Benjamin Franklin Webb

GEDCOM Note

As the American Civil War began to wind down, the United States Government wanted the southern states to be settled just as quickly as they could. The Indians were being driven out, and discouraged from putting up a fight. Cotton was in demand and the soil in Alabama (sandy Loam) was considered to be ideal for most types of crops. To entice settlers to come to Alabama, the government advertised the availability of cheap land at about $1.00 or $2.00 per acre, if purchased in sizeable numbers. Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Webb was one of the people who answered the call. He lived in North Carolina at the time, and his hometown of Kinston had been devastated by the war. When the war broke out, he was just under 15 years old.

It is not known exactly when he came to Alabama, but he built the first house in what's now Webb, Alabama in the year 1890. It was a simple wooden frame structure. Soon, he was joined by three other families; J.D. Worrell, C.V. Miller, and I. W. Brackin. And, more families continued to arrive and build homes. Later, in 1899, the Central of Georgia Railroad was building its road through Webb's Plantation. He negotiated with the railroad, and they built a depot in the center of the little settlement after Frank Webb deeded just over 23 acres to the railroad. In the year 1900, railroad service through the town began. Just prior to incorporation, mail service to the settlement had begun on June 8, 1900. The first postmaster was Vander L. Webb, son of Frank Webb.

Later, on October 31, 1903, the residents of the little settlement voted to incorporate the four mile square settlement. Streets were laid out, and the town was named after its founder, "Webb". Soon, J.D. Worrell built the first store in town, and Vander Webb also built a store. It had become apparent that the little town would grow, so Frank Webb, laid out one-acre lots for homes. He sold them for about $15.00 each, as new residents kept moving to the new town. Some of the other early residents were, N.D. Antley, L.A. Kirkland, A.B. Radney, W. Ragan, C.J. Gamble, W.W. Snead, Lindon Kirkland, J.F. Adams, O.W. Brackin, L.M. Armstrong, B.E. Cox, W.H. Lawton, D.R. Miller, M. Nall, A.J. Barefield, C.L. Brackin, J.D. Milton, T.J. Clemons, E.S. Radney, T.W. Roberson, F.M. Kinght, C.A. Stanton, J.N. Christian, W.P. Hooten, R. S. Brown, Jr., J.M. Blissett, W.J. Mimes, J.A. Richardon, V.H. Brown, E.D. Brackin, E.L. Brackin, N.C. Vickers, C.V. Webb, S.M. Knowles, T. N. Roberson, O.E. Davis, A.D. Brackin, A. Nichols, Oscar Howard, E.L. Johnson, W.M. Arnold, G. W. Arnold, Isaac Brackin, H.E. Buckhalt, J.J. Buckhalt, J.H. White, W.C. Webb, J.S. bennett, J.A. Mills, and J.M. Campbell.

In 1903, a young son of William Cas Webb died and the town had no place to bury the child. Frank Webb stepped up again, and donated a one-acre cornfield for use as a cemetery. The corn from cleared from the land and the child was buried. That acre of land is now known as Webb Cemetery. And, many of the people named thus far are sleep the long sleep in that hallowed place.

In 1909, the first school was constructed, and consisted of four rooms. That building burned down in 1930, leading to the construction of a permanent school, now known as Webb School. The town of Webb continued to grow, and reached its peak in approximately 1918 to 1920. And, at one time there were over 16 businesses, to include drug stores, doctors offices, and a barber shop. The town remained viable, even though passenger train service ended in the 1950s, and the depot reportedly burned down. The area where the depot stood is now a park.