JOHN NELSON WEBSTER 

John Nelson Webster was one of the Forty-niners of California, achieved large success and influence in business affairs and was one of the pioneer settlers of Alameda, to the development and upbuilding of which place he contributed much, he having been one of the venerable and honored pioneer citizens of California at the time of his death. 

Mr. Webster was born in Canajoharie County, New York, April 15, 1814, a son John and Sirlina (Phillips) Webster, the former’s father having been a cousin of the distinguished Daniel Webster. As a young man Mr. Webster was engaged in the mercantile business at Fonda, New York, and in March, 1849, as a member of a party known as the Mohawk Mining Company, he sailed from New York for California, the voyage around Cape Horn having been of 193 days’ duration. Mr. Webster showed marked versatility in his various business enterprises in San Francisco in the early days. He became prominently concerned in the shipping business, in which he continued until 1854. In that year he purchased land in Alameda, and he did much pioneer service in connection with the early development and upbuilding of this now beautiful city. He was the first Sunday school superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Alameda and served many years as chorister of this church. No other member excelled him in liberality of financial contributions to the church and its work. 

In 1840 Mr. Webster married Anor Amanda Washburn, a native of Montgomery County, New York, and whose death there occurred in 1847. Of the five children of this union three survived the mother. In 1861 Mr. Webster married Miss Caroline Washburn, a cousin of his first wife, and the one child of this union, a son, died at the age of ten years. 

Mrs. Webster was a man of sterling character and superior business ability, and this brief tribute to his memory is properly given place in this work. 

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker 

Source: "The San Francisco Bay Region," by Bailey Millard, Vol. 3, page 352-353, The American Historical Society, Inc., 1924.