Memorials › John Calvin “Jay” White

John Calvin “Jay” White

27 Dec 1891 – 5 Apr 1931

Birth27 Dec 1891
Death5 Apr 1931
CemeteryBrownfield Cemetery
Brownfield , Terry County , Texas , USA
Added byMike White on 15 Jan 2024
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76948080

Bio

(Page last updated Dec 18, 2025) John was the son of Thomas & Marthia [Harris] White. The grandson of Benjamin and Polly Nix White, also of Bowie Co TX. His Grand parents arrived from Union County SC, in 1846, first settling in Redwater Bowie Co TX. His Gr grand parents Elias & Anne Gibbs White, brought 13 covered wagons from Union Co SC to Redwater Bowie Co TX, in 1846. Elias's train included, Harlan's, Bobo's, Nix's. Others from Union Co SC, following soon after... A Pioneer family of Texas. ================================================= He 1st married Willie B Fischer, Jun 29, 1914. Daughter of William K & Nora [Fomby] Fishcer . **ATTACHED PHOTOS - John & John in his Grocery Store, Brownfield TX - 1930** ============================================= John & Willie B had six children: Clifford Charlie----1914-1980--m. Evelyn Fay Fessenden--1939---03 Children Leola Kathryn-----1916-1966--m. 1. Vester Bonds-----------1930---01 Child ----------------------------------------m. Harry Parker Ward-------Unk---Unk Imogene--------abt1917-1917--m. Not married---------------000----000 Died Young Thomas William--1919-2005---m.Serena White-Huffman-1941---02 Children ----------------------------------------m. Harvey Huffman----------Unk---02?Children Nora Lorene-------1920-1990--m. John Vestal Haynes------1936--02 Children Thomas Richard--1922-1922--m. Died as baby---------------0000--00 Died at birth ============================================= He 2nd married Eldora Lewis May 31, 1924. Daughter of Robert R & Mary E [Covington] Lewis. ============================================= John & Eldora had 2 children: Alma Joe---------1925-1925---m. Not Married-------------------0000--Died at birth Norvel L 'Ted'---1926-2005---m. Mary Beth Mertle [Baker]--1949--04 Children ============================================= John's Siblings were: Marion Augustus "Gus"--1876-1964---m. Maggie Martin---------------------------1897 Charles Thomas-----------1878-1965---m. Elizabeth Azeline "Addie"-------------1903 Lola Balma "Balmer"-----1879-1964---m. Dr Irvin Hollis McDaniel---------------1902 Della Neal-------------------1881-1965---m. Stephen Burnett Lawrence-----------1906 Milton Elonzo "Lon"------1883-1951---m.1.Susan Fowler 1906,2Elma Rachel-1948 Inez Lou----------------------1887-1908---m. Died while engaged to marry. Leo Leafridge "Lee"-------1890-1970---m. Sally Dee Dennis-------------------------1911 Richard Rex------------------1890-1958---m. Illie Jane Holley-------------------------1948 John Calvin "Jay"----------1891-1931---m1.Willie Fischer-1914,2.Eldora Lewis-1924 Newton "Newt"-------------1894-1964---m. Emma Francis "Fannie" Foster------1916 ============================================= **JOHN'S DEATH: John owned a grocery store in Brownfield Texas, during the depression years. 1931 - John was shot and killed by a angry patron who frequented his store. These were the depression years, when the economy of our country crashed. John had allowed this man credit in his store for a long time, this man was unable to pay John for the food he had been buying. After a time, John was in financial trouble, as many others owed him money. His store was in trouble financially, so, John had to refuse this man Credit. John was eating breakfast at a local restaurant, when this man entered, with a gun, and shot and killed John. I will stop here as it goes on for a long while... in the courts, etc.. He was sent to Jail. John's Store is still in Brownsville TX today, but, is no longer a store. His wife Eldora had a good job, she was well educated, and continued to raise her family. She was strong and resourceful, was able to educate her children, who went on to be productive members of there community. ============================================= CENSUS RECORDS: 1900 Bowie Co TX Census Page 07-38b Precinct 2 - South of TP RR WHITE, Thos M Head male---born Sep---1841-SC-SC-SC Martha------------wife female-born Apr---1842--VA-VA-VA Lola B-------------Dau -----------born-Nov--1879 CHILDREN: All born in TX Della N------------Dau-----------born Dec--1881 Alonzo-------------son-----------born Nov--1883 Inez L--------------Dau-----------born Nov--1887 Leo L---------------son-----------born Feb---1890 Rex R---------------son-----------born Feb---1890 Jas C- (John)-----son-----------born Dec---1891 Newton J----------son-----------born Dec---1894 **1910 - Census - Have not found John on the 1910...? He married Willie Fischer 1914** 1920 Bowie Co Census Precinct 5 - Sheet no. 12b 227 235 WHITE, J. C.