My Genealogy Hound

JEDEDIAH POST WEBSTER, lately deceased, a prosperous farmer of Enfield in his lifetime, was born in Wilbraham, Mass., on March 17, 181 1, son of Elijah and Martha (Chapin) Webster.

His father, a native of Hebron, Conn., born in 1767, was a tanner by trade and followed that calling with success for many years. Toward the close of his life he turned his attention to agriculture, and purchased the farm owned by him at the time of his death. He died very suddenly of heart disease, on December 22, 1849, eighty-two years of age. He was twice married. His first marriage was with Miss Deborah Post, and was performed March 27, 1797. She bore him four sons and a daughter. After her death he married Miss Martha Chapin, who was born October 2, 1779. They became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom have since died. The survivors are: Mrs. Marcy Edson, a widow residing at Jamaica Plain, Mass.; and Miss Betsey Webster, living in Wilbraham, Mass. Their mother died October 20, 1852.

Jedediah P. Webster, who received his education in the district school, remained with his father on the farm, and throughout the active period of his life successfully engaged in agriculture. His farm, containing about two hundred acres, was left by him in an excellent condition. It lies partly in Enfield and partly in Ware. Mr. Webster died October 15, 1895. At the age of twenty-six years he was married, on October 8, 1837, to Miss Diana Houghton, whose birth occurred in Union, Conn., June 17, 1817. They took up their home on the farm on March 31, 1846. Their long and happy union of fifty-eight years was blessed by a son and a daughter. The elder of the two was Mary Jane, born October 19, 1841, who died August 12, 1887, nearly forty-six years of age. She left besides her husband, Joel W. Martinsdale, a son and six daughters, all of whom are now living and occasionally gather at the old homestead. They are as follows: Florence L., born in Hebron, Conn., January 17, 1865; William Webster Martindale, born in Hebron, Conn., September 16, 1866; Susan Forbes, born April 28, 1870; Bertha Haughton, born November 18, 1872; Martha E., born September 26, 1874; Mary Diana, born October 13, 1875; and Alice Maria, born June 27, 1880. The last five are natives of Massachusetts. George Henry Webster, born in Enfield on July 3, 1846, was married on November 17, 1869, to Miss Louise Amelia Martindale, of Hebron, Conn. She died in Enfield, Mass., in 1884, leaving two sons and a daughter, namely: Edward M. Webster, born June 26, 1871; Jennie L., born July 17, 1877, living in Ware; and Henry Chapin, born August 21, 1881, residing in Enfield. Her husband was again married on June 12, 1886, in Springfield, Mass., to Miss Sarah Louise Miller, daughter of Edmund and Alicia Elizabeth (Bell) Miller. She was born in Kinderhook, Columbia County, N.Y., May 22, 1863. The fruit of this second union was a son and daughter, namely: Susie Alicia, born May 30, 1887; and Theodore Miller Webster, born November 13, 1894. George Henry Webster was part owner of the farm, and had the whole management of it during the last few years of his father’s life. He is prominent in town affairs, and is serving his second term of three years as Highway Commissioner. He is now sole proprietor of the farm.

In politics Jedediah P. Webster always cast his vote with the Republican party. He served as Highway Surveyor of Enfield, and for five successive years was a member of the School Committee. During his younger days he was appointed Ensign, and later Lieutenant of the Wilbraham militia. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. His widow, who continues in union with the church, is an intellectual woman. It was she who furnished data for a genealogical work relating to the Webster family, published a few years ago, and to which we refer for a more extended account. She lives on the farm with her son and his family.