Jary White was born in Mt. Holly, Vt., 1809.  His father, Jary W[hite], was a native of Wales; he emigrated from Vermont to New York, in 1812, and remained until 1835, when he came to this county, arriving June 17 of that year.  [Jary Jr], with two brothers, took an active part in the Mormon war.

His mother, nee Lucina Lawrence, was a native of Connecticut.  Both his parents lie buried in the Fountain Green cemetery.  Mr. W. is one of the pioneers of this county; he came there when there was no mill nearer than Rushville, 35 miles distant.  He knows how to make a "lizzard" (a kind of sled made from the fork of a tree, much used by the frontiersmen), and has yet in his possession one of the old-time corn-meal graters.  He was married in 1833, to Miss Laura Eaton, daughter of Frazier Eaton, of Allegany county, N. Y.  [She] was the mother of 8 children, 4 of whom are still living: George, Charles, Laura and Augustus.  She died May 21, 1860.  [Jary] was married a second time, July 11, 1861, to Mrs. Elizabeth James, daughter of John Williams, a veteran soldier of 1812.

Mrs. White has 5 children: Henrietta, James, Noble S., Clara E., Louis L., now dead, Laura E. and Frances E.

[Jary] located on a piece of congress land, on sec. 23, 80 acres, where he still resides. [Jary] had two sons, Daniel and George, in the late war.  Daniel entered the 34th Ill. Inf., under Capt. Parrot, Sept., 1861, enlisting for three years, during which time he was taken prisoner, took the small-pox, and he was taken to a pesthouse in Maryland and died.  George entered the 84th Ill. Inf. in 1862, was wounded at Stone river in 1863, was in the hospital 9 months, re-entered his regiment, and was discharged June 9, 1865, having received two wounds, one in the thigh and one in the head, the latter injuring him for life.

When the Fountain Green Home Guards, members of the Illinois State Militia, were organized on October 17, 1864, Jary White was listed as a private.  His young son, Augustus, may have also signed on, as there is a listing (just above Jary's name) for a "Seargent Aus White, private", age 16. The age doesn't quite match with that listed for Augustus in the 1850 Census, but it's not beyond the realm of reason that Augustus might have fudged his age.  His older brother, George, was already serving (or had served) in the Union Army, and brother Daniel had given his life to the conflict, two years prior.

From the History of Hancock County, edited by Charles Scofield, 1921, page 667:

Jary White came to this county on June 17, 1835, locating in Fountain Green Township.  At that time there was no mill nearer than Rushville, thirty-five miles distant.  Corn-meal graters were much in use when corn was beginning to harden.  He knew how to make a "lizzard," a kind of sled made from the fork of a tree, used by frontiersmen.

From the Souvenir and Historical Sketch of the Majorville Church, compiled by Fay Day circa 1935, page 5:

This church of which the community was very proud, was dedicated in June, 1864.  Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker and Mr. and Mrs. Jary White were the first trustees of the church. Some of the charter members of Majorville church were: Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Jary White, Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Williams, Mrs. Sibina Day, Mr. and Mrs. Laban Oaks and Mr. and Mrs. George Lovett.

Those who helped most with the construction and founding of the church were: Major John Williams, Lemuel Williams, George Lovett, Laban Oaks, Charles Parker, and Jary White.

From the History of Hancock County, 1968, Cochran:

The trustees apointed by the county to divide the township into six districts were Thomas Geddes, James Renshaw, Jesse Hadley and Jary White.