Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-07
Daniel Webster,a Parsntu.

Know 1t Is so physically, and NE believe IL il
so mentally. We reasOr partly from analogy,
because We see it in the brute creation. We
have gained great deal Of knowledge about
a horse when we knew from what "bIOod"
he sprang. This feeling, to be sue, Is not 80
strong with us as in Europe, where titles and
position in society are hereditary and 80 much
often depends on an accurate knOwledge of
ones ancestry. Yet even here it Is strong.
particularly when the individual concerned
has become eminent For thisreasOn, all that
relates to Mr.. Webster's parcntage IA peculiar
ly interesting, for we believe with po~teritv
he will be regarded as the great intellectual
giant Of the age. He himself does not seem to
have troubled himself very much about the
matter, though he did some, for he once employ
ed John Coffin, Esq, Of Newbury, to trace IL
back for him. At this time, according to Mr..
Coffin, he was mistaken in the name aYen of
his grandfather. -.-....
1t may not bc generally known that both of
Mr.. Wcbstcr's parents were born in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Newburyport; all their
nobility, too, was that proudest Of all nobility
that OF nature. Ills father, Ebcnexer Webster,
was born at East Kingston, N. H., about ten
miles from Newburyport From the poverty
OF his parents, as we suppose, he was adopted
by an influential and wealthy man, Mai. Ebe-
nezcr Stephens. Mr. Stephens owned large
tract Of unsettled land in New IIampEhire, in
q place called Stevenstown-hom himself
since called Salisbury. A portion Of this he
gave to young Webster, who went there and
settled down at the age Of twenty-five. He
built him log cabin, il which be lived for
seven years. Mr.. Webster thus speaks Of hts
fathers early condition: A man who In not
ashamed Of himself need not be ashamed Of
his early condition. Il did not happen to me
to be born in log cabin; but my elder broth.
crS and sisters were born in Q log cabin, raised
among the snow drifts Of New Hampshire, at
period so carly, that when the smoke first
arose from its rude chimney, and curlcd over
the frozen hills, there was no similar evidence
Of white mans habiiation between it and
the settlements on the rivers Of Canada.
All his life he remained poor, and, rs is well
known, was obliged to mortgage his farm to
raise money to educate his children. Yet, tho
poor, hO was hoRoFed, useful and respected.
lie was always one Of the most prominent cit
izens Of his town, discharging one Of its most
responsible offices year after year. lie served
often in the Legislature Of hts State, as Repre-
sentative and Senator. He was member Of
the Convention called to form State Consti-
tuition, and also Of the one called to consider
the proposed United States Constitution. He
was appointed. in 1871, Judge Of the Court
Of Common Pleas for Hillsborough county.
which office he held till his death. lie Was
Christian, too, active in al the affairs of the
church.
His revolutionary services were very inn
portant, extending through the whole war
At first captain, he was promoted in 1884 70
the rank Of Colonel. He was . brave, triastY
and reliable officer, and engaged in many sit-
uatiOns Of responsibility. He was ii the aFmy
when the news came Of the birth o. hlS 1on
Daniel. Calling to bis brother.in.law, Stephen
Robinson, he said:" Here, Stephen, I have
another boy at home; get q gallon Of ram, We
will he merry" This, Of course, was before
temperance days, when even good christians
thought it no harm to use little stimrlcnt to
help keep the heart cheerful.
1t is said on one occasion, Captain Webster
was cncamped with Gen. Stark, near the Brit
ish'a little stream alone dividing them-tnA
British, however, in much greater force. A
storm Of great length and severity aris:ng, the
Americans found shelter in large barn.
When fair weather came, u appeared that the
British had disappeared. This seeming like
an interposition of Providence, some ono pro-
posed prayers.
"D-n the prayers" said q soldier, "let
those pray who want TO-"
Gen. Stark was 30 much incensed at the
language, that he struck the soldier over tho
shoulder severely with his sword, saying that
the D:me Of God should not bc fprOiAned IN
h's army. They ell went into the barn; when
he called on Captain Webster to lead in pray.
er, who, mounted upon . haystaok, prayed
with such flucncy, that, a. 6tsphsn Rehonnoh
said, "theFe was never 60 much blubbeTiRg
at camp meeting" il.ls "a, Lax, --l--..-..i
Judge Webstsrs personal appsGEance IN
very fine. to which his con Oiten alluded a.
terms Of pride. He WAS tall, stout, very dark,
with keen black eyes, and . powerful voice.
all well known characteristics Of Daniel. He
died in 1906, when his son, but for whom his
own memory would, even now, have become
dimmed, was still young man, unknown to
fame.
Judge Wcbster's second wife, the mother
Of Daniel, was Abigail Eastman, who was
born in Salisbury, directly opposite Newbury-
port. She was tailoress by trade, going
round from house to house, IS her services
were required. Her father was the owner oi
a small farm. The father came from Wales
and first settled in Salisbury. She had two
named two Of her children
The story Of the courtship is thus told.-
Soon after Mr.. Webster became q widower,
which was in March, 1774, he came to ,Easi
Kingston, his old home on visit. A lady
friend said to him, "why do you not get
married again ?" 81 would" he replied, !" II
knew the right one" al can tell you" he
said, "who will just suit youA4Abigail East.
man, Of Salisbury, about as black a. You are. D
He mounted his horse and went to Salisbury
Reaching the house, young woman came "a
the door, whom he asked Il Abigail Eastman
lived there. She told him she &aS' the one,
when he handed her the letter Of introduction
he had brought. She invited him III, and,
before he left, the bargain Was made TheS
were married October II, .177As ,,b.s-.
Both Mr.. Webster'a parents were persons
Of fine physical development and strong GOOD
sense, Injured to toll, and belQnging -, ahG
common ranks Of life. No patrician BLOOD
flowed in their veins. They seemed % Spsjae
up ike the fabled heroes OF old, ffom the 6aFth,
gave birth 10 con BY whom they have beal.ii
more honoted than II thtts 1cdHId heV & Nd
their coat of arms thFS1Rk sllnl 81 4 fhStdtaE 81
senssleSs and titled shcQ tori, and idIS9. q II.
tellectuAilys the rice 3 a1ad No kON1F ~.
Webster fnhesitsd nuss tAah ths hArss ~,
in 'iact, I'VE asa rule nsss lOd er6 eaeh1 n1'
.ip great mans soa. Da &knalss tAtp 8 14n
and ebbs Of greatness - ths tidase q k1m q
the intellect Of . great 80 he Aeepnnl -
Of Succe1sive geAesAt IS sig saTg t11
questions spGgsgk IT, - '1
of eenaal0Hys EhieA - snEI1 8
TsubseQueNk Agtc cleTF=5s7 q. y