1917-1919 Chief of Police, Galveston, Galveston County, Texas
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WEBBER, ROBERT
Robert Webber, whose associations with the business and civic affairs of Galveston have been such as to make him prominent in the modern history of the city, is a native of Somerset, England, born December 7, 1853. His father, George, was a nurseryman and followed that occupation throughout his life in England, where he died in 1887. The mother's name was Mary Jones, and she died in 1885.
Robert Webber has pursued an independent career since he was a boy, and it is to his credit that he has gained a place in the world without the privileges of fortune and favor at the beginning. He broke off a brief period of school attendance because an opportunity to begin a sea faring life offered him a coveted chance to see the world. A voyage to South America ended at Valparaiso, where he left ship and was variously employed for two years, and then shipped as steward aboard the "Ruby," sailing for Antwerp. Later he sailed to New York as passenger, and then shipped as steward on the bark "Emma C. Elwood" and went to the Mediterranean sea, landing at Smyrna and there loading for Fall River, Massachusetts, returning on the same boat to Fall River and afterward he shipped on the bark "Sacramento," which belonged at New Bedford and made voyages about the Atlantic and Gulf ports.
In this capacity he landed at Galveston in 1870 and sought employment about the shipping in Galveston port. He became a screwman, and two years later became foreman for C. C. Sweeny & Co., Stevedores, serving also in the same capacity for Munn, Fry & Co. While thus employed became a member of Washington No. 1, volunteer fire company, and continued with the old volunteer service as member of Washington No. 1 for eighteen years. He was second assistant two terms, first assistant two terms and then foreman three terms, being foreman at the time the volunteer service was discontinued. On the break up of Washington No. I he was presented with a large oil painting of Washington which had been the pride of the company for forty years.
In the early '70s he was a police officer under Captain Joe Atkins, and in the '80s was deputy sheriff under W. P. Owens, and in 1883-1884 was county jailer. Judge Hurt of the supreme court and Judge Gustave Cook of the criminal court were afterwards instrumental in furnishing the means for him to start a saloon business.
Mr. Webber has been active in politics for a number of years. He was Democratic chairman for the district in the '80s and served as county chairman from 1896 to 1898. He was elected as alderman from the Fourth ward in 1893 and served two terms. In 1896 he was the opponent of Dr. A. W. Fly for the office of mayor but was defeated by a small vote. From 1898 to 1900 he represented the Third ward in the council and was also police and fire commissioner.
He has always been a large dealer in real estate. He owned and recently sold the principal portion of the land on which Texas City is located. He is owner of a beautiful farm at Arcadia, situated twenty -one miles from Galveston.
He affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and with Lodge No. 129, B. P. O. E. He is an Episcopalian, but his family are members of the Catholic church. He was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Ann McGinness, of New Orleans. Four of their eleven children are living: Mary Ann, Maggie (wife of George Neweng and has two children), Lawry Barry and James Gallagher McGinness Webber.
Mr. Webber has a reputation as collector of quaint and historic curios. He recently (April 20, 1908,) paid fifty dollars for the watch presented by the old Confederate veterans of Macon, Georgia, to Miss Winnie Davis in 1886. The watch was presented as one of the numerous tributes of the South to the daughter of the Confederacy but owing to the limited circumstances of Miss Davis during her later years she was obliged to convert many of these testimonials into money value, this watch being among them. The case of the watch is hand-made, a likeness of Miss Davis being engraved on both front and back. The front of the watch has the inscription "To Miss Winnie Davis, the child of the Confederacy"; the back is inscribed "With the love of the old soldiers, from Macon, Georgia, May, 1886." Scrolls of vines and pansy wreaths entwine the inscriptions. On the inside of the back are engraved the twenty-nine names of the soldiers who gave the watch, these names being in five concentric circles. The watch is of much historic and sentimental value and is one of Mr. Webber's most prized possessions. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
~
WEBBER, ROBERT
Robert Webber, whose associations with the business and civic affairs of Galveston have been such as to make him prominent in the modern history of the city, is a native of Somerset, England, born December 7, 1853. His father, George, was a nurseryman and followed that occupation throughout his life in England, where he died in 1887. The mother's name was Mary Jones, and she died in 1885.
Robert Webber has pursued an independent career since he was a boy, and it is to his credit that he has gained a place in the world without the privileges of fortune and favor at the beginning. He broke off a brief period of school attendance because an opportunity to begin a sea faring life offered him a coveted chance to see the world. A voyage to South America ended at Valparaiso, where he left ship and was variously employed for two years, and then shipped as steward aboard the "Ruby," sailing for Antwerp. Later he sailed to New York as passenger, and then shipped as steward on the bark "Emma C. Elwood" and went to the Mediterranean sea, landing at Smyrna and there loading for Fall River, Massachusetts, returning on the same boat to Fall River and afterward he shipped on the bark "Sacramento," which belonged at New Bedford and made voyages about the Atlantic and Gulf ports.
