burial is currently unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD6B-694 : 15 August 2017), H C White in entry for H C White, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 43, sheet 197A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0456; FHL microfilm 1,254,456.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3D4-4VJ : accessed 30 July 2019), Harry C White in household of Fannie C Godfrey, Precinct 9 St. Louis city Ward 22, St. Louis, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 336, sheet 8A, family 113, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,898.
3. ↑ Wedding announcement. The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California. 09 May 1909. Accessed via https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36912463/hc_white_and_adele_swift_wedding/
4. ↑ Engagement announcement. Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California. 11 April 1909. Accessed via https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36912552/adele_may_swift_engagement_is_announced/
5. ↑ "Adele May Swift Weds H.C. White." 05 May 1909. Accessed via https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36912417/adele_may_swift_weds_hc_white/
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV2Z-VMH : accessed 30 July 2019), Harry C White in household of John W Swift, Berkely, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 63, sheet 4A, family 59, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 72; FHL microfilm 1,374,085.
7. ↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGFM-2T5 : 27 November 2014), William H White, 31 Mar 1911; citing Alameda, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
8. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZVC-ZB6 : 13 March 2018), Harry Caldwell White, 1917-1918; citing Berkeley City no 1, California, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,530,663.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH36-V22 : accessed 30 July 2019), Harry C White, Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States; citing ED 181, sheet 9A, line 40, family 232, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 93; FHL microfilm 1,820,093.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCX3-Y8Q : accessed 30 July 2019), Harry C White, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 55, sheet 11A, line 17, family 263, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 103; FHL microfilm 2,339,838.
11. ↑ "Organist Ends 2 Years' Arthritic Pains, Swelling." The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California. 2 January 1938. Accessed via https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36942740/adele_white_and_her_arthritis/
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9Q9-CP1 : 27 July 2019), Harry C White, Tract 2C, Berkeley, Oakland Judicial Township, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1-93, sheet 4B, line 61, family 86, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 187.
13. ↑ Adele Swift White Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 03 June 2020), memorial page for Adele Mae White (1885–1963), Find A Grave: Memorial #132150263, citing Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, Orange County, California, USA ; Maintained by landjnero (contributor 47840804) .
14. ↑ California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP41-PHW : 26 November 2014), Harry C White, 16 Dec 1967; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
15. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL5H-WRX1 : 22 August 2018), Harry C White, 1967.
16. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J11N-TP5 : 19 May 2014), Harry White, Dec 1967; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).