William "Willie" Owen White Timeline

This portrait was found behind the William and Ellen Wedding picture, which was in the original wood frame from 1900.

William Owen White was born in October of 1873 to James and Sabrina Peebles White. From the 1880 census, he lived in the Little River district of Raleigh. His grandparents, Sherwood and Susan White, lived next door where they took care of the family farm.

1880
Census - Age: 7
Little River, Wake County, North Carolina

James White, Age: 35 (Farmer)
Sabrina White, Age: 28 (Keeping House)
Joseph White, Age: 9
William White, Age: 6
Zora White, Age: 4
Elizabeth White, Age: 2
James Williams, Age: 16 (Servant)

1900
1900 Census - Age: 27 Raleigh Township

At 26, William Owen White, shows up working at Pilot Mills with his future wife, Ellen Langford (18) who were married on June 27th, 1900 at Midway Baptist Church.

Raleigh 1899-1900 City Directory.
Name / Occupation / Address
White, Wm O; wks Pilot Mills; r 4 Pilot Mills (cotton mill weaver)
Langford, Ellen Miss; wks Pilot Mills; r 22 Pilot Mills (cotton mill weaver)

Wedding portrait of William Owen White and Ellen Langford.

Midway Baptist Church was located at the corner of Spring Forest and Falls of Neuse Roads.

In the 1900 tax list, Willie owned one cow valued at $20 ($574.39 in 2015). The total aggregate assets of his personal property was $20. He paid $154 ($4,422 in 2015) in total taxes. 

In 1903, Willie was working at Pilot Mills and living at 543 N Wilmington. His Mother, Sabrina White is living in room #4. William and Ellen have two sons by 1903, George and Leland.

1910
Census - Age: 37
Barton Creek, Wake, North Carolina

Death - Sept 26, 1912

View all Census Records.

Ellen Langford and William Owen White Mourning Photo Brooch

William Owen White, Wake County Voter Registration

William Owen White registered to vote on Oct. 11th, 1902 with his brother Joseph J. White.

William placed his descendent as his father, James W. White, and Joseph listed their grandfather, Sherwood White.

William White and Ellen Langford Wedding Portrait

Wedding portrait of William Owen White and Ellen Langford from about 1900. William and Ellen worked at Pilot Mills in Raleigh, NC and are listed in the 1899-1900 City Directory.

Name / Occupation / Address
White, Wm O; wks Pilot Mills; r 4 Pilot Mills (cotton mill weaver)
Langford, Ellen Miss; wks Pilot Mills; r 22 Pilot Mills (cotton mill weaver)

They were married in the Midway Baptist Church, which was on the corner of Spring Forest and Falls of Neuse Roads. 

William Owen White September 27, 1912

From the News and Observer on September 27th, 1912.

Laborer Dies; 7 Children Orphaned
Accident to Father on Seaboard Cut Follows Closely Death of Mother From Pellagra.

  

Preceded by the death of his wife ten days ago, W. O. White, a laborer on the Norfolk Southern railway, yesterday afternoon died from injuries received in the cut across the Southern and the Seaboard. 

The accident occurred at 11:30 o'clock in the morning. Mr. White had driven his cart up to the embankment to have it loaded. The bank caved in, caught him on the ground and broke the bones in his ankle and in his leg. His whole body was crushed. He died in the hospital at 1:30. 

The body was sent to the country to be buried today by the side of his wife, who died Sunday, September 15, from pellagra after an illness of two years. There are seven children, all under age, left orphaned. The mother of Mrs. White has recently died and there is not a relative to care for the young household. 

Mr. White was 29 years of age. He was reared seven miles in the country and the burial takes place there today. 

Notes:

I think the accident happened here...

About Pellagra from the following book -

The Emergence of the New South, 1913-1945, Volume 10,  George Brown Tindall