Today, he is best known for his English translations of Jules Verne's novels in the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph.

From 1858 to 1870 White served as shorthand clerk to the treasurer of the American Sunday School Union, assistant editor of the Sunday School Times, and bookkeeper to several importing dry goods and grocery houses.

In 1863 he earned a Master of Arts degree in the Central High School's 31st class.

From 1872 through 1876 he worked as a freelance phonographer (shorthand secretary) and translator, producing English translations of five works by Jules Verne for serialization in the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph.

[1] On 1 January 1875 he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad as assistant secretary of the Northern Central Railway, and on 26 September 1877 he was promoted to secretary of the Northern Central Railway.