Arizona republican., 1906-03-24
A NEWARK HERO.

In the death of Wesley W. Webb which occurred at East Newark a year ago about this time there was removed a man who possessed some noble at tributes and the story of his life illus trates his patience and Christian forti- tude. Receiving hardly any education in the schools, he was obliged to earn his living from the first. Nature made him mechanic and in this line he be- came an expert. It is said of him that he could make anything or repair any piece of machinery or other iron inn plements that were brought to him. With his wife, whom he dearly loved he lived in a little hovel near the Price grocery store at East Newark.
 Some thirty or forty years ago MT. and Mrs. Webb were delighted in the birth of a child that, after a couple of years, died. Mrs. Webb from the child's birth, was ill for many months and in the end she became demented. This blow came very hard to MT. Webb, but he bore it all nobly.
 To his wife he was most devoted and when she mad regained her strength, but was still insane he treat ed her most lovingly, though she caused him a great many trials. Her fermentation took a peculiar turn. She insisted on wearing scarcely any clothing either in winter or in sum mer, and what sne did wear was all ways red in color She refused to wear any shoes or stockings, and those who ever saw her-they were very few in deed-affirm that she would go out in the snow in the dead of winter appar- ently unconcerned as to her exposure. During all the years that the couple lived there, MT Webb waited upon his wife faithfully and affectionately. Sometimes she appeared to be sane and would talk as rationally as any one. Once she asked for a new dress which MT. Webb took great pains in selecting. When he had taken it home she seemed to like it and began to plan to make the cloth into a dress. He went to work in his shop, and, re- turning later in the day. found that she had riddled the cloth into mere shreds.
 Often he would bring home grocer ies, such as butter. potatoes. etc, and though they were as good as could be procured. she would wastefully throw them away. MT. Webb's tribulations were also illustrated in the death of their little pet dog. The animal died in the fall and Mrs Webb refused to have it removed from the house. MT. Webb made for it a coffin and the ani- nal was carefully placed in it and left in the kitchen where Mrs. Webb could watch it. There it remained for several months. and though putrifica- tion had started, sne refused to have it removed. Finally one of the neigh bors, at MT. Webb's suggestion, dug a grave, went into the house and got T,- -seI SE F, 4Ia nd buried the dog, Mrs. Webb watching the performance undisturbed. though she refused to allow her husband to remove it.
 It was supposed among the neigh bors that the family was in destitute circumstances although it was observed that MT. Webb always paid cash for everything. He was perfectly honest. all who knew him would trust nim, and by thriftiness and hard work he had saved quite a sum of money. This he kept in the shape of bills and silver in wooden boxes. which he allowed to remain in his tool cnests. For years the little money coffers kicked around about his old shop, no one but him self knowing what they contained. Just before his death. when he was informed that the end was soon at hand, he sent to Utica for a sister and the fact that he had nearly a thousand dollars in money was told. At the suggestion of his physician this was deposited in one of the local banks. Later he brought out another chest containing some money and after his funeral his executOr, Perry Price, went to his shop, and while rumaging around found still another little chest which contained over two hundred dollars.
 During all these years MT. Weht had insisted that his wife should never be sent to an asylum, which she most se- riously dreaded. Because of his affec- tion for her he himself cared for her, and at his death he instructed that his money should be used for her care as long as it lasted, and that she should never be sent to an asylum. Today she is living at East Newark where her noble husband died.
 It is refreshing to find a real hero now and then. The genuine ones are scarce. Our great" public men too of ten fail to stand the searching test of illumination. We have too many "grafters." The country is full of thieves. Mr Webb led a simple life. He was renowned for no conspicuous achievements in public affairs, but ne had a noble mind. We wish the country possessed more men of his type.-Newark CN. Y.) Union.
 THE DECLINE OF THE RELIGIOUS