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From left to right: John Hiram Webb, Vernon Webb
(?), John Earl or Alvin Webb (?), Eliza Ann Hooks Webb, Mary Evalyn Webb,
Alvin or John Earl Webb (?) in front, Mittie Webb in back (?), unknown
female, Jim Webb. -------------
(note on back of image) Picture made about 1900. John Webb family
(Grandma Rhoden's brother). This house was on the spot where the
present Joe Brannen house was built in the fall of 1929. Joe and
Hazel lived in this house from Jan. 1925 until Oct. 1929. Joe Thomas
and Bennie were born here in this house. The old kitchen part had
been removed and the hall closed in at back to make a dining room (with
the double doors into the hall). When we moved into this house Joe
screened the hallway and windows. Much of the lumber in the house
was used in the front part of the house built in 1929. |
From the nice tombstones that the children received, even the son that
died on the day it was born (and never even was given a name), I would note
that the family must have been much better off than some of the poorer
cousins the Webbs left behind in Mississippi, where tombstones for children
were not common and those for stillborns were quite rare. - DAW
(Information from Charles V. Webb)
John Hiram Webb and Eliza Ellen Hooks Webb moved from Pennington, Houston
County, Texas to Ballinger, Runnels County, Texas in 1901. He owned
and operated a livery stable in two different locations in Ballinger
until 1904. At that time he purchased land ten miles southeast
of Ballinger on the Colorado River and moved his family there.
He raised primarily cotton, feed for livestock, and cattle. He planted
a 15 acre orchard of peach trees. The largest and only one in the
area at that time. During season people from a wide area came to buy
peaches. He planted several acres in watermelon and cantaloupes.
Besides selling locally, box car loads of watermelons were shipped by rail
from Ballinger. All of the boys worked on the place until they were
old enough to leave home or were called into military service during World
War I. With all the boys gone from home, John negotiated an agreement
with a Mexican family with several older boys to work and operate the place.
This arrangement continued until 1931. John was from the "old school."
His word was his bond and he trusted everyone to be the same. As he
became older and less mobile, overseeing the farming operations became more
difficult and eventually impossible. The Mexicans seized and capitalized
on this advantage to the degreee that it was not profitable. On January
1, 1931, Vernon and the family moved from Ballinger and operated the place
until it was sold and the estate settled on January 1, 1944.
1930 Runnels County, Texas Census
Precinct #1; Ballinger to Concha Road
Webb, J.H. Head Rents M W 76 Md. at age 28 Can read and write AL AL AL Farmer
Webb, Eliza Wife F W 66 Md. at age 18 Can read and write TX TX TX
Webb, Eva Dau. F W 31 Single Can read and write TX AL TX
Ben Winstead Webb (died at the age of four)
James Allen "Jim" Webb Sr.
(md. Myrtle Dove Roach)
Jim had five children but their mother took
them back to Oklahoma (her home) when he died young.
Sarah Millis Webb (died before she reached one year old)
Mittie Webb (md. Clarence
Benton Hines)
Mittie married and moved west. She
had six sons and one daughter. She passed away in Lamb County, Texas,
in 1989. She was 101 years old!
Unnamed Webb (child died on the same day it was born)
Richard Webb (died at the age of two)
Alvin Webb
Came back from World War I and landed in
New York City. After he asked for money over and over, John Hiram
stopped sending it to him in New York, Alvin never contacted them again.
John Earl Webb (md. Aurelia Louise McKenzie and Dora Jones)
John Earl moved around some and was a mechanic
and farmer. He had two daughters and lived to be 66 years old before passing
away in May, Texas.
Vernon Webb (md. Bessie Lee Davenport)
Vernon lived in Runnels County and had one
son. He lived to be 92 years old when he passed away in 1989.
Mary Evalyn "Evvy" Webb (md. Philip B. Kobey)
Evvy was one of the few women of her day
to go through college and even receive a Masters Degree. She moved
to Denver, Colorado and lived to be 80 years old. She had one daughter.