[2] In 1866, White moved from California and settled in Malad City, Idaho Territory, and became involved in producing salt.

In addition to his government positions, White became Vice President of the First National Bank of Caldwell.

White was not affiliated with any specific segment of the territorial Republican Party, and President Benjamin Harrison had made the nomination as a compromise between competing candidates from the various factions.

[3] The Enabling Act of 1889 had been passed by the time White took office, and his administration primarily dealt with the process of converting Montana from a territory to a state.

He issued a proclamation calling for an election of delegates to a convention to create a state constitution.