Malbern Hance White was born June 25, 1854 in Granville, Licking Co., OH. He moved to Kenton, Hardin Co., OH with his family as a small child. His father, James White was in the marble business at Kenton and after his death, Hance ran the operations. Hance married in Greenville, Darke Co., OH in 1876. Margaret Weaver, who was born in 1855 in Ohio, He took his family and moved to Kansas in about 1887 to Kingman Co., where he opened the Kingman Marble Company. In 1892 he moved his family once again settling in Pittsburg, Kansas  where he once again opened a marble works, The Hance White & Son Marble Works business on the west side of Second and Elm near the Frisco train tracks. The business grew and he moved the offices of the business to the northwest corner of Second & Broadway.  He built a new cutting and finishing building across the street from the old offices in 1904. It was made of cut stone with carved faces of prominent Kansas legends such as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Jesse James and Carrie Nation arched around the windows.  He changed the name to the Pittsburg Marble Works and it grew to be one of the largest marble works in the Midwest by the 1920’s. His son Paul opened and operated a branch of the works in Miami, OK for a few years. The White’s had four children, Ora Glen who died at the age of 15, Paul Welbrose, Olga and Malbern Hance White Jr.  Hance White died March 13, 1926 at Mt. Carmel Hospital. Margaret (Weaver) White died in 1935. Malbern Hance White, his wife Margaret (Weaver) White and their son Ora Glen are buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Pittsburg, KS.

Hance White, Pioneer Business Man, Is Dead
End came at Mt. Carmel Hospital Saturday Night
Founder of Pittsburg Marble Works Came to Pittsburg in 1892
Reached Age of 71 Years.

Hance White, 71 years of age, pioneer Pittsburg business man and founder of the Pittsburg Marble Works, probably the largest stone furnishing company in southeastern Kansas, died at 8 oÕclock Saturday night in the Mt. Carmel hospital. Death was caused by general weakening of the veteran business manÕs health due to his advanced age. He had been taken to the hospital for treatment from his home, 512 West Fifth Street, more than two weeks ago, and placed under the care of a special nurse. Mr. White was born in Granville, Ohio, June 25, 1854, but when a small boy was taken to Kenton, Ohio, by this parents, Mr. and Mrs. James White. His father was engaged in the marble business before Hance White. The early years of the pioneerÕs life were spent in Kenton, where he attended school, and after the death of this father carried on the stone business with a brother. In 1876, Mr. White was married to Miss Margaret Weaver of Greenville, Ohio, who survives him as his widow.
To Kansas In 1887
The couple came to Kansas in 1887, settling in Kingman. Five years later they came to Pittsburg with their children, settling here in 1892. The oldest son, Ora Glen White, then fifteen years of age, died during the first year that the family lived here. Immediately after coming to Pittsburg, Mr. White started the organization of his business, with a building located on the corner of Second and Elm, adjacent to the Frisco tracks. With the growth of the companyÕs business, the offices were moved to 105-107 North Broadway, where they are now located in connection with a small unit of the plant. The tract of land adjoining the Frisco tracks, across the street from the first quarters, in now occupied by the large building which houses the cutting and finishing rooms. A branch of the company is located at Miami, Okla. The Pittsburg Marble Works, formerly known as the Hance White & Son Marble Works, has grown under the direction of Mr. White until it is now one of the largest institutions of its kind in this section.
Devoted to Business, Music
The greater portion of Mr. White's life was devoted to his business and music, and among his friends he was known as a critic on Òmusic and marble.Ó Mr. White was able to play practically every instrument and was a great student of music, making that his avocation and his chief amusement. Mr. White was a member of the Methodist church. Little of his time was devoted to fraternal orders, but he was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the United Commercial Travelers and the Elks Lodge. Mr. White is survived by his widow; one daughter, Mrs. Olga Wolfe, at the home; and two sons, Paul W. White of Kansas City and Malberne H. White, 420 West Forest. Malberne H. White is manager of the marble works. Paul W. White came from Kansas City Friday to be with his father. Funeral services for Mr. White were conducted from the home at 3 oÕclock this afternoon. Rev. W. N. Mason, paster of the Methodist church, conducted the services. Burial was in the Mt. Olive cemetery. The following group of friends and business associates of Mr. White served as pallbearers: E. C. Webber, George S. Donahey, Charles H. Howe, Asa Messenger, Frank S. Newman and Dr. H. L. Stelle. The services were attended by a large number of friends of the deceased pioneer. - The Pittsburg Daily Headlight, Mon. Evening, 15 March 1926, p.2, c.1