Hon. John M. Webster Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Cindy Godbout - 5ofClubs@Mediaone.net Surname: WEBSTER Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 1238 HON. JOHN M. WEBSTER, one of the leading business men of the town of Chester, and also representative from this town in the legislature, was born in Chester, N. H., November 6, 1859. His parents were Moses and Martha W. (Gibson) Webster, and he is a grandson on the paternal side of Stephen Webster, who settled in Rockingham County at an early day, and was for many years a well known and respected citizen here. Moses Webster, father of our subject, was born in Hampstead, this county, and removed to Chester when about eight years of age with his parents. Here he was reared and educated and when old enough to begin industrial life en- gaged in farming. He was active in town affairs, serving efficiently on the board of selectmen. His wife was a native of Tremont. John M. Webster was reared in the town of Chester and in his youth at- tended the local schools, supplementing his education by a business course in 1880. Then returning to Chester he found employment for a year in Dale Bros. store, subsequently going to Hampstead, where he was similarly em- ployed for awhile. He then went to Cherry Point, Ill., where he spent a year engaged in mercantile work, after which he returned to Chester and opened a store of his own, dealing general merchandise. This he still operates, the present style of the firm being Webster Bros. He has been very successful and is now recognized as one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of the town. A member of the democratic party, he has long taken an active interest in politics. He was first elected to the state legislature in November, 1900, and was reelected in 1912, in each case serving efficiently and with a watch- ful eye for the interests of his constituents. He has long served as a mem- ber of the school board and as town treasurer, which latter office he is holding at the present time. Enterprising and public spirited and of excellent busi- ness ability, he is a man of influence in the community and is very popular with his fellow citizens. Mr. Webster was married in 1888 to Miss Lucy M. Marsters of Chester, a daughter of Woodbury and Keziah (Felch) Marsters. He and his wife are the parents of one child, a daughter, Marion, who, after a preparatory course at Pinkerton Academy, where she was valedictorian of her class, entered Smith College, from which she graduated. She was one of the thirty members of her class belonging to the Phi Beta Kappa. She subsequently taught school Page 1239 for three years at North Hampton, and last year (1913) went to Simmons College and is now secretary to Prof. Hasking at the Harvard Graduate School. She is a young lady of exceptional ability and gives promise of a bright future. ********************************************************************** * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files t other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIORto uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * *The USgenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.