The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-11-13
THE NES0TIAN.
Daniel Webster.

Daniel webster.
The following sketch of the early history o
Mr.. Webster, from the Tribune, will be read
with interest:
Mr. Webster's has been lofty though not
entirely successful career. Descended from an
ancestry originally Scotch. but for a time resi-
dent in England, which migrated to this coun-
try very soon after the Landing at Plymouth,
he was born in Salisbury. (nOw Boscawen.)
New Hampshire, on the 18th of January, 1882.
His life has therefore been extended over
nine months beyond the seventy years allotted
to man. His earliest known projenitor was
Thomas Webster. who settled at Hampton. near
the sea-coast of New Hampshire, as early as
1886. The Websters were generally farmers
and ION occasiOn) soldiers, were fair-hared, Of
light complexion. and slender frame. The
Statesman inherited his sturdy frame. dark fea-
lures, black hair, &c. from his fathers mother,
daughter of Rev. Stephen Batchelder, and
woman Of remarkable force Of character. His
own mother was also woman of rare intellec
tual powers. His father after fighting we'll for
his King and country in the French and Indian
Wars, obtained, after the Peace of 17G3 grant
of land in Salisbury at the head of the Merri-
mac river, and there built his log cabin and
commenced his clearing in l764-the fartherest
north of any British subject in New England
The log house long since vanished, as did the
frame one built beside it, in which Daniel Web
ster was born but the farm remains in the
family, and the trees which shaded his boyhood
and the well whence he quenched his thirst,
still wooed him with their well-remembered at
fractions, on each recurring visit, to the last
Young Webster received his education in the
common schools of his native town. in the ia
nous Phillips Academy. at Exeter, in the
family of Rev. Samuel Woods, of Boscawen,
and at yarmouth College, to which his father
resolved unsolicited to send him-a great un-
dertaklng for poor farmer, in what was still
almost a pioneer settlement. His brother
Ezekiel was also sent little later to Dart
mouth, imposing on them both, as we'll as ON
their parents the necessity of observing most
rigorous economy But they were both carried
credtably through, and more than justified the
fond hopes of their parents. Ezekiel became
lawyer of cminence, but fell dead (of disease of
the hearD while arguing cause in Concord.
n. H.. in 1929.
Daniel entered college in 1897, and gradua-
ted in 1901, spending the next year as Princi-
pal of an Academy at Fryeburg, Maine, for
$3.50 per annum, which he saved entire, earn
ing his livelihood by copying legal records
After spending few months in the law Office
of Mr. Thompson, in Salisbury, he went to
Boston, and entered as a student the office of
Christopher Gore, an eminent lawyer and
statesman, Fhere he made rapid proficiency,
and was admitted to the bar in March 1906
Returning to New Hampshire, he declined
prohered Clerkship in the Court of which his
father was now a Judge; and as his father was
vsibly declining. he settled beside him at Bos-
cawen. till the old mans death, which occurred
in April, 1901. The next year, Daniel relin-
qushed his business to his brother Ezekiel and
removed to Portsmouth, and was married the
following summer to Grace Fletcher, daughter
of Rev. Mr.. Fletcher, of Hopkinton, n. H. By
her he had four children--Grace, Fletcher,
Julia and Edward-of whom Fletcher alone
survives. Edward died in Mexico, in lS47,
while serving as Major Of the Massachusetts,
Volunteers. Julia became Mrs. Appleton, and
died in Boston some years ago.
Mr. Webster lived nine years in Portsmouth,
and was thence elected to Congress in Novem-
ber, 1872. and reelected in 1914. New Hamp-
shire then elected by General Ticket, and we
believe Mr. Webster uniformly led the Federal
Ticket His talents were widely known to be
extraordinary, though he had filled no public
station, when he was first elected at thirty
years of age.
In 1916, Mr.. Webster removed to Boston, and
devoted himself to the practice of law. In
1870 he served as a Presidential electOr, and as
a member of the Convention which revised the
Constitution of Massachusetts in 1921. He was
elected to Congress from Boston in 1872, and
was reelected in 1924 and 1886, with scarcely
a show of opposition. Mr.. Webster was in the
latter year chosen a Senator of the United
States lie continued to serve in the Senate
until 1910, when he was called to the first place
in Gen Harrison S Cabinet, where he remained
until 1872 On the 4th of March, 1S45, Mr..
Webster returned to the Senate, aud July l1th.
1850, he was called by Mr.. Fillmore to fill once
more the first place in the Cabinet, which he
retained to the last.
In closing the sketch condensed as above
from the Tribune, Mr.. Greeley thus speaks Of
Deaths doings:
"CIAr, CALHOUN WEBsrER-the mighty trio
who for forty years have filled so large space
in the eye and in the heart of the Nation--have
all departed. 1t seems but yesterday that we
saw them sitting together in the Senate. vigor-
Gus in mind, apparently firm in health-and
now they have passed from among us forever.
When shall our country look upon their like
again.