When Kellee Green Blake thinks of former Jefferson City resident and Civil War era figure Frank White, she thinks of a principled, fearless man who loved his wife passionately.
Blake, the retired director of the National Archives Mid-Atlantic Region, was the guest lecturer at the Monday afternoon meeting of the Cole County Historical Society. She says White's story belongs to the people of Jefferson City.
"He is yours," Blake told the crowd of more than 50 people in the DeLong Room at the county's history museum. "He has no (living) descendants. He not only fell in love with the girl from here, but also with this place (Jefferson City)."
Over the course of an hour, Blake's presentation told the story of how White left his mark on the Civil War and Jefferson City.
Frank White was the son of one of the wealthiest families in New York City. His mother, Rhoda, was of proper high society; his father, James, an Irish Catholic lawyer, served on the New York Supreme Court. The Whites were close friends of President Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. By the end of her life, the former first lady would view Rhoda and Rhoda's sister as some of her closest confidants. Blake says collectors prize the correspondence between the trio greatly.
White's life is well documented through letters and various newspaper accounts in New York City and in Ireland.
"White's activities were of great interest to New Yorkers, to the Irish-American population and to population of Ireland," Blake said. "He was watched by the Irish-American newspapers because his actions gave generations of Irish-Americans hope for the future."
White, a captain in the 10th Volunteer Infantry Regiment of New York, would see action in the Civil War at the First Battle of Bull Run in Virginia and the skirmish at Jenkins Bridge in Virginia.
According to Blake, White earned great fame for the feats accomplished at Jenkins Bridge.
Tasked to "teach the locals a lesson" about loyalty to the union and to discourage blockade running across the Chesapeake Bay into Confederate territory, White managed to push the local militia out of the area and almost into the next town. He is deemed a hero, according to Blake.
Later, White was captured on a reconnaissance mission near Springfield, Mo., while under the direction of then-Commander of Western Forces John C. Fremont.
"Rather than surrender his sword, White broke it in half," Blake said, his pride preventing him from admitting defeat.
When Fremont was relieved of his command on Nov. 2, 1861, it forced White to scramble for a new appointment in the military. He found one in Jefferson City.
"He becomes the provost marshal and judge advocate general," Blake said. "He was selected for his uncompromising personality. This would work against him, especially with such political opposition to the abolitionist views of the 22-year-old White."
White's time in Jefferson City was marked with various scandals.
He banished Henry Painter, the town's Presbyterian minister, to New England and promised to shoot Painter if he returned.
His brief time here also was the initial introduction to Cornelia Wells, the daughter of federal Judge Robert William Wells. The elder Wells is known in state history for designing the state seal.
Eventually reassigned to Vicksburg, Miss., White becomes very ill with typhoid malarial fever. After being nursed back to health at his parents' home, White becomes the subject of many young ladies' flirtatious attention. Though flattered, White politely declined, according to Blake.
"He dismisses the attention, only dining with his family and rarely attending any dances," Blake said. "I think it is because he was already deeply in love with Cornelia Wells."
White, now an officer in an African American Cavalry unit, returned to Jefferson City to determine if his feelings were mutual. Cornelia and Frank were soon married. The couple's letters show how White had "deep perceptions of the ideas of love and marriage," said Blake.
Two of the five White children were baptized in St. Peter's Church before the family relocated to Oakland, Calif. Despite hopes that the climate change would benefit his health, White died of paralysis Aug. 29, 1875. Two months later, his fifth child, and only son, would be born and buried next to him.
At the time of his death, Cornelia was extremely poor and could not afford a proper headstone. Blake said as a testament to her love for Frank she saved money for decades and eventually replaced the headstone with a stylish marble obelisk.
Blake told the audience at this point in her research, she has more questions than answers.
"None of his daughters ever married, and I wonder why," Blake said. "Also, what bothers me about White's story is that when they are in California, they have no money. Where did it go? Both Cornelia and Frank were born into privilege. Was there a disagreement in the family? The families maintained their wealth in New York and Missouri, but never in California."
Blake ended her presentation with a challenge to those in the audience - "You know his story now, or as much as we know about him now, and I hope you can finish this fabulous story of this remarkable man."
Multiple attendees spoke afterwards, praising both the speaker and the topic for such an interesting presentation.
"It gives a new appreciation to where I have lived all my life," Bob Herman said. "This is just one story to add to the many stories of Jefferson City."
Doris Schmutzler, a Cole County Historical Society board member, said she felt the attendees were "fortunate to hear from such a noted author and historian."
"It was a fascinating presentation and is already provoking renewed interest on our part here locally with Judge Wells and his family," Schmutzler said.