Webb - Reuben-Sarah - 50th - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Sunday at the home of James VanCleave, was celebrated the 50th wedding anniversary of the marriage of Reuben "Horace" Webb and Sarah Webb of this place. The children, five in number, namely, Charles Webb, Mrs. Carrie Crane, William Webb and Mrs. James Vancleave all of Wingate and Mrs. Emily Wright of Salina, KS all of whom were present planned and carried out this celebration. An event to be proud of and remember with reverance in the history of any family. There are a few families who celebrate at least one golden wedding, but in this particular family there are many remarkable features deserving of mention, besides the mere fact that a golden wedding was celebrated, which in itself is a rare occurrence, and waht is still more are is the second golden anniversary celebrated in one family as has been the case in this (Webb) family. Another remarkable thing on this occasion was the fact that five generations, all present on this one day, were not only the eldest of the family in each generation but were also the male members of each and of the same name, something we have never heard of before int he history of any family. They are Reuben Webb, age 93; Horace Webb, son of Reuben age 71; Charles Webb son of Horace 48; Manford son of Charles 29 and Elmer son of Manford 8. We have amny times read of the five generations wehre they were sons and daguthers but never before where the 5 generations were all sons. Another feature of this even worth mentioning is that four in the fifth generation were present. But the most noteworthy of all is that the father, Reuben T. Webb who lives at the present time with his daughter, MRs. Brunton in Lafayette was present at the golden wedding of his son and who although almost blind is rugged and heatlhy, considering his advanced age. He was born in Bornw CO, Ohio on 28 March 1817. He springs from the sterling English ancestory on both the paternal and maternal sides and is an honored veteran of the civilw ar and he with his good wife celebrated their 70th anniversary over a year before she died in the year 1906. They were married May 5, 1835 in Brown County, Ohio and at the time of his marriage Mr. Webb was but 18 years old. He acquired his early eduation in the pioneer schools of Borwn Co Ohio when the schools were conducted on the subjsscription plan and were held in a little log building with a stick chimney and an immense fireplace ten feet long. On the fire was placed a high back log which was rolled in place by the big boys and would last two days. The windows were made by taking out a secdtion of logs from the sides of the room and covering the aperture with greased paper. The cabin floor, seats and desks were of puncheon and the instructions were also as primitive. Mr. Webb attended school only until he was 9 years old as his services were needed on the farm. When a youth of 13 he began learning the cooper's trae which he followed for several years after his marriage. On the first of Oct 1849 they removed to Indiana making the journey in wagons and were 11 days on the road. They located the first winter in Pleasant HIll now Wingate, Montgomery Co but in the spring removed to Tippecanoe between that and Fountain Co. In 1861 he purchased the property in Corwin, now Romney Ind where he made his home until the death of his wife. ON the 12th day of October 1861 Mr. Webb enlisted under Capt. Henry Leaming in Co. C 40th Ind Regiment Indiana volunteers to serve for 3 years, but after the 15th month he was honorable discharged on account of blindness. However he participated in the battles of Shiloh under Buell and many other skirmishes on the way to Cornith and Perrysville. He was stricken with blindness in camp at Cornith and thus totally disabled for military service he was discharged. He was a most patriotic and loyal soldier and the same qualities were manifested in two of his sons, who went to the front, James who was in the 20th Ind Inf reenlisted in the US regulars and served 6 years following the stars and stripes for almost a decade. He is now deceased. Reuben Horace served 4 years in the 63rd Ind Inf. and was wounded in the battle of Resaca. A son-in-law, Frank L. Perkins also served int he 63rd and died of typhoid fever. Mr. Webb's loyalty to all duties of citizenship intreste in home and endeavor to instill into the minds of his chidren sterling traits of character, the word of cheer and hearty laugh with which he and his good wife met every obstacle made them loved by all who knew them. We well rmember an old saying of Grandma Webb: "you must laugh to be healthy"and we have often heard her say that was what made her live so long. Another remarkable thing at this gathering was the presentce of Aunt Lydia McJimsey, mother of Mrs. Charles Webb who will be 87 years old this coming Sunday. She is a wonderful old lady. She does embroidery and other sewing without the aid of spectacles, attends church does her own housework and takes trip son the train alone, better than many a younger woman.