 In realizing the potential of some available land to the north of Maumee, Ohio, a notable port city at the time, he acquired a title to the land and built a log cabin at what would eventually be the corner of Summit and Monroe streets near downtown Sylvania.Prior to White's acquisition, the land was a part of Port Lawrence Township, Monroe County, Michigan.Over the course of several years, White, along with his associate, Judge William Wilson, purchased a total of 1,920 acres of Port Lawrence and surrounding land in what would eventually become Sylvania, and 1,720 acres of what would become Whiteford Township, Michigan, where he also served as the first town supervisor.