--HEAD M-W 28 M------TX SC WEST VA FARMER WILLIE----------WIFE-F-W-26 M-----TX-GA---------GA CLIFFORD------SON-M W-05 S------TX-TX----------TX LEOLA-----------DAU-F-W-03 S------TX TX----------TX (3yrs 11/12mo) J. W.-------------SON-M-W-11/12m-TX--TX---------TX (this must be T W) ***Living a few doors from brother Milton White*** 1930 Brownfield Town Terry Co Census ED Dist: 223 - 1 (6451), Sheet No. 2b ED date: April 3, 1930 by Mrs. May M. Cook 39 - 41 White, Jay C head $2000 no M W 39 M 17 no yes TX TN?TN? yes proprietor Grocery Store Eldora---------wife--------------F-W 40 M 34 no yes TX MO MO--yes Clifford--------son--------------M-W 15-S----yes yes TX TX--TX-------Shine? shop shop T. W.------------son--------------M-W 11-S----yes yes TX TX--TX Lorene---------dau--------------F-W-09 S----yes __--TX TX TX Ted-------------son--------------M-W 03 S-----no __--TX TX TX 1940 Brownfield Town Terry Co Census ED Dist: 223 - 1a , Sheet No. 3b Page 3 ED date: April 8, 1940 by C L Hamilton Not-Listed White, Eldora--head--F W 50 wd no H1 TX District Clerk Ted----------------son--M W 13 S--yes 7---TX Warren, G W brolaw--M W 57 M--no 7---MS Warren, Della---wife--F-W 55 M no 8----AR 4 other Lodgers are also living at Eldora's residence. ============================================= 1st - Marriage Record - John to Willie B Fischer THE STATE OF TEXAS Marriage License County of Bowie To any Person Authorized by the Laws of the State of Texas to Celebrate the Rites of matrimony in the State of Texas Greeting: You are hereby Authorized to Solemnize the Rites of Matrimony Between Mr. J. C. White _______ and Miss. Willie B. Fisher and make the return to the Clerk of the County Clerk of said County within thirty days thereafter, certifying your actions under this License. Witness my official signature and seal of office in Boston----------Texas this the-----29th day of-----June----A. D. 1914. ----Joe White---------Clerk County Court Bowie------------------County, Texas By---------Deputy I hereby certify that on the 29th day of June A. D. 1914, I united in Marriage the parties above named. Witness my hand this---29th day-of--June---A. D. 1914 County of Marriage:--------------Rev. M. C. Nelson -------------------------------------M. G. _______________________County, Texas Returned and filed for record the 4th day of July A. D. 1914 and recorded the 23rd day of July A. D. 1914 By W. J. Simmons Deputy Joe White County Clerk ============================================= 2nd- Marriage Record - John to Eldora Lewis THE STATE OF TEXAS, } No. 302 County of Terry To any Regularly Licensed or Ordained Minister of the Gospel, Jewish Rabbi, Judge of the District or County Court, or any Justice of the Peace, in and for The State of Texas ---GREETING: You are Hereby Authorized to SOLEMNIZE THE RITES OF MATRIMONY Between Mr. J. C. White----and----Miss. Eldora Lewis and make due return to the Clerk of the County Court of said County within sixty days thereafter, certifying your action under this License. Witness my official signature and seal of office, at office in Brownfield the----31st---day of----May----1924 SEAL--------H. R. Winston-----Clerk ---of County Court-----Terry----County. ---By___Lillian Weble___Deputy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---I, C. E. Ball----, hereby certify that on the--31st--day of--May---1924 I, united in Marriage----Mr. J. C. White----and----Miss. Eldora Lewis the parties above named. --------Witness my hand this 2nd day of June 1924 ------------------------------C. E. Ball ------------------------------Minister of the Gospel --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Returned and filed for record the 3rd day of June 1924, and recorded the---6th---day of ---June---1924 -----H. R. Winston County Clerk. -----By Lillian Weble-------Deputy. ============================================= Death Certificate: John Calvin White's Death Certificate: Name: -----------Jno. Calvin White Occupation:----Grocery man Industry:--------His Place of Business Cause death:---Gun Shot wounds through Chest and Head. Instantaneous death. Father:-----------T. W. White [should be T. M. Cem. records are correct] Mother:----------Unknown Signer:-----------Mrs. J. C. White Brownfield TX Burial Place:----Brownfield TX Date Burial:-----April 6, 1831 Undertaker:----Roy B. Collier Brownfield TX Filed:-------------April 7, 1831 J. E. Shelton J.P. Recorded:-------May 6, 1831 ============================================= ESTATE OF J. C.WHITTE DECEASED. IN THE COUNTY COURT OF TERRY COUNTY, TEXAS IN VACATION. The Honorable Jay Barret, Judge of same Court: - 1st. Now comes your petitioner, Eldora A. White, who resides in Terry County, Texas, the wife of J. C. White, deceased, and respectfully represented and shows to the court that her husband, J. C. White, died on the 5th day of April, A. D. 1931, at Brownfield in Terry County, Texas. 