John T. White

WHITE, JOHN THOMAS (1844-1921) ~ John Thomas White, Confederate Veteran, was born in Jasper, Walker County, Alabama in 1845. He came to Texas around 1859, and at the start of the Civil War, mustered into Co. H of the 4th Texas Cavalry on September 29, 1861, at Camp Sibley near San Antonio, Texas. White was equipped with an extra gun at the cost of $30.00.

The 4th Texas Cavalry was fully organized in October of 1861, with ten companies ranging from A to K. The company was also known as the 1st Regiment, Sibley‘s Brigade Texas Mounted Volunteers and as the 4th Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteers. White was dismounted on February 26, 1862, and hospitalized in Socorro, NM until he was paroled on May 26, 1862. He was sent to Mesilla, NM on May 29. White was remounted September 1, 1862, and served until 1865, never being transferred.

After the war, he married Elizabeth Rusk, daughter of David Rusk and Elizabeth Reid, on September 26, 1866. John and Elizabeth had one daughter, Maggie May, in 1868. Sadly, Elizabeth died during the birth of their daughter and John raised Maggie by himself. John and Maggie lived in Nacogdoches, Texas where John worked as a farmer. There is speculation that John remarried and had more children, for his Confederate Home Roster lists a daughter, Syble, as a contact person; however, no records to date have been found to substantiate the information.

White entered the Confederate Men‘s Home on February 21, 1916. He was discharged from the home on November 3, 1920, possibly to go and live with his daughter Maggie and her husband, William Parmelly, in Abilene, Texas. White returned to the Confederate Men‘s Home on May 2, 1921. He died there, at the home, on Christmas Day of that same year. John White was interred at the Texas State Cemetery the following day.