The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-10-27
PREACHER DIED A PAUPER.
Checkered Career of the Author of
"There's . Light in the VIM
dow for Thee"

Rev. EDWARD dunbar, VINO wrote the
old Sunday school song, There's a
Light in the Window fer Thee, Broth
err" sleeps in a pauper's grave at CotIey-
vile, Kan, where he died tramp in the
town Jail two years ago, His name be-
came a byword in the places where he
was known, and from prison cell he
went forth a vaEabond upon the face of
the earth. In 1867 Dunbar was arrested
at Leavenworth while engaged in hold
ing a series of revival meetings, and
taken to Minneapolis, Mimi, where he
was tried for bigamy, convicted, and
sent to the pententiary for three years
and eight months.
One night in the spring of 1896 Dun
bar applied at the Coffeyville Jail for
lodging. lie was III, and the authori-
ties took him in. He died the next day.
Papers in his pockets revealed his idcn-
tity, and showed that he had trampcd
all over the country. Some church peo-
pie have erected marble slab over his
grave, on which these words are in
scribed:
''IIere lies Edward Dunbar, who
" AphN \ iAtAN q Lis ~ III AtAC W iAAbcN
for Thee, Brother
When Dunbar was small boy he
lived in New Bedford, Mass, and
worked in factory. His mother lived
at the foot of the street on which the
factory was located, and rs the lads
work kept him away till after dark, she
always placed a 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 in
cessantly about her boy and every night
she asked those around her to place n
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 dy-
ing message had such an effect upon
him that he reformed and became n
preacher. In the course of his reforma-
ton he wrote The song There's Light
in the Window for Thee, Brother"
Rev. Edward Dunbar married young
lady of New Bedford and several chill
dren were the result of the union. The
young divine soon made a reputation
as brilliant pulpit orator. and the pub
lie 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 burn
ing in different parts of the state he
swooped down upon the city of Mime
apolis, 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 heiress
of Minneapolis, was one of the converts
She fell in love with the evangelist 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. ID. Webb,
lately judge of the Second judicial dis
trict of Kansas, and Judge Austin ii.
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 a sudden close.
After Dunbar's incarceration Judge
Young secured divorce for Mrs. Dun
bar and married her himself. They now
live happily together in Minneapolis
Topeka Capital.
Cat Conversation,