author
James Edson White
1849–1928
Best remembered for taking Adventist mission work into the post–Civil War South, he combined publishing, education, and evangelism in unusually practical ways. His life joined family legacy with a strong independent streak, especially in his work among Black communities along the Mississippi River.
1 Audiobook
Best Stories from the Best Book: An Illustrated Bible Companion for the Home
by James Edson White
About the author
Born in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, on July 28, 1849, James Edson White was the second son of Seventh-day Adventist pioneers James and Ellen G. White. Often known simply as Edson White, he worked in publishing and ministry and also wrote books and edited periodicals during a period when the church was still taking shape.
He is most closely associated with missionary work among African Americans in the American South. In the 1890s he helped launch the Morning Star, a riverboat mission on the Mississippi, using it as a base for schools, evangelism, and publishing work. He also played a key role in starting the Gospel Herald, a paper that supported and reported on that mission.
White spent his later years in Michigan and died in 1928. Remembered as an energetic and inventive organizer, he stands out for trying to put faith into action through education, print, and direct service.