An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 313-314 E.J. WEBSTER, a large capitalist of Washington, who has been identified with the interests of Spokane for the past ten years, has been a potent factor in advancing the growth and development of this city. In both his public and private connections he has always acted to the best interests of Spokane, and his only object in view has been the welfare of this community. Mr. Webster was born in Michigan, in October, 1847, the eighth in a family of eight children. His parents, A.J. and Alzora (Norton) Webster, were natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. Grandfather Ebenezer Webster passed his life and died in Vermont. Grandfather Noah Norton was among the early emigrants to Michigan, he having located there when it was a Territory. It was he who built the first house in Adrian. The Indians were then plentiful there, and when Mr. Webster's mother was a little girl the noted chieftain, Tecumseh, gave her a fawn. Mr. Webster's father also settled in Michigan during Territorial times, he was at first engaged in farming there, but afterward turned his attention to the manufacture of wagons and carriages, in which he was very successful. He is a local preacher in the Methodist Church, and is now living at Hudson, Michigan. His wife passed away seven years ago. In January, 1864, the subject of this sketch enlisted in the Fourth Michigan Regiment of Infantry, following the example of his father and three brothers who had already responded to the call of their country. At the battle of Cold Harbor he was shot through both legs below the knees, and after a year's confinement in the hospital he was compelled to return home. His injuries were of so serious a nature that for three long years he was obliged to use crutches. After his return home he finished his high-school course at Hudson, took a commercial course in a business college at Detroit, and in 1868 entered the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he took a special course in the literary and law departments, graduating in March, 1870. During this time he was for two years private secretary of Judge Thomas M. Cooley, then Professor of Law in the University. Through time influence of Judge Coley, Mr. Webster received the appointment of United States Deputy Marshal for the census of 1870. He was the youngest deputy in Michigan, and did the work in six townships, the largest district in the State. After having finished this work he commenced the practice of his profession at Hudson, but within one year was unfortunate in losing his library by fire. He then went to California and visited nearly all the towns and cities of the West. Subsequently, he returned home and at once disposed of his property and then started on a tour through California, South America, Central America and Mexico. He served as Deputy County Clerk in Oakland, California, for one year, and afterward practiced law there, remaining in that city ten years. During that period he took an active part in political matters. Since 1882 Mr. Webster has been a resident of Spokane. Upon locating here he at once invested in property and began the practice of law, Spokane at that time being a town of about 700 inhabitants. Soon, however, he turned his attention to real-estate business, and operated very extensively. Mr. Webster has been closely connected with the various enterprises which have transformed Spokane from a small town to a rapidly growing city. He was president of the Ross Park Street Railroad Company; was one of the founders of the Farmount Cemetery Association, which has expended over $50,000 on the cemetery making it one of the most beautiful in the West. It is located five miles northwest of Spokane and comprises 180 acres. The company gave five acres to the city and county for the official burial ground, and also donated 340 lots in the most beautiful parts of the grounds to the G.A.R. Mr. Webster is now president of this company. He has been president of the Gentlemen's Business Club of this city for two terms, he is owner and proprietor of the Minnehaha Springs and Health Resort, a beautiful park comprising thirty acres. He is putting up large quantities of water from these springs, it having been analyzed by Walter S. Haines, M.P., of Rush Medical College, the most famous chemist of the United States in the analysis of waters. The Doctor pronounces it the purest water known. Mr. Webster also owns 500 acres of the Minnehaha Addition. He is the owner of the Electric Line Addition, the South Highland Park Addition, half of the Jerome Park Addition, and until recently was the largest owner of the Eastside Syndicate Addition. He owns the Tidball block on Riverside avenue, which was built at a cost of' $l50, 000, the Genesee block, and has 500 acres on the river, two miles and a half above the city. He also owns considerable real estate in the business part of Spokane, and is erecting several buildings, -- his property being assessed at $500,000. He has been a member of the Board of Trade here since its organization. He helped to organize the first G.A.R. post here, -- Sedgwick Post, -- and was its first Commander. It is, however, in an educational line that Mr. Webster has, perhaps, done the most to advance Spokane's interests. For six years he has acted as a member of the School Board, and for three years has been President of the Board. During this time the sites of the present school buildings were selected, and the corps of teachers was increased from four to twenty-four. To his exertions in behalf of the educational interests much of the present admirable school system is due. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.