Amador
County
Biographies
RICHARD WEBB
Richard Webb, a prominent citizen
and capitalist of Jackson, Amador County, is a native of England, born in
Oxfordshire on the 1st of October, 1843. His parents, Henry B. and Harriet (Flowers)
Webb, were both natives of England, whence they immigrated to Australia, taking
with them their family of seven children; and the father followed the blacksmith’s
trade during his active business career.
He is now in his ninety-sixth year, but his wife has passed away, her
death having occurred when she had attained the age of eighty-three years. They were reared in the Episcopal Church but
later became Methodists. Seven of the family are still living and all residents of Australia with
the exception of our subject.
Richard Webb was only three years of
age when his parents removed to Australia.
He was educated in Adelaide, South Australia, finishing in the
Congregational College at Melbourne, Victoria, with the intention of entering
the ministry. He began to preach when
only sixteen years of age, as a disciple of the Methodist faith and for a
number of years was a very acceptable local minister. Before attaining his majority he learned the
printer’s trade in Adelaide, and in his twenty-first year he became the editor
of the Northern Argus, in that colony.
At length he determined to establish his home in America and in 1871
sailed from New South Wales to San Francisco, after which he worked on various
newspapers in that city and in Sacramento for about three years. In 1874 he went to Utah, where he established
a paper, but conducted it only three months.
Subsequently he worked in various newspaper offices in Salt Lake City,
being for some time connected with the Salt Lake Tribune, after which he went
to New York. Six months were passed in
the eastern metropolis and at the end of this period he took up his abode in
Virginia City and Winnemucca, Nevada, where he continued his journalistic work
until his removal to Sutter Creek, Amador County, where he began the
publication of the Fort Hill Ensign, which he issued for five months. In 1875 he purchased a half interest in the
Amador Ledger, took editorial charge and later became the sole proprietor,
editor and publisher. For seventeen
years he continued his connection with that journal until selling out in
1892. Two years later he became the
owner of the Amador Republican, which he issued until 1898, when he sold the
paper and plant and retired from the journalistic field.
During his long connection with
newspaper work in Amador County, Mr. Webb wielded a potent influence for good;
earnestly supporting every measure which he believed would be a public
benefit. He was very outspoken on the
side of justice and right, sparing neither high nor low when their conduct was
reprehensible. On one occasion, when a
number of robbers were tried and acquitted, he was very severe in his criticism
on the court and for this was arrested on the charge of contempt of court. At the trial he was fined and imprisoned, but
appealed the case on habeas corpus and was acquitted by the Supreme Court. Later he again severely criticized things
which he deemed wrong and was arrested and tried for libel, but was able to
prove that which he had published was fact and again came off victorious before
the court. His prosecution, of course,
cost him some money, but during the trial the subscriptions to the Ledger
increased rapidly, and instead of the arrests harming him they served but to
build up the paper. As a journalist he
was ever independent, fearless and true, and he espoused with the same loyalty
and strength any cause which he believed right.
He has always been an active Republican, giving his aid and influence
for the promotions of the party’s interests.
In 1892 he received the appointment of United States Commissioner of Amador
County, which office he holds at the present time.
As a businessman and financier, Mr.
Webb has met with very creditable success and has become one of the large
property holders of the town. He is the
owner of the new National Hotel and built and owns the Webb Block, one of the
finest structures of the town, and he has two store buildings and several
dwellings. He is also the owner of the
Lode Hotel and the Pine Grove Hotel, all in Amador County and good paying
property. He is a man of sound judgment
in business affairs and his capable management has brought to him creditable
prosperity.
In 1877 Mr. Webb was united in
marriage to Miss Mary Jones, a native daughter of Jackson, and her father,
Thomas Jones, was one of the first settlers of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Webb
enjoy the high regard of all who know them.
He is not connected with any sect or society and is a materialist in his
views of life. His fearless conduct in
what he believes to be right, his fidelity to duty and his sterling worth commend
him the respect of all.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 158-159. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies