Elisha White

G.A.R. LEADER IN IDAHO DIES

Elisha M. White, 93-year-old commander of Idaho's dwindling band of Civil war veterans and one of the last remaining soldiers who stood on guard at the bier of Abraham Lincoln, died here today [December 7, 1938].

He had been a resident of Idaho for more than a quarter of a century. White served during the Civil war in Company H, 146th Illinois infantry and his regiment was chosen to guard the martyred president's body when it lay in state at Springfield, Ill. He said recently he believed only one other member of his regiment was alive.

Last summer White attended the celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. He attended six national encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic, the most recent at Des Moines, Iowa, about six years ago. Last June he was elected commander of the Idaho department of the G. A. R.

Born in [Georgetown, now Cadiz] Ohio June 8, 1845, White moved with his parents to Illinois in 1855. Following the Civil war he moved to [Shickley] Nebraska where he filed on a homestead. Later he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and from there came to Idaho [in 1910].

His wife [Laura Almira Blood] died four years ago and he has since resided here with one of his two daughters, Miss Eva L. White. The other daughter is Mrs. Lillian L. Beck of Cheyenne, Wyo. Other survivors include five sons, Clarence H. White, Portland, Ore.; Oliver H. White, St. Louis, Mo., James L. White, Spokane, Wash.; Julius T. White, Shickley, Neb., and E. Waldo White, Boise, and 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted here Saturday.

--The Twin Falls News, Twin Falls, Idaho, 8 Dec 1938, pg 9
--Contributor: Carmelee Tuma (49613020)

Elisha White

G.A.R. LEADER IN IDAHO DIES

Elisha M. White, 93-year-old commander of Idaho's dwindling band of Civil war veterans and one of the last remaining soldiers who stood on guard at the bier of Abraham Lincoln, died here today [December 7, 1938].

He had been a resident of Idaho for more than a quarter of a century. White served during the Civil war in Company H, 146th Illinois infantry and his regiment was chosen to guard the martyred president's body when it lay in state at Springfield, Ill. He said recently he believed only one other member of his regiment was alive.

Last summer White attended the celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. He attended six national encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic, the most recent at Des Moines, Iowa, about six years ago. Last June he was elected commander of the Idaho department of the G. A. R.

Born in [Georgetown, now Cadiz] Ohio June 8, 1845, White moved with his parents to Illinois in 1855. Following the Civil war he moved to [Shickley] Nebraska where he filed on a homestead. Later he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and from there came to Idaho [in 1910].

His wife [Laura Almira Blood] died four years ago and he has since resided here with one of his two daughters, Miss Eva L. White. The other daughter is Mrs. Lillian L. Beck of Cheyenne, Wyo. Other survivors include five sons, Clarence H. White, Portland, Ore.; Oliver H. White, St. Louis, Mo., James L. White, Spokane, Wash.; Julius T. White, Shickley, Neb., and E. Waldo White, Boise, and 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted here Saturday.

--The Twin Falls News, Twin Falls, Idaho, 8 Dec 1938, pg 9
--Contributor: Carmelee Tuma (49613020)