The Dreamer
Eugene Lee White started working during the summers on the railroad. He was 13 and lied about his age to get the job. He was saving up the money to buy a farm with his dad. He was working toward his dream to be a farmer like his dad. He graduated at Vocational High in Dalton, Missouri at age 16.
Eugene bought the farm but had to leave it because he wasn’t making enough to support the family. He took a job in Des Moines and sent most of money back home to Missouri. ( Poverty and racism forced him to take painfully and slow circuitous route to his dream.)
In 1958
Eugene became a janitor at the Power and Light Company in Des Moines. He encountered racism and prejudice along the way. Meanwhile, with the help of his co workers, he borrowed book to sturdy to become a lineman. And he became the first black man in the area to get the job.. (He retired from the company in 1985.)
Crop photo from The Des Moines Register : Des Moines, Iowa Sunday, November 7, 1999 on page 35
The Farmer
In 1979 when Eugene was 50, he had a second chance to go for his dream. There was land for sale in Warren County. He figured that it would be a good place to retire. (His wife Mildred was a city girl.) He went for his dream and bought the 80 acre. ( In all, Eugene ended up with about 244 acres to his goal as a farmer.)
The Man
According to that 1999 news article, Eugene was described as “a quiet mannerly person who was nonetheless extremely persuasive and persistent . ” Councilman George Flags . (Eugene often worked with Mr. Flags on neighborhood projects.)
Eugene helped to develop a program for school children about the danger of electricity.
His plan for his farm was to open it up to group of inner city kids; to teach them how to plant a crop, how to caught fish, where to find berry bushes. He taught them how to survive and enjoy life.
His philosophy was “You can’t live in the world by yourself “
His secret is simple “You got to talk to folks”
Eugene lived in Des Moines with his wife Mildred. He drove 33 miles to his farm several times a week.
As I was reading about Eugene…
I could see Eugene as a kind hearted man. He learned good ethic values that he learned from this parents, and through his life’s experiences. He was always wanting to lean a helping hand to his community and neighbors. He learned to see the good and how to laugh and to enjoy life.
Thanks for reading
Mr. Eugene Lee White: The Dreamer The Farmer Off To Work
Eugene was the son of Eugene White Sr. and Corean ( Jones) White. He was born on Sunday, July 14, 1929 in Forest Green, Missouri. He was one of 12 children. He was the husband of Mildred (Brown) White. They had two sons. Eugene passed in Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the age of 85.
Who was Eugene to me?
Eugene’s Grandfather Richard W. “Dick” White was the brother of my Great Grandfather Isaac White Blakey. R.I.P. cousin Eugene Lee.
God bless
S.A. Blakley
This blog was August 29, 2025
Week 35
Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge in 2025
The theme for Week 35 is “Off to Work.” Who had an unusual occupation? Do you have memories of a parent going off to work every morning? What about someone whose occupation today would be obsolete, like telephone operators?
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