Salem Cemetery Lot No. 26: Paris White, Owner

The Paris M. White family lived just south of the Lucas-Wayne county line, a few miles south of Salem on the New York Road, until the late 1890s, when Paris and his wife, Mary E. (Breckenridge) White, moved into Chariton. This was a family hit hard by tuberculosis, or consumption as it mostly was known at that time. Lot. No. 26 contains the graves of Paris and Mary and three of their children, Edward, Julia and Etta, who died of that disease. Etta has a stone of her own, but inscriptions for the other four are on a large family stone at the north end of the lot. There are, however, smaller headstones engraved "Mother," "Father," "Edward" and "Julia"

WHITE FAMILY STONE
West Face
PARIS M. WHITE
Nov. 10, 1844
Sept. 23, 1905
MARY E., His Wife
Oct. 22, 1847
Nov. 8, 1907

WHITE FAMILY STONE
East Face
EDWARD T. WHITE
Nov. 21, 1878
Aug. 14, 1906
JULIA J. WHITE
July 13, 1887
April 26, 1902

ETTA
Wife of
W.T. SNIDER
Feb. 20, 1873
Mar. 5, 1900

OBITUARY: PARIS M. WHITE
Undated clipping, Lucas County Genealogical Society collection

Paris M. White died at his home in this city on Saturday morning, September 23, 1905, at the age of 60 years, 10 months and 11 days, after an illness of only twenty-four hours with bowel trouble. Funeral services conducted by Rev. F.B. Palmer were held at the family home on Monday afternoon at two o'clock after which interment took place in the Salem cemetery.

Paris M. White, son of John and Sylvia White, was born in Monroe county. He moved to Lucas county, Iowa, when 12 years of age. On Jan. 17, 1864, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Breckenridge of Chariton. To this union were born twelve children, four boys and eight girls, five of whom are still living, Eliza Fox of Nebraska, Hattie Nichols of Missouri, Emma, Edward and Walter of Lucas county. He also leaves a wife, two sisters and two brothers. They moved to Wayne county in 1868 where they resided until the spring of 1896 when the moved to Chariton, where they have since resided. Mr. White possessed a kind, generous disposition and was upright in all his business dealings. He had many warm friends to whom the news of his sudden death brought sadness and regret. The grief stricken relatives have the sympathy of the entire community in their great bereavement.

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OBITUARY: MARY E. (BRECKENRIDGE) WHITE
Undated clipping, Lucas County Genealogical Society collection

Mary E. Breckenridge was born in Missouri, Oct. 22, 1847, and died at her home in Chariton Nov. 3, (sic) 1907 at the age of 60 years and 10 days (sic). She was united to Paris M. White Jan. 1, (sic) 1864. To them fourteen (sic) children were born. Her husband and eleven of these children have preceded her to the future land. The following three children survive: Eliza Jane Fox, of McCook, Nebr., Hattie B. Nichols of Lancaster, Mo., and Charles Walter of Gregory, N. Dakota, and one brother, John Breckenridge, of Rock Island, Ill. Mrs. White united with the Christian church in early life of which she remained a consistent member until her death. She was a patient mother, having lived to see the majority of her children buried. She was sorrow stricken in her last years feeling so lonely without those who had preceded her. Brief and simple services were held over her remains at the home on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, Nov. 10, by Rev. J.G. Yaggy of the United Brethren church. After the services the remains were taken to the Salem cemetery for interment.

Note: Whoever wrote this obituary had bad day --- or errors slipped in at the newspaper composition room. Since her funeral was held Nov. 10, the death date inscribed on her tombstone, Nov. 8, must be accurate. Lucas County marriage records show her date of marriage as 17 January 1864. Note also that Mary's obituary states that she was the mother of 14 children; Paris M. White's obituary, that the couple had 12 children.

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OBITUARY: EDWARD T. WHITE
The Chariton Herald, 16 August 1908

Ed. White, son of Mrs. P.M. White, who has been ill for several months with consumption, died at the family home on Tuesday morning, August 14, 1906, at the age of twenty-seven years. He had just returned last Friday noon from Colorado, where he had been for some time in the hope that the change would prove beneficial, but instead his condition grew worse and he came home to spend his few remaining days. The funeral services will be held at the residence this afternoon at one o'clock, conducted by Rev. F.B. Palmer, after which interment will take place in the cemetery at Salem.

Deceased was born in Wayne county on November 21, 1878. About twelve years ago he came with his parents to this place, where he has since resided. He was energetic and upright, with a pleasant disposition, and he made warm friends of all with whom he came into contact. He is survived by his mother, one brother, C.W., of this city, and two sisters, Mrs. Jane Fox, of McCook, Neb., and Mrs. Hattie Nichols, of Lancaster, Mo. These sorrowing ones have the sympathy of a host of friends in their bereavement.

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OBITUARY: JULIA J. WHITE
The Chariton Democrat, 1 May 1902

Miss Julia White died at the home of her parents near this city on Saturday morning, April 26, 1902, at the age of 14 years, 9 months and 13 days, after a lingering illness with consumption. The funeral services were held at the family residence in west Chariton on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, conducted by
Rev. F.B. Palmer, after which the remains were interred in the Salem cemetery.

Julia Jane White, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.M. White, was born in Union township, this county, on July 13, 1887, and came to this place with her parents about six years ago. She was a bright, lovable girl and her early demise is mourned by
a large circle of friends.

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OBITUARY: MARY ETTA (WHITE) SNIDER
The Chariton Democrat, 16 March 1900

"Mrs. Mary Snyder of Benton township, wife of W.T. Snyder, died in this city at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. P.M. White, on Monday evening, March 5, after a lingering illness with consumption, at the age of twenty-seven years. Funeral services conducted by Rev. Wilson Mills of the Baptist church were held Wednesday at Bethel (sic) church in Benton township after which the remains were interred in the Salem cemetery.

Mrs. Mary Etta White was born in Wayne county in 1873. About four years ago she was married to W.T. Snyder who survives her. One little daughter, three years old, is also living. The death of this noble, true hearted mother has caused extreme sorrow, not only in the home she loved so well, but throughout the township where she resided. She was beloved by all who knew her, and her sweet christian character carried sunshine and joy wherever she went. Her entire life was devoted to her home and her family. She lived her life well, and leaves in the sorrow-stricken home an influence for good which will be felt in the years to come. In spite of her ill health she scattered seeds of sunshine, and the community suffers from her departure. To the bereaved relatives the heartfelt sympathy of the community is extended.