STELLA CEMETERY (aka Pleasant Hill), Stella, GILES COUNTY TENNESSEE

WHITE, James, 25 Jul 1794 - 16 Nov 1877. 2nd stone: "Aged 88 yrs. 3 mos. & 1 ds." (Georgia native: h/o and shares stone with Matilda Caroline Gooch White.) 0106/0108/0109

County Citizen - Thursday, November 29, 1877
Died James White, Esq., of Pleasant Hill neighborhood, died Saturday, 17th instantly at an advanced age. He was the father of Dr. Thos. White, dec'd of Pulaski.
Giles County Citizen Issue - Thursday, December 6, 1877
Tribute of Respect Died at his residence, Giles County, Tenn., Nov. 16th, 1877, James White, Esq. in his 84th year. Esq. White was born in the state of Georgia in the year 1794. When a small boy, his father immigrated to Middle Tennessee and settled in Sumner County near Gallatin. After remaining there a few years, he moved with his family down the Cumberland River near the site now Fort Donelson. Making but a short stay at this place, he removed and located in Maury County.
When the subject of this notice had gained his 18th year, England again had declared war against the United States. A call was made for volunteers to beat back her threatening armies of invasion. He came to the call of His Country; offered his services; entered the army, and marched with General Jackson's Troops to New Orleans and there took part in that memorable battle fought on the 8th of January, 1812, which achieved for us a second time our independence of Great Britain and made us a free people.
After peace was negotiated, Esq. White returned to his home in Maury county and re-entered school, and obtained for that day a good English education, after which he taught school there until the spring of 1820.
He then came to Giles County and married Matilda Gooch, and lived with his widowed mother-in-law (Mary E. Gooch), until the fall of the same year. He then moved to himself, where he had choice of the forest to select timbers to build his house, and here he lived in peace, prosperity and plenty for fifty years. His family grew to six children, all of whom save two, preceded him to the land of rest.
In the year 1827 (October), Esq. White, professed the religion of Christ at a camp meeting occasion the first ever held at Pleasant Hill. He was at this time a tenter and continued to be as long as such meetings were kept up at this place and assisted to feed and entertain a liberal share of those who assembled from year to year to worship. During the fifty years of his Christian life, he with becoming diligence and zeal, worked for his Master. His opportunities were not confined alone to revival seasons, Sabbath schools, and prayer meetings to work for Christ, but often at the bedside of the sick. Esq. White was an elder in the Pleasant Hill congregation, C. P. Church, for about forty years. During his Christian warfare for a half century, his deportment was blameless and without censure and the brotherhood of his church.
During his last hours, an old friend of his and veteran of the cross and too one of the noble old braves of the War of 1812, visited him (his neighbor for about 40 years) and their separation, bidding each other farewell and shaking hands for the last time on earth, was a scene touching indeed, deeply affecting and profoundly solemn.
Esq. White was truly a good man and entertained for himself a high personnel regard, and with commanding appearance and courteous bearing, he impressed all with whom he met favorably. He was an officer for about forty years of his life, and transacted a large amount of business for the public, both in Church and State, and his sound judgment and equitable decisions engrafted him in the esteem and confidence of those for whom he labored. Esq. White was a true man in the bravest sense. He was true to his own conscience, true to his family, true to his neighbor, true to his country, and true to his God. His every aspect proclaimed him one of nature's purest and best man. In his death we can truly say that his family has lost a discrete and wise counselor, the church a faithful friend, and society a useful member. It was his pleasure during his long life to visit the sick. This he did almost to his death, and on becoming occasions would offer prayer in their behalf, and at all time would encourage and comfort as far as was in his power.
During the two or three last years of his life, he was greatly distressed at times with chronic rheumatism and in continence of urine, the latter more particularly did exceedingly distress him. But with Christian patience bore it all without murmuring, and was heard to say often that these troubles would son have an end. And that the Lord had in reservation better things for him-life, eternal life undisturbed by cares and pain, if he but proved true and faithful to the end. This he did three days before his death being more at himself mentally than at any time during his illness. The author of this tribute went into his room and found none present with him except his faithful and aged wife. We called to her and asked, "How is Esquire now, Grandma?" She replied, "He is happy and praising God the best his strength has to do." "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."

WHITE, Matilda C., 3 Aug 1800 - 9 Apr 1880. "wife of James White." (Nee: Matilda Caroline Gooch; d/o Thomas & Mary Elizabeth Anthony Gooch; w/o and shares stone with James White.) 0107/0108
Photos and bio information courtesy of Martha Caswell TremorsNewmexico@aol.com
Compiled by Mary Bob McClain Richardson for this site, 2 Jun 2012. Added here 22 Jun 2012.