Ted G. White was the youngest of Greenlief B. White’s children. G.B. was Humboldt’s leading merchant who came to Humboldt in 1880. His timing was great as the railroad arrived the year before. His experience as a merchant was valuable. Mr. White’s family consisted of Mrs. White (Olive), four sons and two daughters {1}. The family was prominent in business, social, and church matters in Humboldt and wielded great influence for a generation {2}.

G.B. built his first store at 619 Sumner Avenue. Business grew. In 1886 he built a two story stone store at 614 Sumner Avenue. They called it G.B. White and Sons and sold general merchandise. Charles and Ted, as the White Brothers, continued selling the stock of men’s clothes in the 619 Sumner Avenue store. Later, after G.B. built a new building on 527 Sumner Avenue, Charles and Ted operated the White Brothers store at 614 Sumner Ave. store {3}.

Ted White, the youngest of the White brothers was born in 1871 in Buda, Illinois where they lived on a farm, and G.B. sold general merchandise. After a few years in Aplington, Iowa the family came to Humboldt in 1880. {3} He attended the local schools and worked in the family business {4}.

In 1903 at age 32 he married Laura Cassidy. Her mother was a Jones from the Glen Farm and her father had been Deputy County Treasurer. They soon built a large house with a 3rd floor ballroom at 307 Fifth Street North, next door south of the G.B. White family home. Ted and Laura had four children, Blythe, Hope, Grade, and Ted Jr. {5}

In 1908 Ted Sr. became a member of the board of Humboldt’s new Carnegie Public Library {6}. In 1908 he and Lawrence Winne were two of the three leaders of the highly successful Chautauqua campground that met in a big tent in Taft’s park {7}.

In 1910 Ted White got into the real estate business and sold his interest in the White Brothers to Charles White. After his youngest child graduated from Humboldt High School in 1931 the family moved to Redondo Beach, California. He held a prominent position in his community until retirement. Ted White Sr. died January 28, 1948 {8} and Laura in 1964.

{1} The Migrations of the White Family; History of the City of Humboldt by DeGroote, Olliver H., Jaqua Printing Co. Humboldt Iowa, 1963, pp. 223-231.

{2} Humboldt Republican, Feb 3, 1948

{3} The Migrations of the White Family; History of the City of Humboldt by DeGroote, Olliver H., Jaqua Printing Co. Humboldt Iowa, 1963, pp. 223-231.

{4} Ibid

{5} Ibid

{6} Humboldt Independent March 7, 1907

{7} History of the City of Humboldt; DeGroote, Oliver H., Jaqua Publishing Co. Humboldt Iowa, 272-273

{8} Humboldt Republican, Feb 3, 1948