JOHN W. WHITE.     John W. White, a leading business man and prominent citizen of Russellville, is a member of a family whose name has been inseparably associated with the development and improvement of Pope county from pioneer times to the present and his activities have covered a wide scope, connecting him with large and important enterprises.  He is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in Logan county on the 4th of July, 1860, and his parents were J. M. and Florida (Miller) White, both natives of Spartanburg, South Carolina, the former born Mar. 23, 1820, and the latter May 4, 1822.   They were married in South Carolina and soon afterwards removed to Georgia, where the father became the owner of a plantation, continuing active in its cultivation until 1869, when he came to Arkansas.  At Ellsworth in Logan county, he opened a mercantile establishment, which he conducted until 1872, when he came to Russellville and engaged in general merchandising in association with his son, W. J. White, who is now successfully controlling the enterprise.  He also had financial interests and made extensive investments in land but lived largely retired after establishing his home in Russellville, in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence.  He was one of the leading citizens of his community and was one of the first postmasters of Russellville.  In his political views he was a republican and his life was guided by the teachings of the First Methodist Episcopal church and his life was guided by the teachings of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Russellville, with which he was affiliated.  He died on the 23d of March, 1892, and the demise of Mrs. White occurred in 1808.  They became the parents of twelve children, of whom four survive: W. J., a retired capitalist and highly respected citizen of Russellville; Mary A., the widow of Freeman S. Casper and a resident of Denver, Colorado; J. W., of this review; and Ellen, the wife of Jesse Leonard, a leading hardware merchant of Russellville.
     After completing his high school course John W. White, became a student at Bethany college of Bethany, West Virginia, and was then associated with his father and brother, W. J. White, in merchandising until 1890.  He then entered the peoples Exchange Bank of Russellville as cashier, serving for fifteen years in that capacity, at the end of which time he resigned to take charge of the Southern Anthracite Coal Company, of which he became sole owner.  He continued in that business until 1910, when he leased the mine for ten years on a royalty basis, but subsequently in association with three others, he bought back the lease.  Later the Bernice Investment Company took over the Southern Antracite Coal Company, in which Mr. White still retains an interest, and he is now serving as vice president of the Dardanelle & Russellville Railway Company.  He is a director of the Peoples Exchange Bank and auditor of the board and has acquired an interest in a large plantation, of which his brother, W. J. White, is also part owner.  In addition he is sole proprietor of a large farm in this locality and was recently appointed receiver for the Southern Anthracite Coal Mining Company.  He has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has pointed out the way and is accounted one of the wealthiest men in Pope county.  Throughout his business career he has been a persistent, resolute and energetic worker, keeping his hand steadily upon the helm of his affairs and manifesting at all times strong executive power.
     On the 1st of February, 1892, Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Laura Annette Popkess, who was born at Champaign, Illinois, a daughter of Alfred Popkess, who became a successful promoter of large business enterprises.  He subsequently removed to Fort Scott, Kansas, and in association with his brother-in-law built the St. Louis & Fort Scott Railroad, which was later sold to Gould interests.  He also became interested in the manufacture of glass at that place and later operated in the coal mines of Pope county, Arkansas.  Mr. and Mrs. White have become the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters:  John W., Jr., the eldest in the family, attended Northwestern University at Chicago and is now engaged in merchandising at Russellville; Lucile, who acquired her education in the woman's school at Jacksonville, Illinois, the Ward & Belmont College at Nashville, Tennessee, and the New England Conservatory of Music, is now the wife of James C. Winderotte, who is engaged in the grain business at Russellville; Will J., a graduate of the Culver Military Academy of Indiana and the State University of Wisconsin, is connected with mercantile interests of Russellville; Alfred P., who completed a course in a business college at Poughkeepsie, New York, also spent a year as a student in the State University of Arkansas and is now attending Northwestern University of Chicago, specializing in the study of commerce and finance; J. Madison is attending the Culver Military Academy; and Laura Bernyce is a junior in the Russellville high school.
     The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. White gives his political allegiance to the republican party.  He is a leader in its councils and is a member of the state central and state executive committees.  Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and has filled the office of exalted ruler.  Progress has been the keynote of his career and what he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents.  His initiative spirit has led him into prominent connections and he has been active in pushing forward the wheels of progress in Pope county, which numbers him among its foremost citizens.
Source:  History of Arkansas, by Dallas T. Herndon, Vol. II, publ. by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1922 - Pg. 270