William H. White, born December 10,
1841 and died December 12, 1920, the second son of Joseph and Sarah White,
married Rebecca Thompson, born February 6, 1857 and died September 9, 1881,
daughter of Thomas Jefferson Thompson and his wife, Martha Jane Evans Thompson,
of the Jellico community. For their
home, he chose a location not far from the intersection of present day Farm
Roads 1709 and 1938. He bought 79 acres
for $1.12 ½ per acre, part payment being made in hay. A later purchase included 72 acres at $2.50
per acre, which is still owned by a grandson, Otto Taylor.
The first house was across the road
west from the Oldham grocery on Farm Road
1938. The walls were of logs and the
roof was made of riven oak boards, hewn with an ax. Such a roof, typical of the times, was less
then perfect, weather wise and on winter mornings, the family often waked to
find the bed covers and the cabin floor generously sprinkled with snow. The bed, eventually called “Texas bed” needed only one leg, since one
end and one side were built to the wall.
This house burned in 1872. One large oak tree survived the fire and is
still standing to mark the location of the house. In the ninety-two years that have passed, the
tree has grown numerous, fantastic patterns of bark to cover the fire damage.
The children of William H. and
Rebecca Thompson White are:
1)
Sarah Jane (Sallie), born in 1873 and died in
1944. She was married to Robert F.
Taylor, born in 1871 and died in 1915.
They continued to live at the family home.
2)
Flora, born March 1875 and died in December 1875.
3)
Alexander Franklin, born September 24, 1876. He was married to Florence E. Prather, born
September 18, 1880 and died November 3, 1926.
His second marriage was to Nellie J. Page.
4)
Mary, born September 7, 1879 and died November 15,
1883.
The father and mother passed away
at their home in the Jellico community.
Both are buried at White’s Chapel.
The children of Sarah J. (Sallie)
and Robert F. Taylor are:
1)
John William, born September 1893 and died December
1893.
2)
Otto was born in 1896.
3)
Hallard Alexander, born June 11, 1899 and died November
23, 1950.
4)
Juanita Mae, born May 30, 1905 and died October 15,
1918.
5)
Robert Earl, born November 19, 1907 and died September
9, 1940.
