My Genealogy Hound

HON. W. C. WEBB.
Hon. W. C. Webb, deceased, was for many years a leading political factor in the State of Kansas, as well as an honored member of the Shawnee County bench. Judge Webb was born in Pennsylvania, coming from a family of lawyers; legislators and soldiers.

The father of Judge Webb and his three brothers were lawyers, two of the brothers being district judges and one a circuit judge, and his three sons are also lawyers, and six of the eight have been elected to the legislative halls of their various States. His grandfather was a private soldier in a Connecticut regiment during the Revolutionary War; his father and grandfather both served as private soldiers in the second war with Great Britian, 1812-15, and Judge Webb and his three brothers, his oldest son and his sisters two sons, all served in the Union Army during the Civil War.
After the close of the Civil War, in 1866, Judge Webb came to Kansas. His earlier life had been one of industry and activity and he had already reaped many laurels. He commenced his career as a practical printer and he edited and published a Democratic paper for some years in Pennsylvania, but left that political organization on account of its pro-slavery attitude, and in 1854 he assisted in the organization of the Republican party. Shortly after his admission to the bar, he removed to Wisconsin and enlisted from that State and after the close of three years of service had won the rank of colonel through personal bravery.

During his residence in Wisconsin, Judge Webb supported Republican principles, was there elected several times to the Legislature and was made county judge and district attorney. After coming to Kansas he was three times elected to the Legislature and held many offices, including county attorney, judge of the District Court, judge of the Superior Court of Shawnee County and others. He was, also, the first insurance commissioner of the State and was Supreme Court reporter during the time covered from Vol. 6 to Vol. 20.

With his experience of more than 40 years as a lawyer, he made a remarkable record as a lawyer and a jurist. He was one of the best informed men in legal circles, but was not a brilliant orator or a spellbinder. His work, however, was so accurate and his conclusions so sound that he was widely consulted on intricate points by his brother attorneys, who knew that complete confidence could be placed in his conclusions. It was a matter of pride with him that the Supreme Court had upheld every bill which he had adjudged perfect. He owned one of the best law libraries in the State, and was the author of works himself, his last labor of this kind being the compilation of the “Revised Statutes of Kansas,” authorized by the previous Legislature.

In 1891 he released himself from the Republican party and became an advocate of the principles of the Populist party, and in 1896 was a candidate for the Populist nomination for chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Judge Webb died April 19, 1898, at his home, No. 827 Quincy street, Topeka, which continues to be the family residence. He was survived by his widow and four children, the latter being as follows: Sarah (Mrs. Richard L. Walker), of Kansas City, Kansas, whose husband died in February, 1903; Linus S., of Parsons, Kansas; Mary W. (Mrs. George L. Walker), of Topeka, and Lovell H., of Winfield, Kansas.