Compiled by Jonathan Webb Deiss, 2003. www.webbdeiss.org
CHRONOLOGICAL ABSTRACT
Oliver Webb and family moved to Minnesota in 1856. They came to the wilderness then known as Roscoe township, but hardly resembling a town. The Town of Roscoe was named from a suggestion by Charles Dana in 1858 after the town in Illinois where he had come from prior to living in Minnesota. Roscoe is in Goodhue County, Minnesota, township 109, range 16, bordered on the east by Pine Island township, on the south by Dodge county…
The family’s journey was described
in the History of Hamline University (1907), page 202-3, “In 1856 a covered
wagon, drawn by oxen, came slowly from Indiana to Roscoe, Goodhue County,
Minnesota. The wagon bore the father
and mother, four husky boys and two girls; they were the Webb family. ‘They crossed
the prairie as of old, The Pilgrims crossed the sea, To Make the West as they
the East, The Homestead of the Free.’
They took a claim, they built a house, they turned the sod, and made
cattle sheds of straw.”
Part of the cash entry sale (detailed below) was the pre-emption of government land settled prior to statehood; Oliver was required to prove residency and improvement to obtain the land in addition to the 38 acres purchased. Oliver and each of his three eldest sons (Harvey, Francis, Loren) had 200 acre farms, and the homestead may or may not be part of that land.
Prior to or just after moving to
and purchasing land in Minnesota, Oliver and Louisa Webb sold the land they
owned in Marshall County, Indiana.
Extracted from ‘Early Land Records – Marshall County, Indiana’, Swamp Land,
Canal Land. Grantor to Grantee deeds…
Oliver Webb & wife to Abram S. Hand, Warranty Deed, 13 March 1857
S/2 SE/4 E 18 MRL, Bk L 244
Oliver Webb & wife to John Kinnett, Warranty Deed, 14 March 1857
SE Corner SE/4 E 18 MRL, Bk L 141
Oliver Webb & wife to John H. Armstrong, Warranty Deed, 9 April 1857
SE/4 E 18 MRL, Bk L 334
Oliver Webb & Louisa
Webb to John Hutchinson, Warranty Deed, 23 August 1859
S/2 SE/4 E 18 MRL, Bk O 176
1857
Census, Inhabitants of Town
109, Range 16 in the County of Goodhue, Territory of Minnesota
enumerated 21st Day of October AD 1857 – W.W. DeKay, Ass’t Marshall
Dwellings#/Family#, Age, Sex, Color, Place of Birth, Voter, Occupation of
all males over 15
1 / 1, Harvey Webb, 26, Male, na, Ohio, 1, Farmer
1 / 1, Jemima Webb, 24, Female, na, Ohio, na
1 / 1, Benjamin Webb, 3, Male, na, Indiana, na
2 / 2, Francis Webb, 21, Male, na, Ohio, 1, Farmer
2 / 2, Rachel Webb, 19, Female, na, Indiana, na
2 / 2, Clara May Webb, 7/12, Female, na, Indiana, na
2 / 2, Oliver Webb, 57, Male, na, New York, 1, Farmer
2 / 2, Lester A. Webb, 15, Male, na, Ohio, na
2 / 2, Martin L. Webb, 13, Male, na, Ohio, na
3 / 3, not transcribed
4 / 4, not transcribed
5 / 5, Charles Dana, 42, Male, na, Vermont, 1, Farmer
5 / 5, Sally A. Dana, 42, Female, na, New York, na
5 / 5, Edward Dana, 17, Male, na, Illinois, na, Farmer
5 / 5, Charles Dana Jr., 6, Male,
na, Illinois, na
Of interest in this transcription is the fact that Oliver’s wife Louisa, his son Loren and all of his daughters are not living with him in Minnesota in 1857. Loren was living in the Chillson Hotel in Red Wing, employed as a printer by Lucius F. Hubbard.
