Gunnison news-champion., 1920-12-03
DEATH Of
/. N. WEBSTER
RESPECTED AND INFLUENTIAL
CITIZEN SUDDENLY IS TAKEN
BY ACUTE HEART AFFLICTION
Outpouring Of Sympathy for Relatives
Combined with Regret At Communi-
~ Loss. Was Town Builder and =
Christai Gentleman.

Rarely has the passing of q prom
inent citizen been received with more
universal expressions of regret and OF
regard for the deceased than the death
Of II. NJ. Webster, which occurred on
Saturday night, November 2sth at
s:l5.
While Mr.. Webster had been in
poor health for some months, his
severe Illness was q matter of n few
days, almost hours. Friday noon he
was dressed and wanted TO so to the
store. He even sat up and transacted
some business, his last solicitude being
of his wife, the partner of IS years,
and Of his church, whose financial con-
dition had always been close TO his
thought An hour later the heart
pains had become so severe that a
hyperdermic was administered from
which he never reused except for
short moments until the end, which
physicians had from the first predicted
must come.
Funeral services were conducted at
two o'clock on Tuesday from the Com
munty Church and attended by
friends of the family from far and
near Beautiful flowers decked the
last resting place and business ac-
Nicu Win pei cNusAi skSSpNi-
ates to pay last tribute of respect TO
the memory Of loyal citizen, u town
boildcr and Christian gentleman
a number of the principal business
houses of the city were closed during
the funeral. The pail bearers were
eight of his knight Templar Lodge
brothers here: j. a. Steele, II. G. Bart
lett, Jos. Rowland, Roger Tcachout.
&C. H. Cow2n, T w. Gray, f. NJ. Nourse
and J. ID. Walker. The choir sang two
of his fasorite hymns, "Abide With
me" and ~He Hideth my Soul The
sermon vas preached by DIR. z. N.
Edgerton of the Junction. district sup
erintendent OF Western Colorado NJ.
Z. Conference, q warm personal friend
of the deceased, who spoke Of the fol-
lowing facts concerning his life:
Herman Merett Webster Was born
in Washington, Orange County, Vt. on
December 81, 1Ss9, making him nearly
II years of age. Here he received his
education and business training. In
1882 he came to Gunnison, then a
booming mining city and entered in
to the dry goods business with Charles
Hamlin, later acquiring the entire bust
ness and purchased the large three
story brick, which has been the abode
of his merchandise store ever since.
On July 26th, 1885 he was married
to Miss Mae Smith of Mendoza, III.
A daughter was born to them, Miss
Helen Webster, who developed in
to charming womanhood in our midst.
All recall the tragic incidents proceed
ing her death on the 3rd of December,
just four years ago, blow from which
Mr.. Webster never recovered.
He held fRany offices of trust and
responsibility in Gunnison, serving
one yenr as mayor of the city and was
reelected time and again as council
man. when his prudence and careful
scrutiny of financial matters were of
inestimable benefit to the citizens.
For years he was director of the
First National Bank For 38 years he
was a member of the Masonic Order
here, and in 1891-2 was Worthy Mas
ter, declining reelection. He served
the lodge As treasurer for % years and
was one of the few who took the high
er degrees in Masonry.
Mr.. Webster was one Of the origin
ators Of the idea of the Masonic and
Odd Fellows Cemetery association and
has been chairman of the beard for
SO years Much Of his life time was
devoted to service of his church, the
Gunnison Methodist body, which he
helped to organize and continued to
serve faithfully. During his entire
residence in Gunnison he was a mem
her Of the Board of Trustees, for
many years superintendent Of the
Sunday School and ever a supporter
and contributor to its welfare.