Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3163in Company C, Forty-fifth Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under Capt.W. C. Carter, for service under the flag of the Confederacy during the warbetween the states. He was mustered into the service of the South at Griffin,Georgia, and received his baptism of fire in the seven days fighting at RichmoncT,Virginia. He next was a participant in the bloody battle of Manassas,following which he took part in the battles of Harpers Ferry, Chancellorsvilleand Gettysburg, at the last named of which he was wounded. Uponrecovery he rejoined his regiment and May 6, 1864, was in the fierce fightingthat took place on the plank road during the battle of the Wilderness. Herehe received a bullet wound which cut his heel string, and for some time he wasconfined to Jthe hospital, but in July, 1864, rejoined his regiment in time totake part in the battle of Petersburg and that of Weldon Railroad. On July31, 1864, he was at Petersburg when the mines were sprung, and shortly thereafter he was incapacitated by rheumatism, being compelled to remain in campat Petersburg until February, 1865. Not long after reporting at the hospitalat Macoii, Georgia, he was granted a furlough, and was next transferred toFort Valley, where he remained, until taken to Eufaula, Alabama, where hewas situated at the time of the surrender of General Lee and the close of thewar. Mr. Webfe was with Gen. Stonewall Jackson at the time of that braveand distinguished officer's death. Among those who were members of his company and who are still living are R. V. Brown, of Arabi; R. J. Brown, ofVienna; and Jack Cribbs, of Ashburn. With a record for brave and faithfulservice, Mr. Webb returned to the duties of peace and again took up agricultural work. From modest beginnings he became one of the substantial plantersof Berrien (Tift) County, and still resides on his homestead place, where hehas lived for more than forty years, being hale and hearty in spite of hisseven ty-se^en years. Always a devout and faithful member of the BaptistChurch, he has long been a minister in that denomination and on occasionsstill fills local pulpits.Reverend Webb has been married twice, his first wife, Miss Laura Daniels,died at the age of thirty-five, about the year 1873. To this first union wereborn fhree children: Joseph T., James I. J., and Ella. Joseph T. is living, butJames I. J. and Ella are de'ad. Subsequently Reverend Webb married SarahCatherine Sinclair, and to them were born twelve children, of whom thefollowing survive: William F., a resident of Tifton; Elias L., also of- thiscity; Henry D.; George G., of Tifton; Margaret Elizabeth, who is nowMrs. Marchant; Louisa Lee, who is now Mrs. Tates and resides at Macon;and Miss Jacie, who makes her home with her father.Henry D. Webb was brought up on his father's farm and his boyhood. was divided between his duties on the homestead and his studies at thedistrict schools of Tift County. As a young man he followed agriculturalpursuits until he obtained a position as clerk in the post office at Tifton, andsubsequently he turned his attention to mercantile lines, becoming a salesmanfor a mercantile house at Tifton and continuing in this line for eight years.In this capacity he became well known to the people of this community as ayoung man of enterprise and real worth, and when he made the race forcounty clerk received the support of the best people of the community andwas elected by a handsome majority, March 3, 1908. During his first termhe fully lived up to his pre-election promises and discharged his duties soexpeditiously and satisfactorily that the people saw no reason to make achange. As the years have passed he has been retained in office by a contented public and his record as an official speaks for itself. Mr. Webb "hasalways been a stanch democrat, and wields no small influence in countypolitical affairs. With his family, he belongs to the Baptist Church. Fraternally, he is affiliated w^th the Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Orderof Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, theModern Woodmen of America and the Sovereign Woodmen of the World.