Brief biographies of the figurines on display in ... - University Library

60
MRS. WILLIAM WHITE
(Julia Mariah Hart)
Julia Mariah White, daughter <strong>of</strong> Julius Caesar and
Ca<strong>the</strong>rine Carroll Hart, was born March 18, 1827, near
Canton, Ohio. When she was twenty years old, she was
granted a teacher's certificate. After teaching a year,
in December, 1848, she married Samuel Russell. She had
one son, Homer Russell. Late in 1850, she was divorced
on <strong>the</strong> grounds <strong>of</strong> cruelty.
In 1856 she came to Illinois, near Fairfield, and began
teaching in Wayne County <strong>the</strong> same year. On February
28, 1859, she married William White. A son, Julius
White, was born in 1861, and <strong>the</strong> same year, Mr. White
enlisted in <strong>the</strong> Union army. He was wounded and was
very sick. After much pleading, Mrs. White was permitted
to go to her husband. She nursed him to convalescence,
<strong>the</strong>n began nursing o<strong>the</strong>r men. Late in 1863
both Mr. and Mrs. White returned to Illinois. Mrs.
White renewed her certificate and began teaching again,
her husband being an invalid till his death in 1885.
Mrs. White was a pioneer business woman, working
under discouraging conditions for her country and her
family. She was known and loved as "Aunt Jane
Mariah" by four generations <strong>of</strong> relatives and friends.
Mrs. Julia Mariah White died March 18, 1925, at
Fairfield, Illinois, at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> ninety-eight, still active,
both mentally and physically.