The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-01-26
Daniel WebSter'S Parents.

Udllit1 WEBSTER ParenLS.
The Newburyport (Mass.) Herald has
the following interesting article in relation
to Mr.. Webster's parentage:s a7.ss
We all believe in some way our traits
are connected with those of our ancestors.
We know it SO physically, and we believe
lit is so mentally. We reason partly from
analogy, because we see it in the brute
creation. We have gained great deal
of knowledge about horse when we know
from what blood he sprang. This feeling
to be sure, is not SO strong with US as in
Europe, where titles and position in So
ciety are hereditary and So much often
4 depends on an accurate knowledge Of
ones ancestry Yet even here it is
strong. particularly when the individual!
concerned has become eminent. For this
reason, all that relates to Mr.. Webster's
fparentage is peculiarly interesting, for we
believe with 'posterity he will be regaried
as the great intellectual giant of the al ge.
He, however does not seem to have troub-
led himself very much about the matter,
though he did some, for he once employ
ed John Coffin, Esq; of Newbury. to trace
I it back forshim. At this time, according
to Mr.. Coffin, he was mistaken in the
name even of his grandfather. -
1t may not be generally known that
4 both of Mr.. Webs:er's parents were born
in the immediate vicinity of Newburyport,
all their nobility, too. was that proudest
of all nobility. that of nature. His father,
Ebenezer Webster, was born at East
Kingston, New Hampshire, about ten
miles from Newburyport. From the pow
aierty of his parents, as we suppose, heiwas
adopted by an influential and wealthy man,
Maj. Ebenezer Stephens. Mr.. Stephens
owned large tract Of unsettled land il
New Hampshire, in a place called Ste
renstown-from himself-since called
lSalisbury. A portion of this he gave TO
j young Webster, who went there and set
tied down at the age twenty-five. He
{ built him log cabin, in which be lived
for seven years. Mr.. Webster thus speaks
of bis fathers early conditions: AZ man
who is not ashamed of himself, need not
, be ashamed of his early condition. 1t
) did not happen, to me TO be born in a
, log cabin; but my elder brothers ard sis
tiers were born in log cabin; raised
among the snow.drifts of New Hamp-
$ SHIRE at period so early, that when the
u smoke first arose from it's rude chimney,
j and curled over. the frozen hills, there
was no similar evidence of white mans
/ habitation between it and the settlement
5 on the rivers Of CaHnda."' e1sa8 @a&
e. ~ All his life be remained poor, and, o.
is well known, was ,obliged to mortgage
Y his little farm to raise money to educate
J. his children. Yet, though poo-.ahe was
}. honored, useful, and respectable. HI
was always one Of the prominent citizenl
}. of his town, diseharging its mossrespon
o sble Offices year after year. He served
j. often in the Legislature of his State, ai
e Representative and Senator. He was ,
I'll member of the Convention called to form
o a State Constitution, and also of the on,
Z fcalled to consider the proposed Untss
q. States Constitution. He was appointed
,r in l79i. Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas for ,Hillsborough- county, which Of
q fee be held till his death He was, /
= Christian, too, active in all the affairs Q
re- the Church. tai 9enHT5Yo8 ef@J@ !,
4 His revolutionary services, we're yer
= important, extending through, the Who'll
j. war. At first a captain, he was promote'
to the rank of colonel in 1884. He wa
,r brave, trusty, aud reliable officer, an
er engaged in many situations Of great res
/. possibility. He was in the army whenth
7n news came of the birth of his sou Danie
r. Calling to his brother-in-Iaw. .Stephe
Robinson, he said," "Here Stephen,
he have another boy at home, get gallo
.a of rum and weswiil be merry" This. (
OF course, was before temperance days.swhe
On even good Christians thought it no harl
to use a little stimulant to help keep Il
heart cheerful. tis
mi 1t is said, on one occasion, Capt. Wei
:. ster was encamped with Gen. Stark, ne,
T. the British, q little stream alone dividin
he them-the British, however, in muc
nd greater force. A storm of great leng,
I'd and severity arising, the Americans four
IS. shelter in large barn. When fair weatl
er came, it appeared that the British ha
No dispersed. This seeming like an interp'
~. sition of Providence, some one propose
nd prayers. 80 's:,'o -
~ ~ "DAm' the prayers" said soldie
...r "let those pray who want to" sl~o'
81 Gen. Stark was SO much iucensed &
,ra the Language, that he struck the soldi
vs over the shoulder severely with his swor
H. saying that the name of God should n
nv be profaned in his army. They all we
I'd into the barn. when he called on Car
~ Webster 10 lead in prayer who,s mount,
=, me- upon q haystack, prayed with such fuens
he. that, as Stephen Bohonnon said, .'the
40. was never so much blubbering at o car
ok meeting. -
Judge Webster's personal appearan
ter was. very fine, to which his son often
ne, laded to ir terms of pride, BE was t.
ing stout, very dark, with Keen, black ey
and powerful voice--all well-kno'
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