WEBSTER, Stephen A. (1841-1892)

WEBSTER

Posted By: Debbie Alvarado
Date: 8/4/2006 at 07:10:50

From the Gilman Dispatch by the Grinnell Herald
June 24,1892

Webster-In Gilman, Tuesday June 21,1892, died of Typhomalaria, aged 50 years, 11 months and 21 days.

Mr. Webster was born in Pennsylvania, July 1,1841, moved with his parents to Illinois when he was four years of age. His father S. A. Webster, was a Methodist Minister, and died when Mr. Webster was about 15 years of age, about one year after the accident that caused his lameness, and from that time until her death at the age of 61 years, he was the sole support of his mother,also of a blind sister, and a family of eight children. Only one brother survives him and he is in such poor health that he is unable to be present at the obsequies. Mr. Webster was married to Ella A. Lewis in 1871, who with her four children, two sons and two daughters, mourn the loss of husband and father.

The deceased was but little known in Gilman, until one year ago, when his partner Mr. A. B. Clay, he commenced business in the general merchandise business line, during the interval until his death he gained the respect and regard of our citizens, that such extent was confidence held in his integrity that when a citizen for only one year of our town he was a memeber of the town council without opposition. He was an honest, fair dealing business man and on that account successful. To emphasize the esteem in which he was held all the business places in town were closed during the time of the funeral. His family feels their loss severely, but if sympathy could assure their grief and bereavement they have it in the fulleest measure.