Louis Rand Webb and Marta Johnson

Updated October 28, 2007

Familytree

Louis Rand WEBB was born on 9 JUN 1867 in Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin Death: 26 JUL 1946 in Josephine General Hospital, Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon.

Medical Information: Complete Heart Block and Bundle Branch Block for 3 weeks. Coronary Sclerosis, degenerative myocaditis, and Clevoni gestriclis. In hosp. for 3 wks before death.

INFORMATION; He had many different occupations.  In 1890, he worked for the railroad. Occupation #2 BET. 1900 - 1901, he was an Agent for Prudential Insurance Company.  Occupation #3 BET. 1901 - 1902, he was a Clerk for Wm. Tackaberry (wholesale grocers and importers) boards with Victor Soderstrom S. Paxton and Cherry Streets Morningside (suburb section of Sioux City, Ia).  Occupation #4 BET. 1904 - 1940, he worked as a  Miner in Waldo, OR.  Occupation #5 14 FEB 1907, he owned and worked for Webb Mines Company, Mines at Deering, Josephine County, Oregon and Monumental, Del Norte County, California.  Occupation #6 BET. 1935 - 1946, he was a writer for his hometown newspaper called the Grants Pass Courier as "Phil Snort"           CLICK HERE TO READ SOME OF THE                        PHIL SNORT ARTICLES

Josephine County, Oregon, September 2, 1908;  Louis R. Webb first being duly sworn deposes and says that he went from Elk Creek over divide to head of Smith River on Sunday, August 9, 1908 in company with Vaughn W. Ash, C.T. Webb and Martin Peterson, and on or about Tuesday, August 11, he Louis R. Webb left a cabin on Smith River in company with Martin Peterson and after going about 80 rods he Louis R. Webb set fire to leaves upon the ground and then he Louis R. Webb and Martin Peterson proceeded to Elk Valley.  He Louis R. Webb says that he set this fire as a back fire to protect our cabin from a fire which was already rageing.  This memo is signed by Louis R. Webb and witnesses are Robert A Dean and Vaughan Willaim Ash.

Louis was convicted on 16 DEC 1909 in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California for setting a fire.  He was sentenced to the Oakland County jail for a year.

Per family stories, Louis was a trapez artist for the Barlem Bailey Circus in the 1800's.  He did this with his brother David.  Louis played the violen very well.  He owned 40 acres of land in Waldo, Oregon on the boarder line of Oregon and California.  The government wanted the land to build a park.  They finally got the land from his son Verne Webb and no park was ever built.  Louis had a pet couger that he and his two young sons had raised since birth.  It was tame as a cat and someone stole it during the night in later years but that didn't stop Verne from finding another cub to raise.. Louis and Marta lived in a shed built with logs and wood.  They owned lots of goats and chickens per their niece Emma Lemm..  It is also said that Louis was a drunk and pushed around Marta until her sons told him off.

Louis Rand Webb married Martha Johnson on 28 June 1902 in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa.  Their witnesses were Geo. H. Cornel? and Mary P. Tyler who was a neighbor of Marta's.

Marta "Martha" JOHNSON She was born on 5 DEC 1877 in Jemptland, Sweden.  She did on June 5, 1945 in Josephine General Hospital, Grants Pass, Josephine, Oregon where she was in the hospital for 4 months before her death. Burial: 8 JUN 1945 in Laurel Cemetery in Cave Junction, Josephine County, Oregon

INFORMATION; Immigration was in 1897 per the census.  She lived with George Carroll in Sioux City, Woodbury County, IA, in 1900.  This may be the best man from her wedding.  She lived at 13th street, 4th ward, Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa per the 1900 census.  She is the daughter of Nels JOHNSON (b: in Sweden) and Ellen ANDERSON (b: in Sweden).  Per Family stories, Martha was a very sweet and quiet woman that always made people feel welcomed into her home.  It is also said that Louis was a bit rough on her especially when he had been drinking.

