The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-05-23
A Strange History.

George Washington Webster, who re-
Gently committed suicide at the North
Farm of the Shaker family, at Canter-
bury, N. II. Ia brief but imperfect ac-
count of whose life is given in The Con-
cord Monitor), was, as the writer says, a
"natural son of wealthy ex-mayor OF
Boston," who was only Is years the
senior of the subject of this narrative
His mother was q handsome young
woman from Hooksett, n. H., who did
service in the family of the parents OF
the young collegian, who afterwards
rose to distinction in the city, while his
ruined victim was cast out. When the
young child, the fruit of this Illicit
union, was n few years old he was sent
to Hooksett and placed in the care OF
his uncle, who is now living on the old
farm where this young lad spent some
ten years of his early life. At the age
of about 16 he went to Pembroke to live
with Capt Jacob Sawyer, a retired busi-
ness man, with the privilege of attend
ing school ut the local academy. He
soon attracted the attention of his teacher
by his brilliant natural gifts, and was
pronounced the best scholar in the in
stitution. By the solicitations of his
friends, his uncle, who knew the cir
cumstances of his birth and wealthy
connections, which up to this time had
been kept from the boy, took him to
Boston, and obtained an interview with
his father, whom the young man very
much resembled in appearance. The
father was pleased with his intelligence
and ambition, and on condition that he
would have his name changed, and he
and his friends keep the whole matter a
profound secret, promised to send him
through college and prepare him for a
profession, but nothing more, furnishing
him with money, watch, and clothing.
Having been brought up Methodist,
he went to Newbury, Vt, to school of
that denomination, where he fitted for
college under the legal name of George
Washington Webster, limiting to his fel-
low-students that his father was an
eminent lawyer of Boston, leading them
to infer that he was son Of the Hon.
Daniel Webster, then the only eminent
lawyer of that name in the city. From
Newbury he entered Dartmouth, where
he graduated with high honors in 1877,
losing one year, however, of the course,
ON account of disease of the mind. He
was generous, high-spirited. social in
his feelings, witty, eloquent of. speech,
eff poetic tastes, fervid in reli Sion, but
of strong passions, inheriting many of
his eccentricities and faults from the
broken nervous system of his unhappy
mother.
During hia college course he taught
school in Chelmsford, Mass, tw or three
winters, and before his graduation mar
ried very estimable lady of that place.
After leaving college he went to Mead
vile, Pa, where he spent three years
preparatory TO the ministry, and after
ward settled in Wheeling as a Unitarian
preacher. Here he attempted to unite
the liberal elements of the place into a
Union Society and Church, and came on
to New England to obtain funds with
which to erect a church edifice for this
purpose, preaching in Boston, Medford,
and some other places, meeting with the
desired success. This was in lS5l-52.
He remained in Wheeling some two or
three years, but in 1854 returned to
Massachusetts,, living for while in or
near Boston, supplying destitute pulpits
in the vicinity, almost always walking
to and from his appointments. On one
occasion he walked to New Bedford or
Fall River (the writer has forgotten
which, on Saturday, preached on Sun
day, and walked back to Boston on
Monday. In 1866 he accepted a call
and settled over the old parish in Bed
ford n tayp t1no r,nrfh nf
Here he preached one year, exchanging
pulpit services with the writer in Feb
ruary, 1856, but in the following spring
he resigned his connection with the
parish, attempting some innovation in
the church which the members did not
approve. Still residing in Bedford, he
became more eccentric i'll his ways, tax
ing long walks, saving wood for poor
widows, sometimes letting himself al
haying to the farmers in the town, but
spending most Of his time till the year
1861 in writing book in favor of poly.
gamy, and in studying the problem OF
perpetual motion claiming at one time
that he had discovered the secret, and
seeking to borrow money to put it in
operation. On the breaking out of the
Rebellion he enlisted as soldier, first
burning all his sermons, but charging
his wife to preserve with the utmost
care his MSS. on polygamy. Not liking
the dull monotony of the camp, he de
serted, was taken, and, believe, after
some slight penalty and reprimand, re-
stored to his place; but, repeating tn,
offense, he was tried as a deserter anc
sentenced to death. But his wife anC
friends interceded, proving his course t.
be the result of mental disorder, and ht
was pardoned. Subsequently he wa
discharged, and returned to his family
but not to live with them.
OF his history from that time till hi
melancholy death at Canterbury tn,
writer knows nothing. His mothe
married Boston merchant and after
ward died in an insane asylum, leavin,
large family of children. Having
known him for more than forty years
the above statements are substantially
correct. He was not far from 80 year
of age at his death.-C0r. Of Nort0l
County Gazette.