Henry Kitchell Webster

Biography

Born on September 7, 1875, in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, Henry Kitchell Webster was the son of Emma J. and Towner K. Webster, a notable local manufacturer. After completing his studies at Hamilton College in 1897, Webster transitioned into academia, teaching rhetoric at Union College. His literary debut came in 1899 with 'The Short Line War,' a collaborative effort with fellow Evanstonian Samuel Merwin. This creative partnership continued with the publication of 'Calumet K' in 1091 and 'Comrade John' in 1907. Webster maintained a distinctive dual approach to his craft, categorizing his output as either 'left hand' or 'right hand' work; the former fueled a steady stream of stories for pulp magazines, while the latter was reserved for his more serious literary ambitions. In 1901, he married Mary Ward Orth, daughter of a Hiawatha, Kansas coal merchant, and together they raised three sons: Henry Jr., Stokely, and Roderick. Throughout his career, Webster produced an impressive body of work consisting of 27 novels, one play, and hundreds of short stories. He passed away from cancer in Evanston on December 8, 1932, survived by his wife and three children.