Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Frederick White
In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, White was the only child of Robert, a broker, and Alice. The household included White’s maternal grandmother, Lydia Minturn, aunt, Niobe Minturn, and three roomers. They all resided in Astoria.
Long Island City, Queens, New York was the home of White, his parents and three siblings who resided on Remsen Street.
In the 1900 census, White was a salesman who lived with his parents, siblings and Aunt Niobe at 119 Franklin Street in Queens, New York.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said White did The Gol-I-Fings, from May 5 to June 9, 1901, for the McClure Syndicate. His Gol-I-Fing ran in the San Francisco Chronicle from October 12 to November 2, 1902.
The Christian Register, January 2, 1908, reprinted White’s verse, Bill, a Cheerful Dog. Apparently it was the basis for the 1908 book from Holiday Publishing. The book was well received by The Presbyterian Banner and American Motherhood.
According to the 1910 census, the White family address was unchanged and the household was the same as it was ten years ago except for the addition of three servants. White was a self-employed writer-illustrator in the publishing industry.
White created Good and Bad Cats for the News Syndicate which ran it from November 6, 1910 to March 19, 1911. The material was compiled in a book by the Frederick A. Stokes Company in 1911. For the NEA, White produced Kute Karols for Kitty Kats which debuted January 1, 1912. The Day Book (Chicago, Illinois) printed White’s Nine Lives of Kitty Kat from February 5 to 14, 1912. The Boston Globe published White’s Edie and Eddie from August 22, 1915 to March 19, 1916. Edie and Eddie also appeared on the inside back covers of Everyland magazine in the 1920 issues for January, February, March and May.
The Daily Star (Brooklyn, New York), May 12, 1915, reported the death of White’s father.
The funeral of Robert K. White, who died at his residence, 119 Franklin street, Astoria, took place Monday….Two days later the Daily Star wrote about the will.
…Mr. White was in the 77th year of his age. He leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters. He had been sick for two weeks suffering from heart disease.
He was a veteran of the Confederate Army in the Civil War. Although born in New York City he enlisted in an Arkansas regiment when the Civil War broke out, he being engaged in business in that state. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and was subsequently made prisoner by the Union forces.
When peace was declared Mr. White returned to New York City and entered the banking business. He became a member of the stock Exchange in 1869, retiring from membership about eight years ago. He was for several years head of the bond department of Messrs. Drexel, Morgan & Co. He had resided in Astoria for over 48 years. He never entered public life, but always showed great interest in municipal affairs…
By will of Robert K. White, late of Astoria, an estate valued at $30,000 personal property is disposed of as follows: …To his children, Frederick White, Niobe Minturn White, Alice Minturn White and Robert Hooper White, $5,000 each. All the rest and residue of the estate is given to the widow, Alice Minturn White. The widow and sons, Frederick and Robert, are appointed executors. The will is dated October 20, 1911, and the testator died May 7, 1915.The 1915 New York state census recorded White’s mother, a widow, as the head of the household. The family was at the same address. White’s occupation was writer.
This is to certify that Mr. Frederick White has been appointed a secretary of the National War Work Council of the Y.M.C.A. of the United States for service with the troops of the American Expeditionary Force in France….Mr. White is under contract with the Y.M.C.A. for one year or more.Magazine writer White was in his mother’s household in the 1920 census. Along with his aunt and two sisters, the quintet lived at 103 Waverly Street (the Earle Hotel) in Manhattan, New York City. White’s occupation and address was the same in 1930.
White’s mother passed away March 10, 1933.
White was the head of the household in the 1940 census. His highest level of education was the eighth grade. Apparently White and his sisters were retired. The trio and a servant were at 45 East 85th Street in Manhattan.
White’s sister, Niobe, passed away January 23, 1943.
White passed away December 22, 1950, in New York City. A death notice appeared in The New York Times, December 26.
White—Frederick, on Dec. 23, in his eighty-second year [sic], son of the late Robert K. and Alice M. White, brother of Alice M. White and Robert H. White. Services at St. Matthew’s and St. Timothy’s Church, 26 West 84th St., Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 12 noon. Please omit flowers.
—Alex Jay
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