In this capacity he landed at Galveston in 1870 and sought employment about the shipping in Galveston port. He became a screwman, and two years later became foreman for C. C. Sweeny & Co., Stevedores, serving also in the same capacity for Munn, Fry & Co. While thus employed became a member of Washington No. 1, volunteer fire company, and continued with the old volunteer service as member of Washington No. 1 for eighteen years. He was second assistant two terms, first assistant two terms and then foreman three terms, being foreman at the time the volunteer service was discontinued. On the break up of Washington No. I he was presented with a large oil painting of Washington which had been the pride of the company for forty years.
In the early '70s he was a police officer under Captain Joe Atkins, and in the '80s was deputy sheriff under W. P. Owens, and in 1883-1884 was county jailer. Judge Hurt of the supreme court and Judge Gustave Cook of the criminal court were afterwards instrumental in furnishing the means for him to start a saloon business.
Mr. Webber has been active in politics for a number of years. He was Democratic chairman for the district in the '80s and served as county chairman from 1896 to 1898. He was elected as alderman from the Fourth ward in 1893 and served two terms. In 1896 he was the opponent of Dr. A. W. Fly for the office of mayor but was defeated by a small vote. From 1898 to 1900 he represented the Third ward in the council and was also police and fire commissioner.
He has always been a large dealer in real estate. He owned and recently sold the principal portion of the land on which Texas City is located. He is owner of a beautiful farm at Arcadia, situated twenty -one miles from Galveston.
He affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and with Lodge No. 129, B. P. O. E. He is an Episcopalian, but his family are members of the Catholic church. He was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Ann McGinness, of New Orleans. Four of their eleven children are living: Mary Ann, Maggie (wife of George Neweng and has two children), Lawry Barry and James Gallagher McGinness Webber.
Mr. Webber has a reputation as collector of quaint and historic curios. He recently (April 20, 1908,) paid fifty dollars for the watch presented by the old Confederate veterans of Macon, Georgia, to Miss Winnie Davis in 1886. The watch was presented as one of the numerous tributes of the South to the daughter of the Confederacy but owing to the limited circumstances of Miss Davis during her later years she was obliged to convert many of these testimonials into money value, this watch being among them. The case of the watch is hand-made, a likeness of Miss Davis being engraved on both front and back. The front of the watch has the inscription "To Miss Winnie Davis, the child of the Confederacy"; the back is inscribed "With the love of the old soldiers, from Macon, Georgia, May, 1886." Scrolls of vines and pansy wreaths entwine the inscriptions. On the inside of the back are engraved the twenty-nine names of the soldiers who gave the watch, these names being in five concentric circles. The watch is of much historic and sentimental value and is one of Mr. Webber's most prized possessions. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
1917-1919 Chief of Police, Galveston, Galveston County, Texas
~
WEBBER, ROBERT
Robert Webber, whose associations with the business and civic affairs of Galveston have been such as to make him prominent in the modern history of the city, is a native of Somerset, England, born December 7, 1853. His father, George, was a nurseryman and followed that occupation throughout his life in England, where he died in 1887. The mother's name was Mary Jones, and she died in 1885.
Robert Webber has pursued an independent career since he was a boy, and it is to his credit that he has gained a place in the world without the privileges of fortune and favor at the beginning. He broke off a brief period of school attendance because an opportunity to begin a sea faring life offered him a coveted chance to see the world. A voyage to South America ended at Valparaiso, where he left ship and was variously employed for two years, and then shipped as steward aboard the "Ruby," sailing for Antwerp. Later he sailed to New York as passenger, and then shipped as steward on the bark "Emma C. Elwood" and went to the Mediterranean sea, landing at Smyrna and there loading for Fall River, Massachusetts, returning on the same boat to Fall River and afterward he shipped on the bark "Sacramento," which belonged at New Bedford and made voyages about the Atlantic and Gulf ports.
In this capacity he landed at Galveston in 1870 and sought employment about the shipping in Galveston port. He became a screwman, and two years later became foreman for C. C. Sweeny & Co., Stevedores, serving also in the same capacity for Munn, Fry & Co. While thus employed became a member of Washington No. 1, volunteer fire company, and continued with the old volunteer service as member of Washington No. 1 for eighteen years. He was second assistant two terms, first assistant two terms and then foreman three terms, being foreman at the time the volunteer service was discontinued. On the break up of Washington No. I he was presented with a large oil painting of Washington which had been the pride of the company for forty years.
In the early '70s he was a police officer under Captain Joe Atkins, and in the '80s was deputy sheriff under W. P. Owens, and in 1883-1884 was county jailer. Judge Hurt of the supreme court and Judge Gustave Cook of the criminal court were afterwards instrumental in furnishing the means for him to start a saloon business.
Mr. Webber has been active in politics for a number of years. He was Democratic chairman for the district in the '80s and served as county chairman from 1896 to 1898. He was elected as alderman from the Fourth ward in 1893 and served two terms. In 1896 he was the opponent of Dr. A. W. Fly for the office of mayor but was defeated by a small vote. From 1898 to 1900 he represented the Third ward in the council and was also police and fire commissioner.
He has always been a large dealer in real estate. He owned and recently sold the principal portion of the land on which Texas City is located. He is owner of a beautiful farm at Arcadia, situated twenty -one miles from Galveston.
He affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and with Lodge No. 129, B. P. O. E. He is an Episcopalian, but his family are members of the Catholic church. He was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Ann McGinness, of New Orleans. Four of their eleven children are living: Mary Ann, Maggie (wife of George Neweng and has two children), Lawry Barry and James Gallagher McGinness Webber.
Mr. Webber has a reputation as collector of quaint and historic curios. He recently (April 20, 1908,) paid fifty dollars for the watch presented by the old Confederate veterans of Macon, Georgia, to Miss Winnie Davis in 1886. The watch was presented as one of the numerous tributes of the South to the daughter of the Confederacy but owing to the limited circumstances of Miss Davis during her later years she was obliged to convert many of these testimonials into money value, this watch being among them. The case of the watch is hand-made, a likeness of Miss Davis being engraved on both front and back. The front of the watch has the inscription "To Miss Winnie Davis, the child of the Confederacy"; the back is inscribed "With the love of the old soldiers, from Macon, Georgia, May, 1886." Scrolls of vines and pansy wreaths entwine the inscriptions. On the inside of the back are engraved the twenty-nine names of the soldiers who gave the watch, these names being in five concentric circles. The watch is of much historic and sentimental value and is one of Mr. Webber's most prized possessions. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
~
WEBBER, ROBERT
Robert Webber, whose associations with the business and civic affairs of Galveston have been such as to make him prominent in the modern history of the city, is a native of Somerset, England, born December 7, 1853. His father, George, was a nurseryman and followed that occupation throughout his life in England, where he died in 1887. The mother's name was Mary Jones, and she died in 1885.
Robert Webber has pursued an independent career since he was a boy, and it is to his credit that he has gained a place in the world without the privileges of fortune and favor at the beginning. He broke off a brief period of school attendance because an opportunity to begin a sea faring life offered him a coveted chance to see the world. A voyage to South America ended at Valparaiso, where he left ship and was variously employed for two years, and then shipped as steward aboard the "Ruby," sailing for Antwerp. Later he sailed to New York as passenger, and then shipped as steward on the bark "Emma C. Elwood" and went to the Mediterranean sea, landing at Smyrna and there loading for Fall River, Massachusetts, returning on the same boat to Fall River and afterward he shipped on the bark "Sacramento," which belonged at New Bedford and made voyages about the Atlantic and Gulf ports.
In this capacity he landed at Galveston in 1870 and sought employment about the shipping in Galveston port. He became a screwman, and two years later became foreman for C. C. Sweeny & Co., Stevedores, serving also in the same capacity for Munn, Fry & Co. While thus employed became a member of Washington No. 1, volunteer fire company, and continued with the old volunteer service as member of Washington No. 1 for eighteen years. He was second assistant two terms, first assistant two terms and then foreman three terms, being foreman at the time the volunteer service was discontinued. On the break up of Washington No. I he was presented with a large oil painting of Washington which had been the pride of the company for forty years.
In the early '70s he was a police officer under Captain Joe Atkins, and in the '80s was deputy sheriff under W. P. Owens, and in 1883-1884 was county jailer. Judge Hurt of the supreme court and Judge Gustave Cook of the criminal court were afterwards instrumental in furnishing the means for him to start a saloon business.
Mr. Webber has been active in politics for a number of years. He was Democratic chairman for the district in the '80s and served as county chairman from 1896 to 1898. He was elected as alderman from the Fourth ward in 1893 and served two terms. In 1896 he was the opponent of Dr. A. W. Fly for the office of mayor but was defeated by a small vote. From 1898 to 1900 he represented the Third ward in the council and was also police and fire commissioner.
He has always been a large dealer in real estate. He owned and recently sold the principal portion of the land on which Texas City is located. He is owner of a beautiful farm at Arcadia, situated twenty -one miles from Galveston.
He affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and with Lodge No. 129, B. P. O. E. He is an Episcopalian, but his family are members of the Catholic church. He was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Ann McGinness, of New Orleans. Four of their eleven children are living: Mary Ann, Maggie (wife of George Neweng and has two children), Lawry Barry and James Gallagher McGinness Webber.
Mr. Webber has a reputation as collector of quaint and historic curios. He recently (April 20, 1908,) paid fifty dollars for the watch presented by the old Confederate veterans of Macon, Georgia, to Miss Winnie Davis in 1886. The watch was presented as one of the numerous tributes of the South to the daughter of the Confederacy but owing to the limited circumstances of Miss Davis during her later years she was obliged to convert many of these testimonials into money value, this watch being among them. The case of the watch is hand-made, a likeness of Miss Davis being engraved on both front and back. The front of the watch has the inscription "To Miss Winnie Davis, the child of the Confederacy"; the back is inscribed "With the love of the old soldiers, from Macon, Georgia, May, 1886." Scrolls of vines and pansy wreaths entwine the inscriptions. On the inside of the back are engraved the twenty-nine names of the soldiers who gave the watch, these names being in five concentric circles. The watch is of much historic and sentimental value and is one of Mr. Webber's most prized possessions. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
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