Charles M. Webb facts for kids

Charles Morton Webb (born December 30, 1833 – died August 12, 1911) was an important American lawyer, judge, and politician. He served as a judge for the Wisconsin Circuit Court for 28 years. He was also a United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin and a member of the Wisconsin State Senate.

Quick facts for kids The Honorable Charles M. Webb
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 7th Circuit
In office 1883 – August 12, 1911
Appointed by	Jeremiah McLain Rusk
Preceded by	Gilbert L. Park
Succeeded by	Byron B. Park
United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin
In office July 1870 – February 14, 1878
President	Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes
Preceded by	John B. D. Cogswell (District of Wisconsin)
Succeeded by	H. M. Lewis
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 11th district
In office January 1, 1883 – April 1883
Preceded by	Thomas B. Scott
Succeeded by	Merritt Clarke Ring
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 27th district
In office January 1, 1869 – January 1, 1871
Preceded by	E. L. Browne
Succeeded by	Myron Reed
Mayor of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin
In office 1880–1881
District Attorney of Wood County
In office January 1, 1859 – September 1861
Personal details
Born	Charles Morton Webb (1833-12-30)December 30, 1833 Towanda, Pennsylvania
Died	August 12, 1911(1911-08-12) (aged 77) Grand Rapids, Wisconsin
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Prudence Jane Pierce (m. 1857; died 1914)
Children	Clara (Harvie) (b. 1865; died 1948) 2 other daughters
Parents	John Leland Webb (father) Annis (Hammond) Webb (mother)
Relatives	William C. Webb (brother)
Occupation	lawyer, judge
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1862
Rank	1st Lieutenant, USV
Unit	12th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Early Life and Education

Charles Morton Webb was born on December 30, 1833. His hometown was Towanda, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of five children. His parents were John L. Webb and Annis (Hammond) Webb.

Charles got a basic education, but he left school at age 12. He started working as a typesetter in a printing office. A typesetter arranges letters for printing.

In 1850, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He studied there for one year. After that, he moved to Washington, D.C.. For three years, he worked at the United States Government Publishing Office. This office prints government documents. Working there, he learned a lot about the important debates happening before the Civil War.

These experiences inspired him to become a lawyer. He went back home and studied law with a top lawyer in his city. In 1857, he passed his exams and became a lawyer. That same year, he married Jane Pierce.

Moving to Wisconsin and Early Career

Charles's brothers, William and Henry, had already moved to Wisconsin. In 1857, Charles Webb and his wife followed them. In 1858, Charles worked as a clerk for the Wisconsin State Assembly. His brother William was a member of the Assembly at that time.

In April 1858, Charles moved to Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. He lived there for the rest of his life. In 1858, he was elected District Attorney for Wood County, Wisconsin. A District Attorney is a lawyer who represents the government in court cases. He was re-elected in 1860. However, he resigned in 1861 to join the army during the American Civil War.

Service in the Civil War

Webb became a First Lieutenant for Company G in the 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This regiment was formed in Madison, Wisconsin. They officially joined the army in October 1861. In December, they marched to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

His unit worked in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. This was a military area west of the Mississippi River. The regiment patrolled and guarded areas around Leavenworth until the spring of 1862. In May 1862, after serving for eight months, Webb resigned from the army. He then returned to Wisconsin.

Political and Judicial Career

Back in Wood County, Webb continued his public service. In 1864, he was elected Clerk of the County Board of Supervisors. He was re-elected to this role in 1866.

In 1868, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate as a Republican. He served in the Senate during 1869 and 1870. In the summer of 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Webb as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. He was re-appointed in 1874 and served until 1878.

In 1880, he became the Mayor of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. He was re-elected in 1881. In late 1881, he was appointed to a position at the U.S. Land Office in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. This office managed public lands. He resigned the next summer to return to Wisconsin.

In 1882, he was elected to another term in the State Senate. However, he left this position early in 1883. This was because Governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk appointed him as a judge for the Wisconsin Circuit Court.

Charles Webb served as a judge for the 7th Circuit for the rest of his life. This was a period of 28 years. He won re-election five times: in 1884, 1890, 1896, 1902, and 1908. He tried to get higher political offices a few times. In 1893, he ran for the Wisconsin Supreme Court but did not win. In 1894, he tried to become the Republican candidate for Governor but was unsuccessful. After the 1894 election, Governor Upham offered him a position on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, but Webb turned it down.

Charles Webb passed away on August 12, 1911.