Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-14

| WANTED (SituatiOns) Page 10
WINTER RESORTS. Page IL
| IL ses a citizen Of high character. To those
| who enjoyed his personal friendship, the
| loss will be keenly felt, for Mr. Webb
! pos sc ssed to an unusual degree the quail
| ties that endear one to friends. Mr.. Webb
was thoroughly Identified with the city.
| He was born here. passed his entire life
l in this city, and was actively concerned
| that contributed toward the advancement.
| and prosperity of the place of his birth.
| He was always ready to give his time and
| energy for the public good and any appeal
| based en- the interests of the entire COM
muuity never failed to meet with a re-
SporSe from him.
| At the time of mis- death he was nearly
| seventy-one years of age. and up to the
| last he retained to a remarkable degree
| the vigor and vitality which was char
acteristic. He was man of large frame
and had a hearty. genial manner in greet
| Ing his friends and a buoyant manner of
viewing lifes affairs that made him de-
| lightful companion and an adviser of much
value. Whether as citizen or as a man
Mr.. Webb drew to him by the close ties Of
esteem and affection a large and increasing
circle OF friends. His father. John F..
Webb. who sprang from revolutionary
stock came from the state Of Connecti-
cut and became a resident here at an early
period in the history of the city. The
| maiden name of his mother was Charlotte
A. Poor and her ancestors, like those of
Mr.. Webb's father, were of good New
England stock.
Mr.. Webb received his early education
in the private schools of this city, and
then attended for some time the then IA
| nous church school conducted by Rev.
DR.. Austin an Episcopal clergyman, in
Baltimore county, near the city of Balti-
more. Returning to this city, he entered
Columbian College. now Columbian Unver-
sity, and taking the four years course.
graduated in 1874. He then studied law.
ana was admitted to the bar and entered
upon his career. which Is so largely blend
ed with that cfithe city. He was active
in organizing the Bar Association of the
District end was one of the first presi-
dents He also took an interest in military
matters. Owing ito this latter experience
he was enabled TO render a service during
the critical period at the breaking out OF
Volunteers, and was chosen its captain, and
offered the services of himself and his men
to the government. There was, however,
no organization of troops at that time to
which his company could be assigned. and
so his offer was not accepted. He was,
however, appointed by President Lincoln
as drill instructor at the school for Off
GERS. and in this capacity he rendered
valuable assistance. A few months later
he again mad an opportunity to render i'm
portant service to the city, when he was
chosen the first superintendent of the met
roLolltan police. which was then just Or
ganzed. To the unselfish labor and the
executive ability Of Mr.. Webb is due much
Of the perfection of details Of the police
system tf the city. The system was sub
jected to perhaps the most severe ordeal
in its history when under his command, as
the city was at that time the center of war
activities and the camping ground for
thousands of soldiers. Under these adj
verse circumstanee s he preserved the peace
and order of the community and achieved
record which was remarkable. His serv-
ices were appreciated by his fellow citi-
nd ha rN1,h1 al nkaI nv
authorities.
In 1863 Mr.. Webb resigned the Office Of
superintendent Of police, and for twenty
two years pursued the practice Of his pro-
fession and performed the duties of a prf-
vate citizen. He represented the legal In
terests of several important corporations.
ard achieved. in his chosen profession. de-
served success.
In 1885 he was again called to the public
service, when he was appointed by Presi-
dent Cleveland as the republican member
of the board of Commissioners of this Dis
trict. He gave special attention rs Com
| missioner to the public schools. and it was
during his administration that the system
of manual instruction became part of the.
public school system. Other branches Of
the local government were greatly benefit
| ed by the wise attention paid to them by
Mr. Webb.
As n Member Of the Bar.
Both in point of service and age Mr..
Webb was one of the oldest members Of
| the District bar, having been admitted
| to practice in 1S47. AS was remarked of
| him today by well-known associate, Mr.
| Webb was one of the very few remaining
| attorneys who practiced before the old Dis
| trict Circuit Court. While he was never
regarded as q great advocate he was very
highly regarded as sound, safe counsellor,
| being lawyer Of fine attachments and
varied and extensive learning.
His most prominent characteristic. 1t is
said Of him, was his conservatism, and
| that, added to his unquestioned integrity
made him ono of the most highly esteemed
| and greatly respected members Of the local
bar.
| He was in his time the attorney for a
| number of important corporations, being at
| the time Of his death the attorney for the
Washington Gas Light Company, and dur
| Ing his career at the bar appeared in many
! of the great cases Of his time. During the
| last several years. however, Mr.. Webb en-
| gagged actively in very few cases. his la
Dors falling upon his sons, Henry Randall
and John Sidney Webb. His Office practice
continued large up to the time of his death,
| however.
Mr.. Webb will be particularly well re-
| membered as q lawyer through his digest of
the laws of the old corporation of the city
OF Washington. That work was prepared
IN 1858, having been authorized by the COM
mon council of the city. 1t is regarded as q
standard work, as an authority on matters
relating to or connected with the laws of the
corporation Of Washington, and is an un-
usually valuable work. It Is now out of
print. and copies Of 1t are, therefore, doubly