I found these two biographies in the book "Histories of Cass and Bates Counties, Missouri", published in 1883. Thought it might be of interest to some of you researching the White and leftwich families of Bedford Co, VA UNION Township, CASS CO, MISSOURI WILLIAM A WHITE is one of Cass County's pioneers, having come here in 1856, when he entered about 1500 acres of raw prairie. This he improved, and in later days divided among his children. He now resides with a single son and widowed daughter in Section 1. Mr W. is a native of Bedford County, Virginia, where he was born May 4, 1815. He was married in Mason County, Virginia in 1840 to Sarah Leftwich. She was born in Mason County, May 4, 1820, and died June 27, 1867, leaving a family of six children: J.M., born in 1840; Matilda J, born August 16, 1845 (married T W Jetter, who was born May 4 1839. He died August 15, 1877, leaving three children: Sally A., Edna E, and Tinsley W); John A., born March 5 1848 (now a resident of Clay County, Missouri); James H, born July 18, 1850 (also a resident of Clay County); Milton S, born November 12, 1852; and Ann C, born July 16, 1856 (the wife of James L Dyer. They have a family of two children, William H and Edna May). The subject of this sketch served as a soldier during the late war with General Price, and at the close of the hostilities held a colonel's commission. He commenced his life as a manufacturer of salt, and was a long time manager of one of the largest establishments in Virginia. J M WHITE farmer, section 5, is the owner of 160 acres of fine land, surrounded and subdivided by OSage hedge fence, well watered by springs, etc. He was born in West Virginia in 1840, being a son of William A and Sarah (Leftwich) White. In 1856, with his parents, he came to Cass County, Missouri and settled some four miles east of where he now resides. He assisted his father on the farm till 1861, and then enlisted in the southern army and served during the entire war. After this he went to California and remained a short time, when he returned to his birthplace in Virginia. In 1868 he again came to Cass County, Missouri, and finally went to Kansas City, where he was engaged in the mercantile business till 1870. At this time he began to improve his present farm, in then being nothing but wild prairie. In 1876, he was united in marriage to Mrs. S Bradford, whose maided name was Godden. She is a native of Somerset, England, born in 1847. She came to America in 1866. Her parents were George and Mary Godden, natives of England. Her father was born in 1814 and died in 1861. Her mother is still living and resides in England, at the age of sixty-five years. They were married in 1842. The family of Mr and Mrs W consists of two children, W J and W A Bradford. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------- I hope this may help someone researching the White families of Bedford. Brenda Marble