William C. Webb

For others of the same name, see William Webb.

William C. Webb
1st Kansas Superintendent of Insurance
In office January 1, 1871 – January 1, 1873
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Edward Russell
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 41st district
In office January 1, 1891 – January 1, 1893
Preceded by	George W. Veale
Succeeded by	Richard D. McCliman
In office January 1, 1870 – January 1, 1872
Preceded by	John Guthrie
Succeeded by	George W. Wood
Kansas District Court Judge for the 11th district
In office March 16, 1870 – November 17, 1870
Appointed by	James M. Harvey
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Henry G. Webb
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Waushara County district
In office January 6, 1862 – January 2, 1865
Preceded by	Henry G. Webb
Succeeded by	Oscar Babcock
In office January 4, 1858 – January 3, 1859
Preceded by	George Hawley
Succeeded by	Charles White
Personal details
Born	William Craw Webb (1824-04-21)April 21, 1824 Ridgebury, Pennsylvania
Died	April 19, 1898(1898-04-19) (aged 73) Topeka, Kansas
Resting place	Topeka Cemetery, Topeka
Political party	Republican National Union (1863–1865) Free Soil (before 1854)
Spouses	Emily Emblem Abbott ​ ​ (m. 1845; died 1852)​ Mary Malvina Witter ​ ​ (m. 1855; died 1855)​
Children	Leland Justin Webb ^(b. 1846; died 1893) Sarah Annis "Sadie" (Walker) ^(b. 1848; died 1931) Linus Simmons Webb ^(b. 1850; died 1923) 1 other son 1 other daughter
Parents	John Leland Webb (father) Annis (Hammond) Webb (mother)
Relatives	James H. Webb (brother) Henry G. Webb (brother) Charles M. Webb (brother)
Profession	Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers (Union Army)
Years of service	1864–1865
Rank	Colonel, USV
Unit	37th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Commands	52nd Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

William Craw Webb (April 21, 1824 – April 19, 1898) was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and pioneer of Wisconsin and Kansas. He was the first Kansas Insurance Commissioner, served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and the Wisconsin State Assembly, and served as a Kansas district court judge. Earlier in life, he served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War.

His brothers, James H. Webb, Henry G. Webb, and Charles M. Webb, were also prominent lawyers and politicians. Their father, John Leland Webb, was a politician in Pennsylvania.

Biography

Webb was born in Ridgebury Township, Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1824, son of John L. and Annis (Hammond) Webb. Later, he was a resident of Wautoma, Wisconsin. He died on April 24, 1898, in Topeka, Kansas.[1]

Political career

Webb was Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin Assembly for the 1857 session, when his brother, Henry, was a member. In the fall general election that year, he was elected to succeed his brother as a member of the Assembly for the 1858 session. He was elected again to serve in the 1862, 1863 and 1864 sessions. He served a term as Speaker.[2] Previously, he had been Chief Clerk of the Assembly in 1857. Webb was also District Attorney and Judge of Waushara County, Wisconsin.

In 1870, Webb was a Kansas District Court judge. From 1871 to 1873, he was the first Kansas State Superintendent of Insurance. Webb was a member of the House of Representatives from 1870 to 1871 before being re-elected in 1891.[3] Additionally, he was Attorney and Superior Court Judge of Shawnee County, Kansas.

Webb's affiliation by the time he held office was with the Republican Party.

Military career

Webb was initially assigned to the 37th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was later commissioned Colonel of the 52nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, but was never mustered into federal service at that rank, because the regiment did not reach its full strength.[4] He was a Companion of the Kansas Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Family

Webb's son Leland Justin Webb, was a lawyer and politician.[5] His brothers, Henry and Charles were also active in politics and law in Wisconsin and Kansas.

References

1. "Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin". State Bar Association of Wisconsin. 1901. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
2. "War Papers Read Before the Commandery of the State of Wisconsin". Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. 1891. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
3. Admire's Political and Legislative Hand-Book for Kansas. George W. Crane & Co. 1891. p. 456. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
4. "Fifty-Second Infantry". The Military History of Wisconsin. Clarke & Co. 1868. p. 869. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
5. The Sunflower Picket-Leland Justin Webb

External links

• William C. Webb at Find a Grave

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by George Hawley	Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Waushara County district January 4, 1858 – January 3, 1859	Succeeded by Charles White
Preceded by Henry G. Webb	Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Waushara County district January 6, 1862 – January 2, 1865	Succeeded by Oscar Babcock
Kansas House of Representatives
Preceded by John Guthrie	Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 41st district January 1, 1870 – January 1, 1872	Succeeded by George W. Wood
Preceded by George W. Veale	Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 41st district January 1, 1891 – January 1, 1893	Succeeded by Richard D. McCliman
Political offices
Office created	Kansas Superintendent of Insurance January 1, 1871 – January 1, 1873	Succeeded by Edward Russell
Legal offices
District created	Kansas District Court Judge for the 11th district March 16, 1870 – November 17, 1870	Succeeded by Henry G. Webb