With the exception of Loren, they are all on the 1860 Federal Census, so it is assumed that in the years between 1857 and 1860, they joined the family on the frontier. It also adds validity to the statements made concerning Francis Webb, wife Rachel Lewis, and daughter Clara moving to Minnesota but returning to Indiana before 1860. Additionally, it can now be known that Harvey’s wife Jemima, and son, Benjamin, were born in Ohio, and Indiana respectively and not Michigan, as is erroneously indicated in the 1870 census and that daughter Nellie was subsequently born in Minnesota (after this census was taken).
Histories, maps, sources :
[History of Goodhue County,
by J. W. Hancock ‘An old settler’, published in 1893 – pages about Roscoe
Township (1) (2) (3)]
1858
1859
1860
Preemption Land
Owner Name: Oliver Webb
Date: 01 July 1861 (although it was occupied as early as 1856)
Location: MN
Document #: 5096
Serial #: MN1220_.350
Sale Type: cash entry sale (preemption)
Acres: 38.16
Meridian or Watershed: 5TH
Parcel: Township 109 N, Range 16 W, Section 18
Document Images : (1) (2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Document Transcriptions :
(1) (Bureau of Land Management un-certified
copy of preemption certificate) pending
[click here to see
an image of this document]
(2) Reference
Service Slip from the National Archives (reproducing the information on
this document would allow anyone to request the same set of documents
reproduced herein)
[click here
to see an image of this document]
(3) No 5096
St. Peter, Minn
--
5096 St. Peter
Patented July 1st 1861
Recorded Vol 8 page 350
[click here
to see an image of these documents]
(4) No 5096 Land Office at St. Peter, Min Oct 3 –
1860 It is hereby certified, that, in
pursuance of Law, Oliver Webb of Goodhue County, State pf Minnesota on this day
purchased of the Register of this Office, the Lot, or SW¼ & SW¼ -- of
Section No. 18 – of Township No. 109 north of Range No. 16 west containing
38.16 acres, at the rate of one dollar and 25 cents per acre, amounting to
forty seven – dollars and 70 cents – cents, for which the said Oliver Webb has
made payment in full as required by law.
No, therefore, be it known, that on presentation of this certificate to the
Commissioner of the General Land Office, the said Oliver Webb shall be entitled
to receive a Patent for the Lot above described. (signed) Samuel Plummer Register
---
No 5096 Receiver’s Office at St. Peter,
Min Octr 3rd 1860
Received from Oliver Webb of Goodhue County Min the sum of forty seven –
dollars and seventy cents; being in full for the SW¼ of SW quarter of Section No.
18 – in Tow (sic) N0. 109N of Range No. 16W containing thirty eight – acres and
sixteen hundredths, at $1.25 per acre.
$47.70 (signed) ?? Receiver
[click here
to see an image of these documents]
(5) W No 38723
Act 1855
Certificate No. 5096
Proof of Right of Pre-Emption
Sec 18 Town 109 North, Range 16 W.
Pre-Emption Act, 4th September, 1841.
Allowed this 3rd day of October A.D. 1860
Samuel Plumer, Register
(illegible), Receiver
Oliver Webb OK
D. S. 10820
Sept 28. Nov 1. 56
[click here
to see an image of this document]
(6) (top half of document
image became corrupted, only bottom half available)
SW Quarter of Section No. 18 of Township No. 109
North of Range No. 16 West in the Winona Land District, and that no other
person resided upon the said land entitled to the right of Pre-emption. That the said Oliver Webb entered upon and
made settlement in person on the said land since the first day of June 1840 to
wit : on the 28 day of Sept 1856 and that he has built a dwelling-house on said
land 20 by 24 feet square; and 12 feet high; and has a good roof and floor; and
contains 2 doors and 4 windows and is a comfortable house for a family to live
in; and has lived in the same house and made it his exclusive home from the 28
day of Sept 1856 till the present time.
That he did not remove from his own land within the Territory of
Minnesota to make the settlement above described, and that he has seventy acres
ploughed and eighty acres fenced. (signed) John Murphy
I, Samuel Plumer, Register of the Land Office, do hereby certify that the above
Affidavit was taken and subscribed before me this 2d day of October 1860.