2nd. That the said J. C. White left surviving him the following children, to wit: Clifford, a son, 16 years old; Leola, a daughter, 15 years old; T. W., a son, 12 years old; Lorene, a daughter; 11 years old; Ted, a son 4 years old. 3rd. That there is a community estate between the said J. C. White, deceased husband, and myself. 4th. That said deceased died intestate and was, at the time of his death, a resident of the county of Terry, State of Texas, and that practically all of said community estate is located in Terry County, Texas. Wherefore your petitioner asks the court to appoint three appraisers to appraise said estate as in other administrations. -------------------------------Eldora A. White, Petitioner --------------------------------By: J. J. McGowan, Attorney Note: Eldora was appointed Administrator, due payments were retrieved and Debts paid. A Clyde and Clarence Lewis are signers on the Estate, they are Eldora's brothers. John died Intestate without a Will, Eldora was appointed the Administrator of the Estate. The Estate of was considerable, for the times. ============================================= Cemetery Record for John & Eldora: Brownfield Cemetery Terry County Texas Cemetery Listings: White Eldora Alberta Aug. 14, 1889 Jan. 20 1958 White J. C.--------------Dec. 27, 1891 Apr. 05, 1931 Footnote (41) American Legion Marker Brownfield Cemetery is West of Brownfield on Texas Highway #137, .5 miles off Highway 82. Brownfield Cemetery had 375 unmarked graves. ============================================= ∼ One of the most harrowing affairs that has ever come up during the history of Brownfield and Terry County was transacted here early Sunday, when it is alleged J.A. Bonds walked into the Busy Bee Cafe where J.C. White, local grocery merchant was drinking coffee and began shooting, after saying a few words to his victim, according to the cook of the cafe. The town was thrown into excitement and grief, and a great crowd was soon on the streets. Mr. Bonds got a man to carry him to the Sheriff immediately, who left town with him to avoid any possible violence, although there was never any manifested. Mr. Bonds told Jim Miller, who carried him to the Sheriff that he had killed J. White, as well as the same thing to Sheriff Mon Telford when he handed the Sheriff his gun. He was formally charged with White's murder by Justice of the Peace J.E. Shelton. The cook in the restaurant was the only witness to the shooting. He testified at the inquest Sunday that while White was drinking coffee, Bond entered through the front door, and called White by name, and when Mr. White turned around to see who had spoken to him, Bonds drew a revolver and after saying, "You have double crossed me," fired one shot. White jumped from his chair and started to run around the corner of the counter, when Bonds fired three more shots. Mr. White crumpled to the floor, Bonds then walked behind the county, the cook said, and shot the grocer. An examination of White's body showed five bullets and a .38 calibre gun was used. Both Mr. White and Mrs. Bonds were married and had several children. Services for J.C. White were held in the Methodist Church with his pastor, Rev. George e. Turrentine, assisted by Rev. J.M. Hale of the Baptist Church, Rev. Curry and Rev. Hoover. The pallbearers were made up of the Masons and Odd Fellows. He was converted and joined the Methodist Church in 1906. He married Miss Wilkie B. Fisher, and to this union were born four children, all still at home, Clifford, Leola, Loraine, and T.W. He was made a Mason in early manhood and an Odd Fellow in Brownfield in 1930. He moved to Charlie, Texas, where his first wife died. Mr. White married Miss Eldora Lewis in 1924 after coming to Brownfield. She had been a loving companion and a faithful mother to his orphan children. To this union, two children have been born, of which Ted is still living. After coming to Brownfield, he went into the grocery business with Mr. J.D. Bailey. He later formed a partnership with White & Murphy with the Murphy Brothers, and recently entered business by himself on the north side of the square. He has been a tireless worker to keep his family at home and in comfort. Terry County Herald April 10, 1931 front page

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