My Genealogy Hound

JOHN C. WEBB. The growth of Webb City has been as rapid as its mineral wealth has been astonishing in its richness. It is only a few years since mineral was discovered, and its actual development began, and now Webb City has nearly three thousand inhabitants, with many substantial buildings, and every evidence of solid and lasting prosperity. The place has grown up with unexampled rapidity; its business, resting as it does on the richest deposits of mineral yet discovered in the county, must be permanent. Mr. Webb was the original proprietor of the town, and left to his heirs a large body of mineral lands which are leased by a mining company. He was a native of Tennessee, born in Overton county, March 12, 1826. The Webb family were old residents of North Carolina, his grandfather being a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His father, Elijah C. Webb, was born in North Carolina, and married Martha Johnson, and a short time before the birth of the subject of this sketch immigrated to Tennessee. J. C. was the second of a large family of children. He was raised in Tennessee, and obtained what education he had an opportunity of in the ordinary subscription schools of that county—log school-houses, split log benches, and all the rude appliances for school purposes common in Tennessee fifty years ago. He worked on the farm with his father until January, 1849, and was married to Ruth F. Davis, of Overton county, Tenn. He then went to farming on his own account, and was engaged in that pursuit until he came to Missouri in 1856. He came directly to southwest Missouri and Jasper county, and stopped for a short time at the head of Turkey Creek, and in February, 1857, he entered two hundred acres of land on which Webb City now stands. Of course at that time he was totally ignorant that his investment of a few hundred dollars was to bring him thousands in return. He kept adding to his first entry until he accumulated three hundred and twenty acres, of which about one hundred was under cultivation. At Gov. Jackson’s call for troops he entered the State Guards, and was south during the greater part of the war. The first discovery of lead was made by him accidentally while plowing corn in June, 1873. He began prospecting the following October, but was not able to accomplish much on account of water. In November, 1874, a large engine was procured, and the second day after it had begun work a chunk of pure lead was struck weighing one thousand pounds. Such was the beginning of the industry that is now carried on to such an enormous extent. Mr. Webb did not carry on his mining business himself, but leased his land to a company, and enjoyed an almost princely income. He has done much toward building up the city which bears his name. His beautiful brick residence stands on an elevated part of the city, and just across the street, east, is the bank building owned by himself and son, which is one of the neatest pieces of architecture in the county, and across the street, south, stands the substantial brick Methodist Episcopal Church (South), which was erected and presented to the congregation by him in 1882. Mrs. Ruth F. Webb died March 20, 1876. They had four children, three of whom are living; viz., Elijah T., cashier of Webb City Bank; Martha Ellen, now wife of Wm. E. Hall; Mary Susan, the wife of J. M. Burgner; and John B., who died in 1874. Mr. Webb was married the second time on March 4, 1877, to Mrs. S. M. Canchman. They are both members of the Southern Methodist Church, and Mr. W. was also a member of the Masonic fraternity; in politics a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Lewis Case for president in 1848. The following in reference to the death of Mr. Webb was taken from the Carthage Banner of April 13, 1883: “Word was received at the Banner office, over the telephone wire this morning, of the death of John C. Webb, of Webb City. Mr. Webb has been afflicted with consumption, and died of that disease this morning at seven o’clock. He was fifty-seven years of age the twelfth of last month, an old resident of the county, and one of the many who have lived along in homely comfort for years over the wealth which the mining industry of Jasper county is just beginning to develop. He died today proprietor of some of the richest zinc mines in the world. He was a man much respected, and his loss will be felt throughout the county.” From a long article in the Carthage Transcript, morning daily, of April 14, 1883, we clip the following: “He has always been a Southern Methodist; and when he laid out the town of Webb City he reserved one whole block for a Methodist church and a place for a school. Afterwards, the church space was sought and given for the city school, and he then bought back a well-located lot adjoining, 100 feet square, and set it apart for a church lot, and the beautiful brick structure just dedicated he built thereon at his own individual expense, and deeded lot and church freely to the M. E. Church (South). This princely gift cost him nearly $5,000, and is a monument to his memory more imposing, lasting, and beautiful than the highest, brightest shaft of marble ever designed. It has been named by the present pastor “Webb Chapel,” in honor of the deceased. Mr. Webb has been most generous in his gifts to the church, averaging about $300 a year past to the ministry and missions, besides contributing liberally to other religious purposes. He was well-known and beloved by the ministry and membership of the Southern Methodist Church throughout the Southwest. He was a Mason always in good standing and honored, and will be buried today by that fraternity with due ceremony. The deceased has suffered for several years with bronchial troubles and Bright’s disease, and since December last has been gradually sinking. He spent January and February in Texas without relief, and since his return home has not been able to go about. For four weeks he had been confined to his bed, but has been wonderfully patient and peaceful under his affliction. He died in great peace, confident of a bright immortality, and with the assurance of a well-spent life, and with three well-raised, dutiful, obedient, loving children around him. He will be buried this morning from Webb Chapel by the Masonic fraternity. The pastor, Rev. Ben Deering, will preach the funeral sermon at 9:30 a. m., at the church, after which the remains will be conveyed by the Masons to Harmony Grove cemetery and there interred.”