52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 2; George Washington White

The ancestor biography for week 2 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is about one of my great grandfathers, George Washington White.

George Washington White

George Washington White was born on 22 February 1871 at 116 Spring Street, Albany, New York. He was a son of Charles William White (1835-1917) and Mary A. Wilson (1838-1908) both of whom were Irish immigrants.  Charles and Mary were married in Albany on 23 September 1861.  They had many children; all born in Albany.

• Mary A. (1862-1918)
• Charles William (1863-1937)
• James Lincoln (1864-1885)
• Robert (1866-1908)
• Joseph (1868-1954)
• Margaret Agnes (1869-1939)
• Emma (1873-1874)
• Christopher (1875-1877)
• Bella (1877-1877)
• John Bridgeford (1880-1903)

George first appeared in the Albany City Directory in 1893 through 1895 as a moulder.  In 1898 as an iceman.  From 1900 to 1904 he was working as a fireman for both the New York Central Railroad and the Hudson River Railroad.  In 1905 until his death he was a locomotive engineer for the New York Central Railroad. George's older brother Charles William White, Jr. was also an engineer with the NYCRR.

George W. White 3rd from left

George married Clara Boyd Hitchcock (1882-1966) in Albany on 20 July 1904.  They had the following children;

• Margaret Agnes (1905-1984)
• Clara Edna (1906-1978)
• Mary Wilson (1908-1973)
• George Edward Kirk (1910-1982)
• Marie Mulder (1912-1976)

George and Clara's children in 1911.  Left to right Mary, George, Margaret, and Clara.

On 10 June 1935 George Washington White passed away at age 64 and was buried in Graceland Cemetery on Delaware Avenue at the city limits.  Below is a photo of his memoriam medals from the railroad  union local that he was a member of.

Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman & Enginemen

George Washington White gravestone