White, Peter
lawyer, banker, legislator, was born Oct. 31, 1830, in Rome, N. Y. For several years he lived in Mackinac and Detroit, and in 1849 moved to Marquette, then called Worcester, and has resided there continuously since.
In 1852 he embarked in business for himself as general storekeeper and private banker. The store business was dropped, but an insurance agency was added; and in 1863 he incorporated his bank as the First National bank, of which he is president to this day. He has been prominently identified with various manufacturing and mining corporations. During the war he raised company B, first regiment Michigan cavalry, and was elected its captain. He has held several federal and state appointments; was postmaster in 1851; and has been collector of customs and register of the land office.
In 1857 he was a representative in the Michigan state legislature; and in 1875 he served with distinction as a state senator. He has been prominently identified with the public interests of Marquette, and the public library called by his name is in a building given by him, and several thousand books were donated by him to begin it. He has been a special master in chancery in United States courts' matters where millions were involved; has been a lawyer for ten years and a banker for forty years.