Sonoma County Biography
Gaius Webster
Gaius Webster of San Miguel, was born in Delaware County, New York, November 22, 1842, his father, John Webster, being a respectable farmer and justice of the peace. Was educated mainly in the public schools; qualified himself for teaching, and taught school in the winter of 1861-'62. In August, 1862, enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and served until July, 1865, being discharged by reason of the close of the war.
Returning to his native county, he spent a month or two visiting relatives and friends, and packing his gripsack started for Oregon alone. There was not a soul on the Pacific coast that he had ever seen, but he was determined to carve a way for himself among strangers in a new and rising country. Stopping in Douglas County, Oregon, he worked for a time in a logging camp, afterward attending an academy at Roseburg, reviewing the studies of former years and pursuing such sciences as the curriculum of the institution included.
In 1866 he entered as a law student the office of Hon. S. F. Chadwick, who afterward became Secretary of State and Governor. Having read the usual course, he was examined in the Supreme Court and admitted to the bar September, 1867. In the spring of 1868 he purchased the Roseburg Ensign, which he carried on as editor and publisher until the spring of 1870, and also attending to such law business as presented. In the political campaign of that year he became the candidate of the Republican party for the office of County Judge, but was defeated with the whole ticket. It was during this period that he became acquainted with Miss Anna West, an estimable lady teacher, to whom he was married in 1870. Near the close of that year, having disposed of the newspaper, he moved to the adjoining county of Coos, settling at Marshfield, on Coos Bay, and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1872 be was nominated and elected State Senator for the district including Douglas, Coos and Curry counties. He occupied a seat in the State Senate during the sessions of 1872 and 1874, being the youngest member of that body. From 1875 to 1877 he was associated with D. L. Watson, Esq., in the publishing of the Coos County Record, a Republican paper, the editorial management of which devolved upon Mr. Webster. On the opening of the year 1878, with I. Hacker, he established the newspaper known as the Coast Mail, which he edited for two years, at the same time attending to a considerable law practice.
In 1880 he sold the paper, and for two years devoted his entire attention to the law. In the meantime pulmonary and bronchial disease developed in his family, and in the winter of 1882 he moved to Santa Cruz, California, where in the following year he resumed the practice of the law. The coast air of that beautiful place proving unfavorable to his family he moved to Los Gatos, where he purchased an interest in the Los Gatos News, but devoted his time to the profession of the law.
In February, 1886, being impressed with the central location and favorable surroundings of San Miguel, he established at that place the Inland Messenger, afterward changed to the San Miguel Messenger, which he carried on with his law business for two years, when he sold the property to F. J. Burns, its present proprietor.
Mr. Webster's family consists of his wife and two sons, and two daughters, all nearly grown. His time is now fully and profitably occupied in his profession; he is also improving a fruit farm near town, where he has about thirty acres planted in choice varieties. He is Commander of John Buford Post, No. 136, G. A. R.; Overseer of San Miguel Grange and Notary Public. Mr. Webster is looked upon by his fellow citizens as one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of San Miguel, and takes an active part in promoting the interests of the place. He stands high in his profession and enjoys a good practice, and looks exceeding young for one who was for the three worst years of the war engaged in the great and saving struggle for National life, and appears as if he was good for another half century of usefulness.
A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California
Mrs Yda Addis Storke, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1891: Pages 261 - 273
Transcribed: December 30, 2005 by Martha A Crosley Graham
San Luis Obispo Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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