Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
Charles, William and Henry Webb.

Milwaukee Journal: The ap-
pointment of Charles M. Webb of
Grand Rapids to seat upon the
supreme bench of the state marks
another stage in the public progress
of a man who has had many
public honors, political and judicial
and who comes of family that
has been more noted perhaps than
any other family in Wisconsin for
such things. The Webbs have
been at the front most Of the time
for generation, and the fact that
the three brothers have filled
places of honor and all risen to
the bench is somewhat peculiar.
Their original habitation in Wis
consin was at Wautoma, and from
there two of the brothers, William
C. Webb and Henry G. Webb,
were elected time after time to the
legislature until finally their politi-
cal power was broken soon after
the war of the rebellion. Charles
M. Webb moved to Grand Rapids,
was admitted to the bar and
practlced there successfully for
many years, holding in the mean
time various county offices and
finally being elected to the state
senate in 1868. He was again
sent to the senate in 1883, but
resigned at the middle of his term.
He was appointed United States
district attorney under the Hayes
administration and subsequently
served short term in the United
States land office at Deadwood,
Oak. On the death of Judge
Gilbert NJ. Park Of Stevens Point
in 1883 Webb was appointed judge
of the Seventh judicial district by
Gov. Rusk and has been twice
reelected without opposition.
But the most noted member of
the trio of brothers Webb is VIM.
c. Webb, now also of Kansas.
He had reached the assembly two
years in advance of Henry G.,
serving his first term in the legis-
lature of 1858. After giving his
brother one term he went again to
the assembly in 1862, and was
reelected in 1868 and 1874. Then
he went into the army as the
quartermaster of the Twenty
seventh Wisconsin regiment, but
was in the winter of I0o4-5 COM
missioned colonel of the Fifty
second, one of the new regiments
which the state was trying to
organize near the close of the war.
His command was never filled,
and so he did not muster as
colonel, the close of the war pre-
venting. On his return home he
tried to resume his control of the
political affairs of Waushara
county, but he had lost his grip
and had to retire. Then he moved
to Kansas and engaged in the
practice of law, with politics on
the side, and has been very
successful. He was for some
years a judge of the district court
He lived and still lives at Topeka,
the state capital, and was for many
years reporter of the supreme
court of the state. He also COM
piled with the statutes of the state
for several years after the previous
revision, and when the Legislature
passed an act for the revision OF
the statutes Judge Webb stepped
gracefully to the front and ex-
hibited complete revision which
he had already for formal adoption
1t has recently been stated that he
is a candidate for a seat on the
supreme bench of the state at the
next election, when there will be a
vacancy to fill by the expiration
of the term of one of the members
of the court.
William c. Webb had a son
Leland J. Webb, who was in the
army with his father, and who has
been the commander-in-chief OIL
the order of Sons of Veterans
They visited the national encamp-
mcnt at Milwaukee together in
1889, and a year later Leland
Webb brought to the encampment
of the Knights Of Pythias one of
the best drum corps that came tc
the gathering, himself being the
leader. Two Or three years ago
Leland Webb was found dead in
his room at Topeka from the
effects of an overdose of choral
or some other anaesthetic.
Henry G.. Webb was first elected
to the assembly from Waushara
county in 1860. In 1864 he was
elected to the state senate and
served two terms or four years,
after which he emigrated to Kan
sas and settled in one of the
southern counties, where he has
since risen to judicial honors.
T