The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-05-05
Biographical.
E,r tIr HsroZd nj Ee5o
Doct. Thomas n. webb.

For the Herald gf Freedom.
Doct. Thomas n. Webb.
The name of Doct. THoxAs Fl. WEBB,
which has been so prominently before the
public for the last year, as Secretary of
the Emigrant Aid Company, deserves a
more extended notice than it has yet re-
ceived from the press.
He was born In Providence, R. l., in
September, 1901. While there he attend
ed the private school of Mr.. Day; after
wards the Wrentham Academy, which
at that time was in very favorable repute
asa place oflearning. Upon the remov-
al of his fathers family to Boston he was
placed under the tuition of Daniel Stani-
ford preparatory to entering College. In
1917 he became student of Browns
University. There he acquired taste
for the natural sciences, which he has
continued to cultivate to the present time.
While in College he formed a society
which continued m being many years,
called the Phiio- Physician Society. At
tergraduating he became a studentof
icine under the late John Mackie, NJ. D.,
and received his medical degree from
Harvard University in 1926. During
this period he devoted much attention to
the mineral resources of his native State.
In 1926 or '27 Doct. w. established
himself as physician in Providence,
where he continued to practice the heal
ing art until the autumn of 1885. Dur
ing this time he identified himself with
many public movements of the day. He
was devotedly attached to the Temper
ance Reform, and labored assiduously to
promote its interests.
AS the able Secretary of the Histori-
cal Society he conducted lengthy CORE
spondenee with the Royal Society of
Northern Antiquarians at Copenhagen,
relative to the Ante Columbian history of
this country, which will be found among
the publications of that Society. He al
so had charge. for many years, of the
Fiske Fund, which in It's character and
object corresponds with the Boylston
Medical Prize Fund of Harvard College.
and to him was awarded the first premi-
UNI bestowed by the Trustees of that
Fund.
For long time he was one of the
School Committee of Providence, and
took an active part in Educational re-
forms. As editor of the Providence
Journal he became personally known to
the members of the press, aposition which
he filed to the entire satisfaction of his
many readers.
In 1885 the Doctor was induced to
abandon his profession and remove to
Boston, to engage in the School Library
enterprise, which was then before the
public, and attracting the very general
attention of the philanthropic. Soon af-
ter this he suffered series of misfortunes
which resulted in the loss of everything
but his unspotted character.
For some time subsequently he was
much occupied in photographed and
historical pursuits. As an early adyo-
cate of postal reform, he did much to ad-
vance the movement and acquired a large
amount of valuable information by corre-
spondence with the late Joseph Hume.
NJ. p.
In 1850, after repeated solicitations,
he accepted the situation of Secretary to
the United States and Mexican Boundary
Commission, with which he was connect
ed two and a half years, until recalled by
a new administration. His assiduous la-
bors in this capacity, and his success
win be seen by reference to the public
documents, and to "Bartlett's Personal
Narrative During his absence he kept
a diary, which we understand still re-
mains in manuscript.
While on this expedition Doct. WEBB
gratifed his love for Natural Science by
making extensive collections in various
branches of Natural History. portions of
which are now in the possession of the
Smithsonian Institute, Prof. Agassiz, DR..
Gould, and other scientific journals. Dur
ing his connection with this expedition
he studied the manners. customs. Ian
guages. &c., of the Indian tribes with
whom they had intercourse.
In 1853 he prepared the Registration
report containing the marriages, births.
and deathsof Rhode Island, being the
first publication of that character from
our sister State.
Doct. WEBB was one of the principal
projectors of the Providence Ath@neuna.
whichstands deservedly prominent among
similar institutions, possessing one of the
best selected libraries in the country. He
has also been an occasional contributor
to Silliman's Journal, and to the " Mem
oirs AIiqHoires da Nord," School
crafts Indian Tribes Of the United States,