Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

R. D. WEBB, wagon-maker, Plainfield. Methodist. Owns the wagon-shop where the old 
foundry once stood; was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. 2, 1829; served seven 
years in that place, learning wagon-making; came to this country and first stopped 
in Milwaukee in November, 1850; remained there during the following winter and 
worked at joiner work; in the spring of 1851, came to this place, and worked as a 
carpenter and joiner until 1862; he then, in company with Jacob HOFFER, bought the 
old foundry known as the DILLMAN property, and engaged in the manufacture, of 
wagons and doing repair work generally; Mr. W. and Mr. H. continued together about 
six months; at the end of that time Mr. HOFFER sold out to Mr. WEBB's father; the 
new firm continued together until 1867; Mr. W. then bought his father out, and 
since that time has carried on the business alone; during the late war twelve 
workmen were constantly employed; the demand at that time was enormous; one year 
alone, during the war, Mr. W. manufactured 150 wagons; in 1854, Mr. W. returned 
to England on a visit, and while there, the following year in January, he married 
Mary WARD; she was born in Yorkshire, England; they have no children. The building 
that Mr. W. formerly conducted business in was, destroyed by fire Jan. 28, 1877; 
the loss was about $3,000; no insurance; Mr. W.'s townsmen and neighbors immediately 
raised him $300 to purchase timber to rebuild, and in a very short space of time the 
lumber was bought and hauled to the ground free of charge, and the present shop was 
raised; no interruption of his business occurred; Mr. W. still continues at the old
stand; manufactures wagons and does repairing on all kinds of farm machinery.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.