Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
J. A. WHITE. The automobile business is a comparatively new line of human endeavor. It has not been so very many years ago since the first automobile made its appearance in Springfield. The business has grown with perhaps greater strides than any other line in the twentieth century. These autos are not only to be found in the larger cities, but in almost every city and town in the Union, and even on the wide plains of the West and in mountainous districts. One finds them in many of the rough, poor sections of the Ozarks. People not only enjoy riding in them, but they realize that they are time savers and thus in many instances money makers. Those engaged in this line of business, whether in manufacture, selling or repairing, are making a success. One of this number is J. A. White, manager of the Western Motor Car Company of Springfield.
Mr. White was born in Springfield, Missouri, August 21,1879. He is a son of J. A. and Lou (Proctor) White. The father was a native of Tennessee and the mother was born in Louisville, Kentucky. They left their native states when young and came to Springfield, Missouri, where they were married, and here J. A. White, Sr., engaged successfully in the contracting and building business. During the Civil war he enlisted at Leavenworth, Kansas, in the Twelfth Kansas Cavalry, and made a gallant soldier for the Union, being promoted for meritorious conduct to second lieutenant. He went out the first year of the war and remained in the service over three years, taking part in many engagements and campaigns. Politically, he was a Democrat and was active in party affairs. He was at one time a member of the city council of Springfield. His death occurred here in 1884. His widow is still living in this city. Three children were born to these parents, namely: J. A., Jr., of this sketch; Mrs. May Costella, and George P.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native city, and here he attended 'school, receiving, however, only a meager education. He first engaged in the bicycle business in Portland, Oregon, being naturally of a mechanical turn of mind, and believing that the Far West held greater opportunities than his own country. He was, however, later convinced that this was not the fact, and after spending four years there, during which he got a start in life, he returned to Springfield on October 8, 1900, and here he continued the bicycle business until 1905 with much success, and in that year he turned his attention to the automobile business, and during the ten years that he has been engaged in this line he has met with ever-growing and excellent success. He was first connected with Holland Keet. He is now manager of the Western Motor Car Company, and is agent for the Chalmers machine. His place of businesses located at 411-13-15 South Jefferson street, where he has one of the largest and most complete and modernly equipped repair shops in the Southwest. He is prepared to do promptly and well all kinds of repairing and has in his employ a number of practical and highly skilled mechanics . He also maintains here a charging station for electrics. He is doing a large and lucrative business, and he enjoys the good will and confidence of his hundreds of patrons, who know him for a prompt, honest and obliging man of affairs. Mr. White was married on June 28, 1904, to Alzora Sedgwick, a native of Kansas and a daughter of A. C. and Anna (Palmour) Sedgwick. To this union one child has been born, Charles S. White, whose birth occurred August 17, 1910.
Politically, Mr. White is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, including the Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is prominent in local club life, being a member of the Springfield Club, the Young Men's Business Club, the Country Club and the Springfield Gun Club.
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