Founding Families
Ebenezer West | Waite Carr West | Increase Jones | Hannah Bowen Jones | William Hill | Elizabeth Hill
Edward Talbot | Sarah "Sally" Martin Talbot | Absalom P Morse | Lydia Tallman Morse
Alfred P White | Huldah Symonds White | Robert Shaw | Jane Talbot Stiles Shaw
Ebenezer West | Waite Carr West | Increase Jones | Hannah Bowen Jones | William Hill | Elizabeth Hill
Edward Talbot | Sarah "Sally" Martin Talbot | Absalom P Morse | Lydia Tallman Morse
Alfred P White | Huldah Symonds White | Robert Shaw | Jane Talbot Stiles Shaw
Alfred P. White
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Connections Across Early Minerva Families
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Early Life in Granville (1785–1815) Alfred was born in Granville on July 16, 1785, to Col. Elijah White Jr. and Elisabeth Arnold White. He was the ninth of eleven children. His father established a store in Granville in 1801, which remained in operation for nearly a century. A photograph of the store survives in a descendant’s family tree on Ancestry.com.
In 1815, Alfred married Huldah Symonds of Vermont. He was 30; she was 27. The newly married couple immediately set out for Minerva and began building a home and livelihood.
Arrival in Minerva (1815) Upon arriving, Alfred purchased a sawmill and gristmill from William Hill for $700. He also established a general store—becoming Minerva’s very first storekeeper, a natural extension of the business he had known since childhood.
He operated the sawmill, gristmill, and store until 1832, when all were sold to Edward Talbot.
We know Alfred was the first storekeeper because Bessie Talbot Sullivan, Edward Talbot’s granddaughter, loaned the Historical Society an account book dated 1827. The book references an earlier volume, confirming Alfred’s role as the original proprietor.
In 1815, Alfred married Huldah Symonds of Vermont. He was 30; she was 27. The newly married couple immediately set out for Minerva and began building a home and livelihood.
Arrival in Minerva (1815) Upon arriving, Alfred purchased a sawmill and gristmill from William Hill for $700. He also established a general store—becoming Minerva’s very first storekeeper, a natural extension of the business he had known since childhood.
He operated the sawmill, gristmill, and store until 1832, when all were sold to Edward Talbot.
We know Alfred was the first storekeeper because Bessie Talbot Sullivan, Edward Talbot’s granddaughter, loaned the Historical Society an account book dated 1827. The book references an earlier volume, confirming Alfred’s role as the original proprietor.
The Mills and Store: Locations Remembered
Founder of Minerva’s First School (District No. 1)
In 1818, Alfred donated land along Irishtown Road for a schoolhouse. This school became District No. 1 and was known as the Alfred White School.
Town records suggest Alfred likely built the schoolhouse himself.
The school operated for 36 years, until 1854, when a new building opened in Olmstedville near the intersection of Trout Brook Road and County Route 29. That school took on the District 1 designation, becoming the Olmstedville Union School.
(The original school site was near the current home of Julie Dowling.)
Minerva’s First Postmaster (1827–1832)In 1827, Alfred became Minerva’s very first postmaster. It is believed he helped establish the postal system within the new settlement.
He held the position until 1832, when he and his family moved west.
The White FamilyWhile living in Minerva, Alfred and Huldah had six known children:
A local newspaper article suggests the possibility of additional children born after the move, but this is unverified.
After relocating, the family established a farm in Sherman, located about ten miles from French Creek.
Leaving Minerva for Sherman (1832)
In 1832, Alfred sold his store, sawmill, and gristmill to Edward Talbot. He and Huldah then joined a larger wave of Minerva families who left for Chautauqua County, including:
Public Service and Community Leadership
During his seventeen years in Minerva, Alfred held a remarkable number of civic positions, including:
Alfred died on April 14, 1847, at age 62.
Huldah lived to be 88 and died in 1878.
Both are buried in French Creek, NY, as is their son George.
Alfred P. White will always be remembered as:
- Sawmill: Upstream on the south side of Minerva Stream, later known as Irishtown
- Gristmill: Downstream on the north side of Minerva Stream at the bottom of Mill Hill
- Store: Near the junction of Irishtown Road and A.P. Morse Memorial Highway
Founder of Minerva’s First School (District No. 1)
In 1818, Alfred donated land along Irishtown Road for a schoolhouse. This school became District No. 1 and was known as the Alfred White School.
Town records suggest Alfred likely built the schoolhouse himself.
The school operated for 36 years, until 1854, when a new building opened in Olmstedville near the intersection of Trout Brook Road and County Route 29. That school took on the District 1 designation, becoming the Olmstedville Union School.
(The original school site was near the current home of Julie Dowling.)
Minerva’s First Postmaster (1827–1832)In 1827, Alfred became Minerva’s very first postmaster. It is believed he helped establish the postal system within the new settlement.
He held the position until 1832, when he and his family moved west.
The White FamilyWhile living in Minerva, Alfred and Huldah had six known children:
- Almeda (born 1809 — six years before their marriage)
- James (1820)
- Charles (1823)
- Lafayette (1825)
- John (1830)
- George (date unknown)
A local newspaper article suggests the possibility of additional children born after the move, but this is unverified.
After relocating, the family established a farm in Sherman, located about ten miles from French Creek.
Leaving Minerva for Sherman (1832)
In 1832, Alfred sold his store, sawmill, and gristmill to Edward Talbot. He and Huldah then joined a larger wave of Minerva families who left for Chautauqua County, including:
- Elder Thomas Ravlin (pastor of the Baptist Church)
- Charles Baker
- Harry Cousins
- The Knowltons
- Jesse West
- James and Polly Jones (relatives of Increase and Hannah Jones, early Minerva settlers)
Public Service and Community Leadership
During his seventeen years in Minerva, Alfred held a remarkable number of civic positions, including:
- School Trustee
- Commissioner of Highways (one of three)
- Commissioner of Common Schools (one of three)
- Town Clerk
- Fence Viewer
- Assessor
- Overseer of the Poor
- His record makes him one of Minerva’s most active early public servants.
Alfred died on April 14, 1847, at age 62.
Huldah lived to be 88 and died in 1878.
Both are buried in French Creek, NY, as is their son George.
Alfred P. White will always be remembered as:
- Minerva’s first storekeeper
- Founder of its first school
- Its first postmaster
- A key early public servant
Sources
- Jones, Mabel. “The Other Jones” p. 17
- White Family File – Town of Minerva Records
- Alfred White Bio
- Alfred White Census Records
- White Family Geneology
- The Chautauqua News
- December 16, 1869 – History of Minerva: Source of Many Area Families
- March 5, 1970 – Area Jones Have Interesting History
- January 4, 1973 – More White Family History
- Minerva Schools Complete History – Town of Minerva Records
- Quarterlies
