Representative Milo White

Milo White (August 17, 1830 – May 18, 1913) was an American businessman and Republican politician who served as a United States Representative from Minnesota from 1883 to 1887. Over the course of a long public career, he held local, state, and federal offices and contributed to the legislative process during two terms in Congress, representing the interests of his constituents during a significant period in American history.

White was born in Fletcher, Franklin County, Vermont, on August 17, 1830. He attended the local common schools and pursued further studies at Bakersfield Academy in Bakersfield, Vermont. His early education in New England provided the foundation for his later work in business and public service.

In 1855, White moved west to Chatfield, in what would become the state of Minnesota, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. As the community developed, he quickly emerged as a local leader. When Chatfield was organized as a city in 1858, he served as chairman of the board of supervisors, helping to establish the framework of municipal governance. He continued to build his business interests in the mercantile trade while becoming increasingly active in civic affairs.

White’s political career at the state level began in the Minnesota Senate, where he served as a Republican state senator from 1872 to 1876 and again from 1881 to 1882. In these years he participated in shaping state legislation during a period of growth and consolidation for Minnesota. His work in the legislature, combined with his prominence in local business and government, positioned him for higher office and broadened his influence within the Republican Party.

Elected as a Republican to the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses, White served in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1883, to March 3, 1887. During his two terms in office, he participated in the democratic process at the national level and contributed to the legislative work of the House, representing Minnesota during a time marked by continued national expansion, industrial development, and post–Civil War adjustment. His service in Congress reflected both his commitment to his constituents and his broader engagement with the issues of the era.

After leaving Congress in 1887, White returned to Chatfield and resumed his mercantile pursuits, continuing his longstanding role as a businessman in the community. He remained active in public life and, in 1898, was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Fifty-sixth Congress. Despite this defeat, he continued to serve his locality in various capacities, maintaining his influence in regional affairs.

In addition to his state and federal service, White held several important local offices in Chatfield. He served for several terms as mayor of Chatfield, where he oversaw municipal affairs and local improvements, and he was a member of the Chatfield school board, contributing to the oversight and development of public education in the community. These roles underscored his sustained commitment to local governance and civic advancement over many decades.

Milo White died in Chatfield, Minnesota, on May 18, 1913. He was buried in Chatfield Cemetery in Chatfield. His life encompassed the transition of Minnesota from a frontier region to a settled state, and his career reflected continuous engagement in business, local leadership, state legislation, and national representation.