An Illustrated History of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas Counties, Interstate Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1904

RICHARD D. WHITE. The privilege of having assisted in the progress and been an eye-witness of the development of the great Northwest from almost its very beginnings is a rare one, and its possessors may well feel proud of the honor. To have been born in the Willamette valley within six months after Oregon became a territory, to have descended from one of its oldest pioneer families, and to have spent his whole life in this rich section of the United States are privileges possessed by the subject of this sketch, now residing in this county, seven miles northwest of Arlington, Oregon. He was born January 6, 1849, in Washington county, and is the son of Richard and Caroline (Rider) White, natives of England. The elder White came to Canada in 1836, removed to Missouri in 1843, and in 1844 crossed the Plains, with one of the earliest emigrant trains to make that hazardous journey. In 1880 he left Oregon for California, and in that state his death occurred in 1882. During his life he was a farmer, stock raiser and real estate man. He built the St. Charles hotel in Portland. Richard D.'s mother died when he was but eighteen months old.
Our subject attended the public schools of Oregon, remaining at home until he was twenty-one. His father and he opened a shoe store in Portland in 1867, which they conducted until 1870. then the son mined awhile. operated the St. Charles hotel six months, and finally, in March, 1871, came to Klickitat county, locating four miles south of Goldendale. For five years he was in the cattle business; then he sold out and took up his residence east of Rock creek, where he lived three years before removing to his present home. This he acquired by filing a timber culture claim to the land. He took up the sheep industry in 1894, and is now one of the leading sheep men in the county.
Mr. White was married on the Walker ranch in 1877, the lady being Miss Ada Purvine, whose parents are pioneers of Klickitat county. She was born in Washington county. Oregon, in the year 1860, and reared in that state. After sixteen years of married life, she passed away, leaving, besides her husband, five children to mourn their loss: Mabel F., born in Oregon, August 4, 1878, now teaching school; Thomas, Horace, Lizzie, who recently finished a course in a Portland business college; and May, all born in this county. One son, Richard, is dead. Mr. White was again married, at Goldendale, March 25, 1898, the bride this time being Mrs. Susan Hopkins. She is the daughter of Thomas Hendricks, an Oregon pioneer, who is still living, a resident of the Klickitat valley. Susan Hendricks was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, in February, 1865, was educated in Oregon's schools, and, at the age of twenty-five, was married to James Hopkins. Three children were born to this union, of whom only one, Robert, is living. Mr. Hopkins died in 1895. Mr. White is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, belongs to the Presbyterian church, and, in politics, is an active Democrat. His ranch, consisting of two thousand six hundred and forty acres, of which five hundred are in crop, is one of the largest in southern Washington and is well equipped. At present he owns two thousand one hundred head of sheep. from which he derives a goodly income. Mr. White commands the good will and the sincere respect of every one who knows him, is making a most gratifying success, out of his business, and is an honored son of the West.