The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-25
Biographical Sketch and Public Life or
Daniel Webster.

count OF ihtr eeneaogy should be given; ard In
deserve more especial notice than those
dcsceI nsy be traced to the early coenists of that part
of Amerisa which is the United states 1t is well
known that elias, of Eng,ishmen established COLO
nice in Nostb America in the seventeenth century the
PuritaDs rrepubcans, settling in New England aud the
Cavaliers royasts in Virginia and adjacent country
To the former OF hese classes the family OF Webster be-
ionged the Who be traced rhomss
Whistler hsvrs emigracd from England and settled at
Hampton, he ccast Of New HAMPSHIRE in the year
1888 sixteen years after the landing Of the drt settlers
Plymouth and Fix years after the arrival Of Governor
Winthrop and followers in Massachusetts Bay. Tho
webters of scottish origin but becse domesti
in England fore tae emigration America The
from Thomas Webster to Daniel be traced in the
church and town records of Hampton Kingston Sails
bury rbrsc records aud the head stones OF village grave
yards he herads Office OF the fathers Of England
Noah Webster, the great photographer Of colate
raj branch OF the family; he native OF Hartford
Connecticut tho brothers Georgs and Oh aries
Webster opg distinguished printers and publishers OF
| Albany in this State.
The father Of Daniel Webster Ebenczer Webster was
I,ma kabe He OF athletic stature six feet in
height and Of commanding appearance In early life he
entered the military service Of the colonies a
soldier and served in the with the French sr
Jeffrey Amherst and Wolfe, in tho invasion OF Canada
the rank of captain before the end OF the
and having obtained grant OF land for his services,
tied III the town OF Sabury which at first called
SteseDstown the Merrimeck river in New Hampshire
Soon sitter his settlement in Salisbury, the frat wife OF
| Eb.pezeI Webster having died, he married Abigail
Eastman who became the mother of Ezekiel and
| Daniel Webster, the only of the second mar
iisge. She woman of more than ordinary intellect
ana influential in the neghborhood where she resided
She proud of her sons, and ambitious that they
should excel in public and private life. Ebcaezer Web
ster took deep interest in the political questions which
sgaled the people of the colonies at the dawn of the
vouton On the appeal to arms by the patriot leaders
he obeyed the call, and took command Of n company
composed Of his ncghbors and kindred who followed him
through the greater portion OF the momcntous contest
! He the battle Of White Plains and at West
Point when the treason Of Arnold was discovered He
had previously acted major under General stark at
the battle of Remington and contributed his share to
| the of that day.
The Of such parents Daniel Webster was born on
the 18th Of January 7S2 in the last year of the
the revolution ut Salisbury In tho home which his father
had established on the outskirts OF civilization. The
early opportunities for education wi III which Dir Web
ster favored Of very limited aud when
quite young he daily two three miles to choo
in mid. winter and on foot The school, which kept
for only small pant Of the year OF Indifferent
character; but under these disadvantages he showed
great esgerness for learning His second James
Tappan was living at advanced age, last year, vi
Gloucester, Massachusetts,. In letter to him, dated
February &C. 1851 in which he enclosed fifty dollars Mr.
Webster remarks -" remember you perfectly we'll
teacher Of my infant years Isuppose my mother must
have taught 90 read very eaily have
able recoect the time when could not read the Bible
You have indeed led checkered life. hope you have
been able prosperity with meekress and adversely
with patience. These things all ordered for us far
better than could order the m for ourselves
There in Salisbury small social library, which
bad been founded mainly through the joint excrtions
of MIR. Thompson, an intelligent lawyer the clergy
| man, and the father of Mr.. Webster. From
| this source the subject of this sketch was en-
abled to obtain moderate supply Of good reading.
His attention like that of Franklin in his early
youth attracted to the Spectator but no did not like
Franklin form his style tae model Of Addison any
further than to escape from the peculiartes Of the
tcbool Of Johnson and to prefer that simple grandeur
Of dction which characterize his speeches and Wi
l tipgs
In May 1796, Webster taken by his father TO
the Academy ct Exeter, which had been endowed In
I7si by Hon John Phillips In this celebrated school,
Webster enjoyed the advantage of only few months IN
ttuctitn but short the period his mental powers
thus early developed, and he exhibited to his in
structors evidence OF his superior intellect After few
months at Exeter, Webster returned home, aud having
yctr, hEs PlhSel py MS talucr
the Rev Samuel Wood, OF Boscswen. On this occasion
his father made known his nten ion Of sending him
College. At that time, IL was not common in New Eng
land for any to attain emnence I'm either of the
professions without the advantage of collegiate
education. In six months namely, from February to
4 August 1907 Webster completed his preparation for
COLLEGE under the instruction Of MIR Wood This pre-
pa1ation was course impef CT but the standard of
asaca literature stood very low in this country at The
close Of the last century. Short. however, hjs
period of preparation enabled Mr. Webster to iy the
foundation of knowledge Of the classical writer's
pecay the Latin, which greatly increased in college
and which he kept up, by constant to the
great models Of antiquity during ths bury Of his
active life 1t has been often remarked that his happy
quotations occasionally given from the classics hare
formed a striking feature of Mr. Websters oratory
| In 1907 Webster entered Dartmouth College at Han.
New nsmpsbire where after four years OF ofasduous
application to his studies he graduated in August 1901
| He was only distinguished for his attention TO his
collegiate duties but devoted himself TO general raading
particularly to English history and literature. lie
took part in a small weekly publication, to
| which he contributed selections and origiaal
articles lie also delivered addresses before the
college tocietes. lie persuaded bis father to send his
brother Ezekiel to college, and during the vacations,
taught school TO aid in furnishing for the prepara
| ticn Of his brother for collegiate course.
Immediately after leaving college Mr. Webster entered
the Office Of MIR Thompson OF Salisbury as student Of
sw. Mr. Thompson lawyer Of high staining, and
Represented New Hempghire at various times in both
Houses tf Congress. While In tho office Of Mr Thomp.
Mr.. Webster accepted offer to take charge Of
academy, at Fryeburg in Maine whore his salary
dollar day lie able by setting assistant 70
the Register OF Deeds for The county to enough to
rsy bis personal expenses and therefore his salary
Al, saved fund for his professional education and
help bis brother through college During his redence
at Fryeburg MIR. webter borrowed, and for the drst
time read Backstone's Commentaries. About this time
he committed TO memory Fisher Anes' celebrated speech
the British treaty, which he greatly admired In
September 1902 he returned to Salisbury and resumed
his studies under Mr. Thompson in whoso Office ne re
rainad far ninhtnnn nnnntha extending ha knowkd