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 6 4 S WIIITCOMB. WHITE. Dartmouth in 1874, and was graduated in the class of 1 876. He then attended law lectures at the University of Gottingen, and traveled abroad until the summer of 187.S, in the autumn of which year he entered the I Ins- tun law school, and was graduated in June, 1 SSo, having been admitted to tlie Suffolk bar just previous to graduation. While at Dartmouth Mr. VVhitccmb re- ceived several prizes in athletic contests, and wrote the class ode at graduation, and on graduating from the Boston law school received the first prize for the essay — thirty members competing for the same. While attending the law school, and two ye. us subsequently, he practiced law in the office of J. II. Benton, Jr., counsel for the ld ( 'olony Railroad, after which he opened an office of his own in Boston. CHARLES W WHITCOMB lie is now in active practice, and also holds the position of lire marshal, it being a slate office, judicial in character, and in- stituted for the pm pose ol holding inquests as to causes of lire, and the prosecution of incendiaries. He was appointed by Gov- ernor Robinson in November. 1886 —the first appointment after the establishment of the office. Mr. Whitcomb was a member of the Roston common council in 1SS3 and '.S4 from ward iS, in which body he was the recognized leader on the Republican side. He declined a third nomination in 1885, and in that year was the Republican can- didate for the governor's council. In 1883, '84, and '85, he was the secretary, and a leading spirit in the Republican city com- mittee. He was quite active in the political cam- paign of 1884, made numerous speeches in different parts of the State, and was select- ed as a committee of one to escort Hon. James G. Blaine to Boston, on the occasion of his first public reception. Mr. Whitcomb was married in Boston, June 2G, 1SS4, to Marie M. daughter of James and Dora (Rowell) Woodsum, by whom he has two sons : Benjamin H. ami Charles Wilbur, Jr. WHITE, Edwin Leonard, son of Har- ney Leonard and Mercy (Reed) White, was born at Newton Upper Falls, Middle- sex county, July 2(1, [833. lie comes of good old New England stock, his paternal great grandfather, Nathan White, being a direct descendant of Peregrine White of " Mayflower" fame. His ancestors held a prominent place in their respective locali- ties ol Mansfield, Newton, and Shirley. His grandfather, Leonard White, was born in 1 770 and died in 1853. His grandmother, Lydta (Hodge) White, was born in 1775 and died in (869. llis father was born in [795 and died in 1S7J. His mother was born in 1795 and died in 1S5.S. His father was an earnest worker for the anti-slavcrv cause, and in the early temperance move- ment many recollect his good counsel anil example, lie was .1 prominent cotton man- llfai Hirer, and was for several years inter- ested m mills in Philadelphia, Pa., Ansonia, Conn., and at Newton. Walpole, and Hol- detl in this State. lie was for nearly fifty years an active Mason, and later in life- was a Knight Templar many years. His maternal ancestors, who lived in Middle borough, Grafton, N. 11., and Newton Upper falls, were remarkable for great longevity, His grandfather, Bailey Reed, died upwards of eighty years of age. His grandmother, Elizabeth (Valentine) Reed, died aged seventy-three. Mr. While attended the common schools in Newton Upper Falls, and in Ro.xbury, where the family at one time resided. On their return to Newton, he attended, as a day scholar, when about twelve years of age, the famous boarding school of Mar- shall S. Rice of Newton Centre. [n the summer of 1846 he was assistant to an inspector of a line of Boston water