History of North Dighton, (Bristol County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Charles Abiathar White, geologist, was born in North Dighton, Mass., Jan. 26, 1826; son of Abiathar and Nancy (Corey) White; grandson of Cornelius and Abigail (Leonard) White, and of Daniel and Mary Corey, and a descendant of William White, who settled in Boston about 1640. At the age of twelve he removed with his parents to Burlington, Iowa, and was educated under private instruction. He was married, Sept. 28, 1848, to Charlotte Richmond, daughter of James and Nancy (Dewhurst) Pilkington of Digitton, Mass. He was graduated from Rush Medical college in 1863; was state geologist of Iowa, 1866-70; professor of natural history in the State University of Iowa, 1867-73, and in Bowdoin college, 1873-75. He was paleontologist to various sections of the U.S. geographical and geological survey, 1874-79; was in charge of the paleontological collections of the U.S. National museum, 1879-81; was chief of the Artesian Wells commission upon the great plains, 1881-82, and in 1882 was appointed geologist of the U.S. geological survey. He was president of the Washington Biological society in 1883-84; was vice-president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1888, and was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1889. He also became a foreign member of the Geological Society of London. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Iowa college in 1866 and that of LL.D. from the State University of Iowa in 1893. Dr. White is the author of 227 books and other publications, most of them on geological subjects, many of them being the result of his observations while conducting investigations for the government.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of North Dighton, (Bristol County) Massachusetts

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