The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-29
ER,s WIDOW.
The Courtship and Marriage OF Caroline
Leroy to the "Godlike Daniel"

Leroy to the "Godlike Daniel"
The following additional facts relating to
Caroline Leroy Webster, widow of Daniel
Webster, who died recently. are from the
| New York Times: Mrs Webster was thor
oughly American in education, taste and
sentiments. She was born in New York City
] in 1881 Her father WIS the late Herman
! Leroy, head of the once famous house of
Leroy, Sayard. McKiven & Co., which had
a large trade in different parts OF the world.
Mr. Leroy was also the first Holland Consul
| 10 the United States. Mrs Webster's mother
was Hannah Cornell, daughter of the last
of the Royal Attorneys General of the
State of North Carolina Caro-
| line was one Of eleven children
and Inherited from her parents quail
tiles that bespoke high birth and
high connections. Even in her girlhood
| days she was noted for certain stately and
impressive demean0r that caused her play
mates to look up TO her with deferential re-
| spect. She was sent 10 q fashionable board
I ing school in New Brunswick, y. j., where
she received her education. AID on her re-
turn To her home at once began to make a
brilliant inn preston III the leading society
of the city of that day. She became widely
known for her gifts as conversationalisi,
and for her attractive qualities generally
| Her fathers house at this period was at No.
76 Broadway, then one of the fashionable
centers OF the city, and il was here that, in
| 1928. she was first introduced TO Daniel
Webster, the Senator from Massachusetts,.
Those conversational abilities which had
| charmed so many of the visitors In her faith
er's house soon captivated the distinguished
Senator, and, after only n few months
oourtship, he married her. The ceremony
was performed in Grace Church in Febru
airy. 1929. in the presence Of a large and
fashionable assemblage.
The bride went at once to Boston, where
IL. i
tives, upon whom she appears to have made
the same favorable impression she had
| wrought among her acquaintance in the
metropolis. After brief stay in MasSachu-
sets the couple went 10 Washington. where
Mrs. Webster's receptions soon became
talked of as the most brilliant of the social
gatherings then held in the capital. She
was nox in her fayorte element, anu shown
TO advantage as the hostess in nUmberleSS
entertainments, which used 10 draw To Mr.
Webster's house the elite of the capital, and
foreigners of rank as we'll as distinguished
American Legislators. Ambassadors and
literary men used to flock 10 the receptions
and thus gave to Mrs. Webster an opportu-
nifty of cultivating a wide and illustricus
circle Of friends. Among her intimates at
this time were Henry Clay, John c. Calhoun.
Mrs. Madison, Lord Ashburton. Lord
Bulwer and Governor Dix. In 1899 she went
rto Europe with Mr.. Webster. and travelled
through England and Scotland During her
sojourn in England she dined with Queen
Victoria at Windsor Castle, aud was also u
guest of the Duke Of Wellington and other
distinguished members of the aristocracy.
While there she witnessed The Euglinton
tournament, and at O number OF high social
entertainments always won a share of aCten-
ton as the brilliant wife Of the noted Amer
lean. She dined with Walter Scott IN Edin-
burg, and, with her husband, was the guest
If
land. This, however, never changed her love
for her native land and, though she always
: spoke with spirit ana Interest OF her expert
. enees abroad, she was ever wOns to assert
that America was the best land, after all
) and that she had seen nothing 10 excel IL in
any way on the other side Of the water. She
would chat entertaiDingly for hours Of ali
she had seen there. She went TO Marshfield
with Mr. Webster after this trip. and there
! entertained Lady Emeline MOrtley. the
. daughter of the owner OF Belver Castle,
when that lady came 20 America. At the
reception given 10 the lady at Marshield
there were present Edward Everett, and
many of the Perkinses, Winthrops and other
distinguished American families. The Lazy
spent several days 81 MaEshtield, and was
CHARMED with the elegance and grace with
which she was entertained.
After Mr. Wehster's death, Mrs Webster
returned TO New York and lived with her
brothers and sisters. But two OF the family
: have survived her-the brothers who s.eTe
at the bedside when the decreased lady pas ed
away. After Mr.. Wehster'S death 100 ciii
zens of Boston contributed 81 600 each 10 a
fund OF 100000 which was invested for his
widows benefit, and the interest of this she
received regularly, although she had inner
tied sufficient property from her family IL
supply her needs. Mrs. Webster was
among the spectators st the unyeiliug of
the Bunker Hill Monument, and the last
: public event she attended was the ceremony
of the unveiling of her husbands statue in
Central Park in 1877. For three years pre-
ceding her death she had been in the habit
of stayiHl: at the Leroy House in New Ro-
chelle, the builder of which had in his life
time often carried across the seas mercantile
: goods for her fathers house. Her sisterin-
law. Mrs. Jacob Leroy, had been staying
with her since November last, when Mrs.
Webster first began To be ailiDg. although
, she was able to be up and around the Old
house daily. Her courteous manners were
the subject of admiring comment among all
) who came in contact with her, and she treat
= ed high and low with equal kindness and
DoliteneSs; these who were more intimate
were often entertained by her anecdotes OF
, her husbands career, of which she remem-
bered and could narrate scores She was
VERT unOstentstiOus in her latter years. and
loved the quiet retirement of the romantic
house that wins an added interest and histor-
ical value from the fact that she lived and
died there. Her family was among the old
est settlers of Pelham, and the family name
T. y Il