Roy G. Webb

WEBB, GOODWIN, CROWTHER

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/15/2011 at 07:48:20

Roy G. Webb, of Spencer, Clay county, needs no introduction to the readers of this work who know anything of the affairs of that locality, for he has for many years held a place in the forefront of those who have promoted the public welfare while advancing their individual interests. Mr. Webb has been a lifelong resident of Spencer, his birth having occurred here on the 30th of September, 1878, and is a son of William Henry and Eva May (Goodwin) Webb. His parents, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, came to Spencer in 1877, the father engaging in farming and stock raising, in which he was very successful. He took an active interest in public affairs and represented his district one term in the state legislature. He died May 3, 1914, and his wife passed away in 1906. Her father, James Goodwin, also was prominent in public affairs and served as a member of the general assembly of Iowa. He was one of the two first merchants in Spencer before the railroad was constructed to this point. To Mr. and Mrs. Webb were born three children, namely: A son who died in infancy; Roy, of this review; and Anna Grace, who died at the age of fifteen years.

Roy G. Webb was reared on the home farm and secured his education in the public schools. He has carried forward the operation of the farm since his father's death and has been more than ordinarily successful, being a man of sound judgment and energetic methods. His now farming three quarter sections of land and gives the major portion of his attention to the raising of live stock.

On October 2, 1900, Mr. Webb was united in marriage to Miss Mabel H. Crowther, who was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and they now have two children, Lola Mae and William Forrest. Politically Mr. Webb is an ardent supporter of the republican party, while his religious connection is with the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, which was named after his sister. His father was for many years a member of the board of trustees of this church and on his death Roy G. Webb was elected in his place, and has been president of the board continuously since. He is an active and appreciative member of the Masonic order, in which he has taken the degrees of the various branches while in 1921 he was made a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, the preliminary degree to the thirty-third and last degree in Freemasonry. He has presided in the chairs of three bodies and at present is the presiding officer of the Royal Arch Chapter and also commander of the Knights Templar Commandery. He joined the order in 1906 and one year later was elected to the office of junior warden and in January, 1908, was installed and has held office in other of the Masonic bodies continuously since, a period of nineteen years. In 1910, as master of the lodge, he conferred the degrees on his father. He was also president of the Masonic Temple Association for nine consecutive years and he belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has taken a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and was for seven years president of the Clay County Fair Association. Mrs. Webb was worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star for two years and has been very actively engaged in church work, having been for seven years district treasurer of the Women's Home Missionary Society. Mr. Webb is a man of strong individuality, earnest in motive and action, and intensely loyal to his community, of which he has long been regarded as a representative citizen.

Contributed by: Debbie Clough Gerischer. Source: Northwestern Iowa, Its History and Tradition, Volume III, 1804-1926.

ROY G. WEBB needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. The family name has figured conspicuously in connection with substantial progress in Clay county for many years and the subject of this review is now classed with the representative agriculturists of Summit township, his home being on section 36. In all of his business affairs he is energetic and progressive and as a farmer and stock-raiser is doing a successful business, being now the owner of some five hundred acres of arable land which includes his father's old homestead.

Mr. Webb is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Clay county on the farm which is still his home, his natal day being September 3, 1878. Here he was reared, and the public schools largely afforded him his educational privileges. His course in the Spencer high school was supplemented by two years' study in Mount Vernon College, and thus well equipped for life's practical and responsible duties, he later joined his father in South Dakota and assisted him in the management and conduct of his stores there. Like his father, he manifests notable enterprise in carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In 1903 he returned to Clay county and to the old home farm, and has since given his time and energies to agricultural pursuits, being one of the active, wide-awake and alert farmers of this portion of the state. He makes a business of raising, feeding and fattening stock for the market, handling cattle, sheep and hogs. He now has a flock of six hundred sheep, about one hundred and fifty head of cattle and a large number of hogs. He fattens and ships several carloads of stock each year and this brings him a substantial annual income.

A wedding ceremony which was performed in Mount Vernon, Iowa, on the 2d of October, 1900, united the destinies of Roy G. Webb and Miss Mabel Growther, who was born in Correctionville, Iowa, but was reared and educated in Sioux City. They now have one daughter, Lola May. The parents are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Spencer, to which his father also belongs. In its work they are much interested and are generous contributors to its support. Mr. Webb has never sought nor desired office, yet has always given unfaltering allegiance to the republican party and its principles. He has been identified, however, with the schools in an official capacity, serving as president of the school board for several years, during, which time he has done effective work in upholding the standard of public education. Prominent in Masonry, he belongs to the lodge and chapter at Spencer, while he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He has served as an officer in both the lodge and chapter and is loyal to the teachings of the fraternity which is based upon the principles of mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.

Source: History of Clay County, Iowa, by Samuel Gillespie and James E. Steele. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1909.