Webb family papers

The Webb family papers are a collection of 45 letters written by various family members and their acquaintances between 1844 and 1947. The vast majority of this correspondence was directed to John Charles Webb, known throughout the collection as Charles. His father, John C. Webb, wrote the earliest series of letters, which span the period of Charles' life between 1844 and 1852, when he was traveling the region and held several jobs. Some of the locations in which he lived include Massillon and Cuyahoga Falls, both in Ohio, and Hartleton, Pennsylvania. The last letter in this series suggests that Charles will venture to California or even Japan.

The set of letters directed to Charles from his brother Thomas encompasses the period between 1850 and 1857. These letters include scattered information about members of the Webb family, agricultural news, and information on a cholera epidemic in Perrysburg in the summer of 1854. The letters include news of some family deaths, and some details of townsfolk who died. This correspondence also gives indications of Charles' changing residences, which include: Wilmington, Delaware, Petersburg, and Gettysburg, Virginia. This correspondence includes travel information in the form of directions to, and a description of Sault Ste. Marie.

The collection contains letters from Charles' miscellaneous acquaintances, which do little more than indicate places he was located and the type of people he met. A series of letters from Charles' sister, Mary E. (Young) Marshall, in Ingersoll, Canada, are of little importance except that they indicate the general date of Charles' death.

One major drawback regarding the preceding sets of correspondence is that all are of scattered dates. For example, there may be as much as four years separating two letters from the same person.

By far, the most important series of letters in this collection is the one written by Eliza P. (Jones) Webb, during the period of time Charles was serving in the Civil War, June 27, 1864, to June 22, 1865. Although these letters make some mention of Charles' role in the war, their main concentration is to exemplify the problems and responsibilities faced by a wife and mother effectively "on her own" during the war. Eliza's letters convey her everyday concerns for her husband's welfare, their child, and farm. They also indicate the extraordinary responsibilities she had taken on, such as buying bonds and land, writing a will, hiring and firing help. Eliza was compelled to make decisions between placing the purchase of bonds and land in Charles' or her own name, as she was in constant fear of his death, and sought security for their child. Aside from these relatively unusual responsibilities, she was pregnant, and presumably due in January, 1865. As a result of this, she feared she would die in childbirth, and Charles would be killed in the war, leaving their son Charley orphaned.

A major weakness of this series is Eliza's physical writing style, which is extremely small and difficult to read. In addition, some of the letters are faded, which compounds the problem.

The Women's Studies historian will take interest in Eliza P. Webb's letters as an example of a woman's life during the Civil War. Local and medical historians alike will find the various letters on the Perrysburg cholera epidemic of the summer of 1854 interesting. This collection may also serve as a supplementary resource for area genealogical studies, through the mention of townsfolk in the Webb papers.

Father acknowledges Charles' new job; lists boarders with the Webb family; step-siblings are ill; "new religious theory" threatens local churches' memberships.

Step-mother Mary is ill, separate church formed as a result of new theory - lists some families that converted.

Indicates that Charles is in Cuyahoga Falls, OH; family illnesses, some county deaths over the summer.

Indicates Charles is in Hartleton, Pennsylvania; family illnesses; death of hired girl; admonition to settle down.

Advice to choose work at a naval yard in California as opposed to service on the Mississippi bound for Japan; advice on working for the government.

From Charles' brother, Thomas, who recently married Mary E. Radcliff.

Discussion of their second step mother - comments on her youth; father in county clerk's office; Thomas' unspecified marital problems; directions to, description of Sault Ste. Marie.

Thomas has moved his family from Perrysburg because of cholera epidemic; estimates 60 deaths in Perrysburg; lists some of the dead.

Family health; town news.

Their father is up for election to the office of clerk; other town political news; good agricultural season; family and town news; note from Molly.

To Charles in Wilmington, Delaware, from Jenny; news of her teaching at Avoca village and Kennedyville; classes, their size; her family news.

To Charles in Petersburg, Virginia, from Mary A. Webb, his stepmother; news of the cholera epidemic of the previous summer; lists and describes family deaths; other family news.

To Charles in Gettysburg, Virginia, from Dr. Charles R. Dovan; description of Dovan's brother-in-law's death and burial.

Unknown sender and receiver; news of application to Professor Henry for an air gun invention denied.

Postscript; other business contacts suggest proposing the gun for armament on a war vessel under development.

Lists some local men killed or missing from Chickamauga; family news; crop news; she believes she is pregnant.

Talks about battles he may have been in; farm news and family news.

Discusses her fears of both he and she dying and leaving little ones as orphans; farm news and prices of crops; family news.

Eliza indicates she has bought bonds, she must sign them before they can be delivered; she is also writing her own will; family news; President calls for 500,000 to enlist or there will be a draft; local news of a Union prisoner of war held in Anderson, GA who escaped back to Perrysburg; financial news and plans to buy land.

Comments on Charles' commander's drunkenness; news about Charley, their son; her search for a hired girl; financial news; neighbor trouble; weather description; wartime poem.

General farm, family, financial news.

News of her trip to Perrysburg.

Text of Eliza's will (August 12, 1864); she has had photos of herself and Charley taken and sent to Charles; farm news.

Charley is ill; farm news; her mother's visit; her "confinement" due to pregnancy will start in January, when she hopes to hire a girl to help; war news of a draft for "home guard;" an equal exchange of prisoners with the "rebs."

Sending Charles some money; farm news; worry her pregnancy and finding hired help.

Comments on Atlanta campaign; family, financial, and farm news.

Concern over how she will endure her last trimester and care for two children; financial news; comments on battles at Richmond.

She has chosen some land she wishes to buy, with Charles' consent; concern over whose name the deed should be in.

Comments that he expected rest at Atlanta, but did not get it; expresses regret at taking the liberty of buying a house, but felt the decision had to be made.

From Charles' uncle S.C. Wilt; (Same document) patriotic; notes military successes in Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley; calls James Buchanan a traitor, praises Lincoln; comments on slavery.

Eliza has received news of the burning of Atlanta and march to Charleston; rejoices in Lincoln's re-election, but does not believe it will end the war; tax news.

Expresses disappointment that Charles will not be discharged and must go fight in the West; fears he will be sent to Texas; description of the new baby girl.

Family news.

Correspondence from Charles' sister, Mary E. (Young) Marshall; includes some family news; information on fares to and from Ingersoll, Ontario.

Letter to Eliza P. Webb expressing grief on learning of Charles' death.

Christmas card, no text, postmarked Isle of Man, ENG.