The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-26
PREACHER DIED A PAUPER.
Career OF the Author of "There's
q Light in the window for Thee"


Career Of the Author of ~There's
Light in the window for Thee"
The Rev. Edward Dunbar, who wrote
the old Sunday school song, "There's
q Light In the Window for Thee,
Brother" sleeps In pauper's grave
at Coffeyville, Kan, where he died a
tramp in the town Jail two years ago.
His name became a byword in the
places where he was known, and from
prison cell he went forth vagabond
upon the face Of the earth. In 1867
Dunbar was arrested at Leavenworth
while engaged in holding a series Of
revival meetings, and taken to Mime
apolis, Mimi, where he was tried for
bigamy, convicted, and sent to the pen
itentiary for three years and eight
months.
One night in the spring Of 1896 Dun
bar applied at the Coffeyville Jail for
lodging. He was Ill, and the authori-
ties took him In. He died the next
day. Papers in his pockets revealed
his identity, and showed that he had
tramped all over the country. Some
church people have erected marble
slab over his grave, on which these
words are inscribed:
Here lies Edward Dunbar, who
wrote There's Light in the Window
for Thee. Brother"
When Dunbar was a small boy he
lived in New Bedford, Mass, and work.
ed in factory. His mother lived at
the foot Of the street on which the fac.
tory was located. and as the lads work
kept him away till after dark, she al
ways placed light In the window to
guide his footsteps homeward. One
day the boy took notion to go to sea-
and off he went for three years
cruise. During his absence his mother
fell i'll. and was at deaths door. She
talked necessarily about her boy and
every night she asked those around
her to place light in the window in
anticipation Of his return. When she
realized that the end had come, she
said "Tell Edward that I will set
light in the window Of heaven for
him." These were her last words.
The lad had grown to manhood ere
he returned home, and his mothers
dying message had such an effect upon
him that he reformed and became a
preacher. In the course Of his refor-
ba ha NrHha
Light in the Window for Thee, Broth
err"
The Rev. Edward Dunbar married a
young lady of New Bedford and several
children were the result of the union.
The young divine soon made reputa-
ton as brilliant pulpit orator, and the
public was, therefore, greatly surprised
when one Sunday morning he skipped
the country, leaving his wife and chill
dren behind. He came to Kansas
and after snatching brands from the
burning In different parts Of the State
he swoopod down upon the city of
Minneapolis Mimi, and began to show
the people the error of their way.
A great revival followed and hun
dreds were converted. Miss Eunice
Been Lewis. handsome young heir
ess Of Minneapolis, was one Of the con-
verts. She fell in love with the evan
gellst and married him against the
wishes OF her friends.
Shortly after the wedding Dunbar re-
turned to Kansas to fill an engagement
at Leavenworth. While he was away
the friends Of the bride, who had mis-
trusted the evangelist all along, laid
their suspicious before W. D. Webb,
lately Judge of the Second judicial dis
trict of Kansas, and Judge Austin H.
Young, who were law partners in Min
neapolis, and they took the case. The
result was that they soon found EVIL
dence sufficient to warrant an arrest,
and Dunbar's ministerial career was
brought to sudden close.
After Dunbar's Incarceration Judge
Young secured a divorce for Mrs. Dun
bar and married her himself They
now live happily together In Mime
apolis.