(signed) Samuel Plumer
We Certify that John Murphy whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Affidavit
is a person of respectability.
[click here
to see an image of this document]
1860 Federal Census. Roscoe Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota
12?, 1127/46, Charles Dana, 44, Male, White, Farmer, 1300/200, Vermont
12?, 1127/46, Sally Dana, 40, Female, White, na, na, New York
12?, 1127/46, Edmund Dana, 20, Male, White, Farmer, na, Illinois
12?, 1127/46, Danl Dana, 17, Male, White, na, na, Illinois
12?, 1127/46, Chas Dana, 8 Male, White, na, na, Illinois
--
126, 1152/67, Oliver Webb, 54, Male, White, Farmer,
400/468, New York, na
126, 1152/67, Louisa Webb, 48, Female, White, na, na, Vermont, na
126, 1152/67, Eveline Webb, 19, Female, White, na, na, Ohio, na
126, 1152/67, Lester Webb, 17, Male, White, Farmer, na, Ohio, na
126, 1152/67, Luther Webb, 15, Male, White, na, na, Ohio, na
126, 1152/67, Loretta Webb, 13, Female, White, na, na, Ohio, na
126, 1153/68, George Van Syckle, 27, male, White, Farmer, 0/500, New York, na
126, 1153/68, Eliza Van Syckle, 26, Female, White, na, na, Ohio, na
126, 1153/68, Chas Van Syckle, 7, Male, White, na, na, Indiana, na
126, 1153/68, Louella Van Syckle,
9mos, Female, White, na, na, Indiana, na
Production of Agriculture, Town of Roscoe, Goodhue County, Minnesota 1860
Name of Owner : Oliver Webb
During the civil war, Oliver cut wheat and oats for his neighbors with his reaper, which he had proudly purchased from Mr. Stuart of LaPorte, Indiana. In 1862, Oliver and his sons cut fields for Geo. Lance (near Perkin’s farm), Mr. Williams, Mr. Collins, Mr. Daniel Druse.
1865
51, Oliver Webb, Male
51, Sally Ann Webb, Female
51, Loretta L. Webb, Female
51, Charles Dana, Male
Page, Dwelling/Family, Name, Age,
Sex, Color, Occupation, Value (Real/Pers), Born
/128, Oliver Webb, 65, Male, White, Farmer, 3000/1150, New York, voter
/128, Sally A. Webb, 5?, Female, White, Keeping House, na, New York
/128, Daniel Druce, 27, Male, White, At Home, na, Illinois, voter
**/128, Mary Druce, 25, Female, White, Married, New York, died November child birth, Keeping house
/128, Charles Daney, 18, Male, White, At Home, na, Illinois, in school
/128, Mary Daney, 7/12, Female, White, na, na, Minnesota, born in Nov
/128, Sarah Sacket, 17, Female, White, Domestic Servant, na, New York
/130, Martin Webb, 25, Male, White, Farmer, 2000/450, Indiana, voter
/130, Isabel Webb, 26, Female, White, Keeping House, na, Scotland, foreign born parents
/130, Mary S. Webb, 1, Female, White, At Home, na, Minnesota, foreign mother
/130, Charles Vansickle, 15, Male,
White, At Home, na, Indiana, in school
1870 Federal Production of Agriculture Enumeration, Town of Roscoe, Goodhue
County, Minnesota
Name of Owner : Oliver Webb
Acres (Improved/Woodland/Unimproved) : 45/20/30
Cash Value of farm : $3000.00
Cash value of farming implements and machinery : $200.00
Total value of wages paid including value of land : $200.00
Horses : 5
Milk Cows : 9
Value of Livestock : $950.00
Wheat - spring : 600 bushels
Oats : 300 bushels
Rye : 25 bushels
Potatos : 50 bushels
Dairy Products - Butter : 450 lbs.
