My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES H. WEBB is one of the most popular officials of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and is General Car Accountant. He has been connected with the company since October 8, 1864, and is considered one of their most faithful and capable employes. In manner Mr. Webb is very pleasant and courteous, and has many friends, both in South Bethlehem, where his office is located, and up and down the Lehigh Valley.

The birth of Charles H. Webb occurred in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pa., April 1, 1840, his parents being Henry James and Mary (Wakelee) Webb. The former was born in Saybrook, Conn., and was related to General Webb of Revolutionary fame. Henry Webb became a resident of Pennsylvania when quite young, and engaged in merchandising at Montrose. Active in the ranks of the Democratic party, he was Postmaster for many years at Montrose, and one term served as Sheriff of Susquehanna County. He departed this life in 1880, aged about seventy years. His wife, who was a daughter of A. Wakelee, was born in Waterbury, Conn., being the daughter of a farmer, who removed to Springville, Susquehanna County, Pa., where she grew to womanhood. Mrs. Webb, who is now in her seventy-ninth year, and still active in the Episcopal Church, is a resident of Montrose.

The subject of this narrative is the only child of his parents who grew to mature years. His boyhood was passed at Montrose, and it was his privilege to attend the fine schools under Professor Stoddard, the noted mathematician. Afterward, for a short time, he was a student at the Delaware Literary Institute, at Franklin , N. Y. From that time until the war he assisted his father in running a store and postoffice, and then volunteered as one of the Anderson Troop, serving as Bugler, and being a member of General Anderson’s bodyguard. After a year and a-half of service, on account of poor health he was honorably discharged. On the emergency call he volunteered in the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Militia, under Colonel Chamberlain, and at the end of three months was mustered out by special order.

October 8, 1864, Mr. Webb received a position as clerk at Mauch Chunk with the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and in time became Auditor of Through Freights. When the Philadelphia & Reading leased the Lehigh Valley Road, he was appointed Assistant Auditor of Merchandise Traffic, with headquarters at Philadelphia for two months, after which he returned to the Lehigh Valley as General Auditor, and when the lease was annulled he became General Car Accountant. In his offices is employed a large clerical force, and in the duties of his responsible place he acquits himself to the satisfaction of all. Formerly he was a member of the Association of Railway Accounting Officers, being on a standing committee in 1890, and has always been on intimate terms with the officials of the railroad.

In December, 1868, Mr. Webb was married, in Mauch Chunk, to Miss Ellen Brodhead, a native of that place, and the daughter of Hon. A. G. Brodhead, ex-Judge of Carbon County, and formerly a member of the State Senate. He was prominent in political circles, and was Superintendent of Beaver Meadow Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad for over forty years. Mrs. Webb was educated in Dr. Smith’s school in Philadelphia. Our subject and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Mauch Chunk, of which the former for a quarter of a century had charge of the choir and music. In politics he votes in favor of the Democratic party.