Thomson Rodes Webber
SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878
SURNAMES: BASKET, BLADES, CARSON, MUNHALL, THOMPSON, WEBBER
THOMSON RODES WEBBER. The life of a man so honorably and prominently connected with the history of Champaign county, from its birth, in 1833, up to the present, possesses unusual interest for its citizens. Such a man is the subject of this sketch.
Thomson R. Webber is of German extraction, on the father's side, and a native of Shelby county, Kentucky. He is the son of W. T. and Nancy (BASKET) WEBBER, who came with their parents from Virginia to Kentucky. The grandfather, Rev. Philip WEBBER, was a Baptist clergyman. Thomson R. Webber was the eldest of a family of thirteen children, of whom seven are living, and of whom three, besides the subject of this sketch, Wm. H. WEBBER, George G. WEBBER and Mrs. Nancy MUNHALL, are residents of this county.
Mr. Webber was born on the 6th of October, 1807, and spent the days of his youth on a farm. He was ten years of age when he first started to school to a teacher named Carey Williams. The school, like many others of that period afforded but limited advantages for acquiring an education, but the lack of facilities of education were measurably supplied by the interest taken and aid furnished by the father. He attended school as much as was possible, until the age of seventeen years, when, at the solicitation of the neighbors, he became a teacher and taught, for three months, in a back room of his father's house. He succeeded in this calling so well that he followed it for seven years.
In 1831, he was married to Miss Martha THOMPSON, also a resident of Shelhy county.
In the fall of 1832 Mr. Webber emigrated from Kentucky to the Big Grove Settlement, in what is now Champaign county intending to open a school, but no chance offered. On the creation of the county, in 1833, he was, by the county court, appointed clerk, during good behavior, and also appointed, by Gov. John Reynolds, recorder and notary public. On the change in the law, making the office elective, Mr. Webber was elected to the same position and held the office of county clerk continuously, until 1856, a period of twenty-three years. He also, for the same period, filled the office of circuit clerk. Mr. Webber was a good officer, and spared no pains to serve the people well, and their appreciation of him was cordial and marked.
In 1837, Mrs. Webber died. In 1838, Mr. Webber was married to Miss Anna B. Carson, of Champaign county. He had three children by his first wife, two of whom survive, and two surviving children by his second wife. All are residents of this county except the only daughter, Mrs. BLADES, who lives in Kentucky.
Mr. Webber's first vote was cast for Gen. Jackson for his second term, and on all national and State questions, he has voted with the Democrats. He heartily supported the candidacy of Mr. Greeley. He enjoyed for many years the friendship and confidence of Abraham Lincoln, and is a warm, personal friend of Judge David Davis, senator of Illinois. He has served as the representative of the people in two constitutional conventions, viz., in 1847 and in 1860. The constitution submitted by the first was adopted, and that submitted by the latter was rejected, by the people.
Such is a brief and imperfect sketch of a valuable officer, a useful citizen, and a good man, Thomson Rodes Webber, of Urbana.