CHARLES D. WEBSTER

Jessie B Goddard., now the wife of Charles D. Webster, who farms the John Milton Goddard home place. Mr. Webster was born in Summit County, Ohio and at the breaking out of the great rebellion enlisted in the Twentieth Ohio Light Artillery, with which he served in the Army of the Cumberland, until disabled by an almost fatal wound at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee. In the heat of that bloody engagement he was struck on the left of the nose by a musket ball which penetrated that organ and part of the face and came out over the right ear, inflicting a terrible injury which his comrades supposed to be fatal, hence he was left on the field for dead and reported as such at the close of the engagement. Mr. Webster was left behind when the Federal forces marched from the scene of battle, and for three days thereafter lay as one bereft of life, unconscious the greater part of the time, but at intervals fully cognizant of his condition. At the expiration of the period noted he was discovered by the enemy, who took him prisoner, but twenty-five days elapsed before his wound received any attention or surgical care, during which time he almost recovered from the injury. Mr. Webster's escape from death was indeed narrow and every surgeon that examined the wound pronounced his recovery almost phenomenal.  He attributes his escape to a naturally strong constitution, pure blood, and regular habits, without any one of which his life would certainly have gone out on the field of battle. Since his marriage Mr. Webster has superintended the Goddard homestead and is now one of the leading agriculturists and representative citizens of the community in which he lives.

His wife, who was born June 16, 1856, is the oldest native resident of Elk Rapids, having spent the greater part of her life near the place of her birth. She was educated at Elkhart, Indiana, and Oberlin, Ohio, and is a lady of intelligence and varied culture, being especially proficient in music, having few equals as a pianist. Mr. Webster is also a musician of much more than ordinary talent and for a number of years has given lessons in vocal culture and in various kinds of instruments. Their home is characterized by an air of refinement and, as stated in a preceding paragraph, it has long been a popular place of resort in the community.