James Stephen White (December 6, 1838 – August 8, 1908) was an American businessman, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer.
He represented Milwaukee in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1871 session, and was later imprisoned for embezzlement arising from his eight years working as city comptroller.
[2] At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he volunteered for service and was enrolled in Company B of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.
His firm in Chicago ran into financial trouble in 1883, and White offered up the un-issued bonds as collateral to keep the business afloat.
White was arrested and convicted of embezzlement, but before he could be sentenced, his lawyer made several technical challenges about the status of the bonds.