Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-31

had been unconscious during the forty
eight hours preceding his death. Just
four weeks ago tomorrow Mr.. Webster
was not expected to live, and his death
was momentarily expected. Late in the
afternoon, however, he rallied from an
attack Of uremic poisoning, which had
caused q relapse in his condition, and
in a week or two he was able to sit up
and be about the house little. A week
ago last Sunday he was taken worse,
and since that time has been gradu-
ally failing.
Mr.. Webster had been afflicted with
the valvular trouble for several years.
but he never knew just the nature of
his ailment until about two years ago,
when he went to Rochester, Mimi, to
undergo an operation for appendicitis.
The surgeons refused to perform the
operation upon an examination because
of the organic trouble.
Mr.. Webster was in poor health last
winter. and in an effort to regain his
physical vigor went to Texas and spent
the winter hunting and fishing. He
reached home somewhat improved, but
not in his usual health, and at inter-
walls since then has been confined to his
home more or less.
Mr.. webster's death will be received
with universal regret. AS any other
public man he made his enemies, but at
the same time he made and held many
friends, and these outnumbered those
who were not in harmony with his
ideas. His ability was recognized by
friends and foes alike, and as friend
he was a man who could be relied upon
at all times.
Webster's Career Most Interesting.
Byron Webster was born in LaPorte.
Ind, March 20, 1s47, and was lad Of
when his father, Reuben H. Webster,
decided to come to Marshalltown, then
a far western point, to make his for
tune in the newer country. The trip
was made overland, with one team Of
horses, the father and son making the
long journey. Mrs Webster and her
two daughters, Matte and Bella, came
west by rail, Joining Mr.. Webster and
son at Iowa City, then the terminus of
the only railroad in the state.
For several years, during his early
boyhood in Marshalltown, Byron Web
ster attended the district school during
the winter months, his one ambition
being to secure an education. In the
summer months he worked on his ia
theirs FARMS q number of which the
elder Webster owned. In the winter
Of 1861 he took advantage of school,
ing afforded by what was then the best
and most thorough school in this part
of the state, the Albion Seminary
During the summer of 1862, in order
to get some money ahead, he entered
the drug store of DR.. N. L. Bruce, and
clerked there during the summer. The
next year he was employed as a, clerk
in the dry goods store of E. E. Leach &
Co. With what he had been able to
save and with added assistance from
his mother, Mr.. Webster having died
in 1864, young Webster went away to
school, entering the Ohio Wesleyan
University at Delaware, o. He was
there until June, 1866, having, in the
meantime, completed the work of the
junior year. The summer vacation,
from June until September. he spent
in a commercial college at Oberlin. O.
Receives cadetship Appointment.
In July, 1866. at the age Of 10, young
Webster received the appointment to
a cadetship in the United States Ma
val Academy at Annapolis, but it prov
ed there was to be a serious handicap
at successful examination, as he
found. He was in poor health, having
studied too hard. and suffered an at
tack of fever, which greatly reduced