Louis and Marta Webb had 4 Children Click here to learn more about them

Donna Ione WEBB born about 1903 in Sioux City, Woodbury Couny, Iowa Stillborn WEBB born about 1904 Theodore Roosevelt WEBB born 26 AUG 1905 in Elks Valley, Oregon Verne Rand WEBB born 7 SEP 1907 in Oregon

Obituary for Marta Johnson Webb Illinois Valley News, Thursday, June 7, 1945 AND Grants Pass Daily Courier Wednesday, June 6, 1945 page 3; Marta Webb Dies in Hosptial; Marta Webb, 67, passed away Tuesday, June 6, at 10:30pm at the Josephine General Hospital where she had been a patient for three months.  Her home was in Elk Valley, near O'Brien, Oregon.  Mrs. Webb was born Marta Johnson in Jemptland, Sweden, Dec. 5, 1877 and came to this country in 1887 with her parents who settled near Beresford, South Dakota.  She had been a resident of Elk Valley since 1904.  Survivors include her husband, Louis R. Webb; two sons, Ted R. Webb, Klamath Falls, Verne R. Webb, Seiad, Cal; one step-daugher, Mrs. Angie Eggers, Crescent City; three sisters, Emma Viburn, Moscow, Idaho, Ella Westberg, Moscow, Idaho, and Ethel Dodge, Priest River, Idaho; two brothers, John Johnson, Beresford, South Dakota, Andrew Johnson, O'brien, Oregon.  Funeral services will be held in the Community Church in Cave Junction  Friday, June 8 at 2pm with Judge W. A. Johnson officating.  Interment will be in the IOOF cemetery in Kerby.  The Hull and Hull funeral home is in charge of local arrangments.  Mr. and Mrs. Webb came to the valley 41 years ago and are old pioneers, and have a host of friends.

Obituary for Louis R. Webb Illinois Valley News, Front Page 8-1-1946.  Long Time Valley Resident Dies at 79 Louis Webb, 79, of Elk Creek, one of the best known Illinois Valleyiste died Friday, July 26 at the Josephine General Hospital after a prolonged illness.  Webb was born in Minnesota in 1867 and came to the Illinois Valley about 30 years ago.  His philosophies were widely read in the News and the Grants Pass Courier under the nom de plume of "Phil Snort" in his frequent letters to the editors.  He is survived by his son, Verne Webb of O'Brien.  His wife died last year.  Funeral services were conducted by the Grants Pass Elks Lodge Tuesday, July 30 at the I.O.O.F cemetery in Kerby

CENSUS RECORDS FOR LOUIS WEBB; 1870 census taken on August 5, 1870, Town of Wonewoc, Juneau Cty, Wisconsin, page 20, dwelling 153, family 148, line 2, Lewis R., age 3, Born in WI 1880 census taken on June 17, 1880, Wonewoc Township, Juneau County, Wisconsin, Page 18, Super Dist # 2, Ed# 199, dwelling 181, family #2, line 5, Lewis, age 13, son, attending school, born in Wis., Father born in New York and mother born in "Penn." 1885 census taken in July 1885, Wonewoc Township, Juneau County, Wisconsin, C. F. Webb has 3 males and 4 females living together.  (Clark, Louis, David, Harriet, Bella, Susan and Harriett) 1895 census (Doesn't say when it was taken), Town of Wonewoc, Juneau County, Wisconsin, Lewis Webb has 2 males and 1 female living together. (Louis, son John?, wife Helen) 1900 census.  No where to be found in Wisconsin, Iowa (Taken in June of 1900), nor Oregon. 1910 census taken April 19, 1910 in Oakland City, Oakland Township, Alameda County Jail in Alameda, California.  L. R. Webb, Prisoner, m,w,44,m2, wisconsin, NY,NY, English, Miner crossed off stating NONE, Gold crossed off. 1920 census Louis, Martha, Teddy and Verna lived in Waldo ed218, page 2b, #58 in Josephine County, Oregon.  Brother David and Sister Hattie lived nearby.  Father Clark T. Webb lived with Hattie.  Martha's brother, Andrew Johnson age 33 from Swedan also lived with Louis. 1930 census; taken 23-24 of April, ed 17-24, sht 1A, line 31,  Louis R. Webb does not live on a farm but rents his home, 62 years old, married at 36, can read and write, doesn't work.  He lives with Martha and Theodore R.  He lives near his brother David L. and his sister Hattie M. Evitt.