The Winslow mail., 1898-07-02
PREACHER DIED A PAUPER.
Cheekered Career of the Author Of
"There's G Light i'm the IVin-
dow for Thee"

OcW AoE 1hce.
: Rev. Edward Dunbar, who wrote the
old Sunday school song, There's a
Light in the Window fer Thee, Broth
er," sleeps il 4 pauper's grave at Coffey-
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 a prison cell he
went forth vagabond upon the face of
the earth. In 1867 Dunbar was arrested d
1T Leayenworth while engaged in hold
ing a series of revival meetings, and
taken to Minneapolis, Mimi, where he
was tried for biganny, convicted, and
sent to the Penitentiary for three years
and eight months
One night in the spring of 1896 Dun
bar applied at the Coffeyyille jail for
lodging. He was i'll, and the authori-
lies took him in. He died the next day.
Papers in his pockets revealed his ider-
tity, and showed that he had tramped
all over the country. Some church peo-
pie have erected a marble slab over his
grave, on which these words are in
scribed:
Here lies Edward Dunbar. who
wrote There's Light in the Window
for Thee, Brother
When Dunbar was q small boy he
lived in New Bedford, Mass, and
worked in a factory. His mother lived
al the foot of the street on which the
factory was located, and as 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 a 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 q
light in the window in anticipation of
his return. When she realized that the
end had come, she said: '"Tell Edward
that / will set light in the window of
Heaven for him." These svere 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 a
preacher. In the course of his refornla-
tiol he wrote the song There's Light
in the Window for Thee, Brother"
Rev. Edward Dunbar married young
lady of New Bedford and several CHI
dren were the result of the union, The
young divine soon made q 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. lie 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
apclis, Mimi, and began to show the
people the error of their way.
A great revival followed and hun
Greds were converted. Miss Eunice
Been Lewis, handsome young heiress
of Minneapolis, was one of the converts.
She fell in love with the evangelist end
married him against the wishes of her
friends.
Shortly after the wedding Dunbarre-
turned to Kansas to fill an engagement
ct Leayenworth. 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 IL.
Young, who were law partners in Min
neapois, 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. TIey now
live happily together in Minneapolis
Topeka Capital.