The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-07-17

A w00lly Webster.
ATLANTA, GA, June I3.-It 10 no
generally known that there is to-day
living in the city Of Atlanta son o
Daniel Webster, but such is the fact
For tho proof we rely not only on The
intelligent account which the son give.
OF his own life, but also on the corrobo
rating evidence of several prominent
citizens, who say that there is no doub,
of the truth of the story. The son Of
Webster is mulatto barber, we'll known
ell over Georgia, as Bob Yancey, a man
of moro than ordinary intelligence. In
appearance he has some marks of strik
ing resemblance to Webster. His broad
forehead and wildly separated eyes are
noticed q circumstantial proof as soon
g You hear the story Of his birth. A
few days ago l had conversation with
Bob, in which he made the following
statements. 1t Is due to him to say that
bis story 10 corroborated by the men,
bers of his former masters family, who
are still living. 1t Is as follows:
Robert Yancey, whose real name was
Robert Webster, was born in Gadsby's
Hotel, on the corner OF Pennsylvania
Avenue and Fourth Street, in Washing
ton City, on the Goth of August, 1920.
HIS mother was Charlotte Goodrich, a
mulatto OF rare beauty, and her father
was one of the old aristocrats of Virgin
10. Mr.. Gsdsby bought Charlotte from
Billy Billiard of Fredericksburg, Va,
and took her to Washington to wait in
his hotel. Daniel Webster boarded with
him, and in this way saw Charlotte, and
induced those intimate relations which
supply . subject tor this sketch. The
matter was kept quiet IN Washington
ct the time, though the truth was sus-
pected by several Of Webster's friends.
After the birth of Robert, Charlotte be-
came the waiting maid of some OF the
most distinguished ladies of the capital.
She was in the service of Mrs. Clay tor
. long time, and she continued to enjoy
an intimacy with the greatest man of
his time. Mr.. Webster once gave her
beautiful gold necklace, which she acct
dentally left in . drawer in Mrs. Clay's
dressing case. Her mistress found the
necklace, and asked Charlotte whose it
was. The girl was confused and fright
ened, and told the whole truth. 1t is
said that Mrs. Clay showed the necklace
to Webster, and asked him if he had
ever seen it before. Afterward, Char
lotto WAS purchased by Mr.. Webster.
He took her to Boston and gave her
perfect freedom, though she continued
to be house maid in his home. She
died in Boston only few years ago.
Bob frequently heard from her. He says
che talked freely to him of his origin,
and told him many anecdotes of the
private life Of Mr.. Webster, to whom she
WAS passionately devoted. When her
son gew up he became tho property of
young Gadsby, who was rash, hot
headed Southerner, and led the gay life
90 common in tho old flush times. Once
in Richmond he had been drinking and
gambling desperately until he had lost
al he had. He staked Bob, his body
servant, against 81 500 in gold, and lost.
A man named Billy Martin won the son
of Webster, but shortly afterward sold
him to Q Mr.. Cunningham, ofC charleston,
of s. G. This Mr.. Cunningham was an
uncle of Col. Ben Yancey, prominent
member of the present Georgia Legisla-
ture. Col. Yancey fancied Bob, bought
him, and kept him as body servant.
Bob was such faithful slave that his
master, in 1868, gave him his liberty
and enough money to start business
in Atlanta. Here Bob did well, and
before the Confederates surrendered
the city, had saved quite an indepen-
dency. When Shermsn's army passed
Georgia, with it came Captain
Fletcher Webster, q son of Daniel Web
stsr. He had heard the story of Bob's
nativity, and accidentally found him
while stationed in Atlanta. He bestOw-
cd various attentions on him. He gave
him q picture of Daniel Webster, which
Bob still has. Fletcher Webster was
killed in battle near Atlanta Sher-
mans soldiers destroyed all the proper
y Bob had accumulated. One hundred
boxes of tobacco and other valubles OF
ais were burned in the destruction of
Atlanta. Bob now has claim pending
ltW xshingtOn for recovery of damages.
BE says that when no went there, II few |
months ago, several distinguished gen
lemen who knew his origin paid HIM
rory hind attentions. He is get ting
quite feeble and is very poor. His cred
tors not long ago closed ont his barber
hop IN Atlanta. Bob now does little
mt stand on the street corners and talk
f the grand days he saw long ago. He
peaks with remarkable accuracy of all
be greatest mon Of Hebster's time, and
efers to his parentage with evident
ride. He will not associate with ne
,roes, and is passing his last days in
Of the loss OF what was
nee quite little fortune. FIX.