In 1880 Isaac James White (1850-1940) married Mary Amelia Grennis (1859-1939) in her parents’ parlor in Richmond, located in the “thumb” of Michigan. Both Isaac and Mary had immigrated from Canada, Isaac as a young man and Mary as a toddler. They moved several times before buying their own farm. There they raised 8 children on their farm in Michigan’s “thumb” in St. Clair County near Berville. In 1976 this White family was registered as a Michigan Centennial Family, having lived in the State for 100 years.
We currently have no pictures of Mary as a young woman. She was a petite and vivacious woman, about 5 feet tall with blue eyes. Her daughter Ethel remembered her as warmly compassionate and well-liked.
We have this picture of handsome Isaac (date unknown. It may come from Canada days). Isaac was tall (6 ft.) and slender, with blue eyes.
Isaac White
Mary and Isaac first rented a farm with a log cabin near Capac. They then moved to another rented farm near Pound Hill and then to another rented farm in Riley Township. Finally they were able to buy a homestead consisting of a cabin and 20 acres in St. Clair County near the town of Berville. In 1895 living space was greatly improved when Isaac built an “upright” attached to the old log cabin. The cabin became the kitchen of the new home. This picture (also used in the header) was taken in Christmas, 1905 and still shows the old cabin at the far left. The header of this site is taken from this photo.
There is a story here. Isaac was very proud of his work horses and wanted them in the photo. Mary, his wife, was opposed to this notion. She was peeved at Isaac throughout the photo session and gazed resolutely off in another direction, NOT at the camera and NOT at Isaac! In retrospect, 100 years later, the horses really “make” the picture, don’t you think?
Left to right: Simeon Grennis (82), Mary Grennis White (daughter of Simeon and Electa, 46), Mary White (George White’s mother-in-law), Claude Perry (friend of Ethel and Pearl White, Ira White (11), Ivah White (9), Pearl White (13), Ethel White (20), Mabel White ( wife of George, 23), George White (23) holding daughter Glennis, Norman White (16), Robert White (14), Thomas White (21), Frank White (George White’s father-in-law), Isaac White (husband of Mary Grennis White, 55).
We have this picture of Isaac and Mary, probably from the nineteen ‘teens. There must not have been a camera around earlier and apparently Isaac and Mary didn’t go to the studio. More’s the pity. They are a handsome couple.
Isaac and Mary White, sometime in the nineteen 'teens.
The Family of Isaac and Mary White 