Stuart Webster, vice president, general manager and treasurer of the Racine Rubber Company, was born in New York in 1870 and after pursuing his preliminary education in private schools entered the preparatory school at Andover, Massachusetts. Still later he matriculated in Yale University, where he won the Bachelor of Arts degree upon his graduation with the class of 1892. He then went abroad for further study and is a graduate of the medical department of the University of Vienna. He never gave his attention to the practice of the profession, however, but with his return to America entered commercial circles.
His business career has been one of continuous advancement and throughout the entire period he has been identified with the middle west, having accompanied his parents on their removal to Chicago when he was a youth of fourteen years. He was with the Diamond Match Company for four years, connected with its various departments, and in 1900 he embarked in the importing business in Chicago, there remaining until 1910, when he came to Racine and entered into association with C. F. U. Kelley, Frank L. Mitchell and J. H. Dwight in organizing and promoting the Racine Rubber Company. The history of the business and its development is given above, the record indicating the marvelous growth of the enterprise, which within a short space of six years has built up a business that necessitates the employment of between eight hundred and one thousand men. Throughout the entire period Mr. Webster has been watchful of every indication pointing to success, has utilized forces to the best possible advantage and has shown marked ability in coordinating various elements into a unified and harmonious whole producing results that tell for success.
On the 4th of October, 1904, Mr. Webster was joined in wedlock to Miss Marie Mitchell, a daughter of Henry G. Mitchell, of Racine. To them have been born three children, namely: Natalie; Henry M., who is deceased; and Janet. Mr. Webster gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party and is conversant with the vital political problems of the country, but has never been ambitious to hold office. He belongs to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and in fraternal circles is connected with the Masons and the Elks. He also belongs to the Commercial Club of Racine and puts forth effective effort in cooperation with those well defined plans and projects which have been instituted by the club for the further development of the city and the upholding of civic interests. He belongs as well to the Country Club and to the University Club of Chicago and is popular among his associates of those organizations.