Webbr
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
RICHARD P. WEBB, proprietor of
the "Inavale Fruit & Stock Farm," has one of the most eligible and
handsome locations in the vicinity of Wenatchee, Chelan county. He
is a Kentuckian, born March 16, 1858, the son of George W. and Clarinda
(Whitt) Webb, natives of Virginia. They are both descendants of prominent
families of that state, having been extensive planters in their day, and
whose ancestors were distinguished English people. George W. Webb
passed away in March, 1883, in Kentucky, where his widow at present resides.
The early days of our subject were passed
on a farm and in attendance at the public schools of his neighborbood,
in Lawrence county, Kentucky. On gaining his majority he removed
to Minnesota, and thence to Montana, where he engaged in farming, coming
to Spokane, Washington, in 1884. Here he outfitted and left on horse-back
for the Big Bend, locating on land near Waterville, Douglas county, where
for the succeeding fifteen years he farmed and raised stock. It was
in 1898, that he came to his present place, three and one-half miles from
Wenatchee, on the Wenatchee river, which he purchased of Judge Chase.
Since then he sold three fortys, reserving forty acres, upon which he raises
alfalfa, fruit and stock. He has erected a model two-story residence,
has a fine, commodious barn, and it can be said he owns one of the handsomest
farms in the valley.
Our subject has four brothers living, Elias
and Levi, merchants, Thomas J. and Munroe, the latter a bookkeeper, and
both residing in Kentucky. His two sisters are Ella, wife of William
J. McKee, of Kentucky, an old-time railroad conductor, for twenty-five
years with the E. P. R. R.; and Nora, wife of John Beloit, a Presbyterian
clergyman, living in the northeastern portion of Kentucky. September
7, 1887, Richard P. Webb was married to Alice A. Hensel, a native of Minnesota.
The ceremony was perfomred at Waterville, Douglas county, Washington.
The bride's father, Charles W. Hensel, is a native of Germany, coming to
the Unied States when nineteen years of age. At present he resides
six miles north of Waterville. His wife, Minnie (Wagamouth) Hensel,
was also born in Germany, and now resides with her husband. Mrs.
Webb, wife of our subject, has six brothers, George, Theodore, Levi, Samuel,
Alfred B., and Arthur and three sisters, Ida, Minnie and Rosie. Mr.
and Mrs. Webb have four children, Nellie B., George W., Charles C. and
Lawrence W. Fraternally our subject is a member of Riverside Lodge
No. 112, A. F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master, and also of Badger
Mountain Lodge, Waterville, being a charter member of both lodges; has
attended grand lodge nearly every year since; is a member of the Brotherhood
of American Yeomen; of Wenatchee Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M., and the 0.
E. S., and Mrs. Webb is a member of the 0. E. S. and Brotherhood of American
Yeomen auxiliary. Mr. Webb is also a member of W. 0. W. They are
both members of the Christian church.
Mr. Webb arrived in Waterville with a fair
capital, and was quite successful in business until 1893, the era of "hard
times," when wheat dropped to twenty-two cents a bushel, and was a drug
on the market at that price. But he left the county seat of Douglas
county solvent, and with every debt squared and sufficient money to purchase
his present location.