Webster T. Dart

Narrative:

     Webster T. Dart was born on 29 Jul 1838 in Indiana.^8,9,10
     He moved to Iowa with his parents about 1840.¹⁷ He was probably the male under age 5 listed in the household of his father, William Samuel Dart, in the 1840 Federal Census of Henry Co., Iowa Territory.¹⁸
     He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa, in the household of his parents, William Samuel Dart and Marietta Cobb.¹ He appeared on the 1856 State Census of Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa, in the household of his parents.¹⁹ He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa, in the household of his parents.²⁰
     He was a clerk before he was 20 years old.^21,22 He registered for the draft for the Civil War, appearing on the register dated Jun and Jul 1863, while living in Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa, reporting he was employed as a clerk or agent.²³
     Webster married Maria S. Edgerton, daughter of Nathan Edgerton and Emily [surname unknown], on 21 Nov 1864 in Rockford, Winnebago Co., Illinois, with Rev. S. F. Holt offciating.^11,12
     Webster and Maria settled in Des Moines after their marriage.

Becoming a Merchant --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     By 1866 Webster and his cousin William B. Street were in partnership with W. L. Mitchell in a lumber and commission business under the name of Street Mitchell & Dart, operating in Des Moines. It is unclear how long this partnership continued, but Webster continued to operate as a merchant.^24,25
     Webster and Maria appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, enumerated 23 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $4,000 and personal estate of $6,000. Anna Hill, a 19-year-old Swedish domestic servant was also listed as living in the household.²⁶
     Webster opened a new dry goods store at 100 Walnut St., Des Moines on 23 Oct 1871. It was described in glowing terms by the local newspaper. The windows were of French plate glass, one third of an inch think, 11 feet long and 5 feet 8 inches in width, "the heaviest and best glass ever brought into Iowa," imported from France and costing $250 each. Inside, "everything is on a scale of magnificence such as might be expected from its appearances from without." Shelves and paneling of black walnut and whitewood were described in detail, and were "of the most elegant design and workmanship." In the rear, the shawl department was fitted with sofas, easy chairs, mirrors, and rich carpet.²⁷

Joining the Temperance Movement --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Webster became very active in the temperance movement, apparently based on his own issues with liquor. In Aug 1878 he wrote that was taking a two-week rest at Bear Lake, Minnesota, after speaking every night for five months, a large part of the time of the time with the thermometer in the nineties. He said he intended to continue his work "for a term of years." His wife was visiting in New York.²⁸
     He was one of the speakers before 1,700 people at a Temperance Jubilee at the Opera House in Des Moines 28 Sep 1878. His remarks included a statement about whether he was making any money from his temperance work. He said "No; Heavens no! I have made money in Des Moines and have lost it here by drink." In the 1880 census he reported his occupation as temperance lecturer.^29,30
     In Aug 1879 Webster rented the ground floor of the Exposition building in Des Moines for a six day walking match during the State Fair. Walking matches, also called pedestrianism, was a popular spectator sport at the time, in which competitors competed to complete the longest distance in a fixed time, or the fastest time for a fixed distance. It was often accompanied by wagering.^31,32
     Webster and Maria appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, at 1003 Locust St, enumerated 15 Jun 1880. Also listed in the household were Mary A. Boyce, a 77-year-old widow, listed as a boarder; Johanna Mulana, a servant; and two lodgers, Foster Ross, a bookstore clerk, and Robert Parrott, a fire insurance agent.³³
     Webster moved to Colfax, about 25 miles east of Des Moines, after 1880, but it appears that Maria did not join him there.^34,35

Reengaging in Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Webster purchased land in Colfax, Iowa, about 1881, on which he developed the Magnetic Rock Spring Company. He constructed buildings and purchased machinery to bottle the naturally carbonated mineral water found there. Mineral waters were thought to be medically beneficial and tourists were attracted to the area for the waters. By 1886 Webster's his bottling works was one of the largest in the state, distributing Magnetic Rock Springs water, and a lemon flavored version called Dart's Delicious Drink, throughout the northwest. He claimed it was useful in curing rheumatism, dyspepsia, constipation, liver and kidney disease.^36,37 He became one of the city's "best friends and most enterprising citizens" according to his obituary.³⁸
     Webster appeared on the 1885 State Census of Colfax, Jasper Co., Iowa, in a boarding house operated by E. A. Benedict, with eight other apparent boarders.³⁹
     Webster was elected mayor of Colfax in Mar 1887.⁴⁰
     Webster died on 14 Sep 1888 at the Capitol Hotel, Denver, Colorado, at age 50.^13,14,10 He was buried in Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa.^15,16

Settling an Insolvent Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Webster died intestate (without leaving a will) and letters of administration for his estate were issued on 25 Sep 1888 in Jasper Co., Iowa, to his wife. She posted a bond of $3,000, with his brother-in-law, Joseph A. Ankeney, and J. R. Ryan as sureties.⁴¹
     An inventory of his estate was filed the same day, listing his personal property as one bay horse, a small delivery wagon, and two wheel cart. An appraisal filed the next day set the value of the horse at $60, the wagon at $30, and the cart at $12. The administratrix subsequently sold the wagon and cart at their appraised value, and claimed as widow the horse.⁴² On 13 Nov 1888 the court approved a request from the administratrix to pay herself as widow $600 as support.⁴³
     On 17 Jan 1889 the administratrix filed a report of her sale of the land owned by the estate. Webster had owned a lot and part of another in Colfax. There were four mortgages on various parts of the lots, totaling $7,000 plus accrued interest, including one of $2,500 due to his mother. The two properties were appraised at $8,000 in total. The property was sold in two parcels, at the appraised value. After paying the mortgages, except that of his mother, interest, taxes, and the dower interest of the widow of $800, $1,601 was left to the estate.⁴⁴
     The first settlement of the estate was filed on 26 Mar 1889. In it the administratrix reported she had collected $1,643 from sale of personal property and real estate. She had disbursed $284 in taxes, interest, doctor's bills and repairs, and the $600 in support to the widow. In addition, she had paid to Webster's brother-in-law, Joseph A. Ankeney, $525 to reimburse him for expenses he had paid for final expenses and to return the body for burial, including $65 in medical expenses in Denver, $250 for a casket and embalming, $58 for Webster's hotel bill in Denver, and $87 to travel to Denver to retrieve the body. This left cash on hand of $235. She listed unpaid claims of $5,708, including additional amounts due the brother-in-law, and $3,520 due his mother on second mortgage.⁴⁵
     The final settlement of the estate was filed on 12 Oct 1889. The administratrix listed receipts of $1,643 as before, and total disbursements of $1,817. She said she had paid over $1,000 in other claims against her late husband that had not been filed against the estate. She said Webster's mother and brother-in-law had released the estate from further liability for their unpaid claims, she was making no claim for compensation for her work, and asked that the estate be closed.⁴⁶