Feed – Hay : 20 tons
Value of Animals Slaughtered :
$100.00
Total Value of all farm products : $960.00
1870 Federal Production of Agriculture
Enumeration, Town of Roscoe, Goodhue County, Minnesota
Name of Owner : Martin L. Webb
Acres (Improved/Woodland/Unimproved) : 160/95/60
Cash Value of farm : $2000.00
Cash value of farming implements and machinery : $50.00
Total value of wages paid including value of land : $30.00
Horses : 2
Milk Cows : 1
Sheep : 9
Value of Livestock : $380.00
Wheat - spring : 120 bushels
Oats : 500 bushels
Indian corn : 25 bushels
Potatos : 25 bushels
Peas & Beans : 2 bushels
Dairy Products - Butter : 300 lbs
Feed – Hay : 15 tons
Value of Animals Slaughtered : $35.00
Total Value of all farm products : $753.00
1875
1875 Minnesota State Census. Roscoe Township, Goodhue County
#, Name, Age, Sex, Color, Born, Father born, Mother born
142, M. L. Webb, 30, male, White, Ohio, (blank), (blank)
142, Isabell Webb, 31, Female, White, Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
142, Mary L. Webb, 5, Female, White, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
142, Angelina G. Webb, 4, Female, White, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
142, Mabel Webb, 2, Female, White, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
15?, Daniel L. Druse, 33, Male, White, Illinois, New York, New York
15?, Sarah Druse, 22, Female, White, New York, New York, New York
15?, Mary Druse, 6, Female, White, Minnesota, Illinois, New York
15?, Fannie Druse, 4, Female, White, Minnesota, Illinois, New York
15?, Oliver Webb, 70, (fe)Male (sic), White, New York, New York, New York
15?, Sally A. Webb, 55, Female, White, New York, New York, New York
15?, Gottlieb Shieben, 20, Male, White, Switzerland, Switzerland, Switzerland
15?, Theresa Johnson, 17, Female, White, Wisconsin (blank), (blank)
1877
In 1877 there was produced a Plat Map of the entire county of Goodhue. The Plat Map of Roscoe shows the location of the property of Oliver’s wife Sally (S. A. Webb) in section 19, bordered by the land of his stepson Daniel L. Druse. Oliver must have sold his land in section 18 by this time.
[Click here to see an image
of the 1877 Plat Map of Roscoe
Township]
1880
1880 Federal Census. Roscoe Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Enumerated 3 June 1880 by D. L. Druse
Page, Dwelling/Family, Name,
Color, Sex, Age, Relation, Marital Stat, Occupation, School, Born, Father born,
Mother born
2, 1/1, Oliver Webb, White, Male, 75, Head, Married, Farmer, na, New York, New
York, New York
2, 1/1, Sallie Webb, White, Female, 60, Wife, Married, Keeping House, na, New York, Massachusetts, New York
2, 1/1, Mary Druse, White, Female, 10, Granddaughter, Single, At School, in school, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania
2, 13/13, James A. Rogers, White, Male, 32, Head, Married, Farmer, New York, New York, New York
2, 13/13, Henrietta Rogers, White, Female, 27, Wife, Married, Keeping House, Wisconsin, New York, (blank)
2, 13/13, Nettie Rogers, White, Female, 10, Daughter, Single, at home, in school, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin
2, 13/13, Luella Van Syckle, White, Female, 20, Boarder, Single, Teacher, in school, Indiana, (blank), Ohio
2, 13/13, Henry Aldrich, White, Male, 30, Servant, Married, Farm Laborer, Canada, (blank), (blank)
2, 13/13, Mary Ann Aldrich, White, Female, 35, Boarder, Married, none, Canada, (blank), (blank)
2, 13/13, Mary Aldrich, White, Female, 1, Boarder, Single, Canada, (blank), (blank)
3, 3/3, Daniel Druse, White, Male, 37, Head, Married, Farmer, na, Illinois, New York, New York
3, 3/3, Sarah Druse, White, Female, 27, Wife, Married, Keeping house, na, New York (blank), (blank)
3, 3/3, Fannie Druse, White, Female, 9, Daughter, Single, na, in school, Minnesota, Illinois, New York
3, 3/3, John Druse, White, Male, 7, Son, Single, na, in school, Minnesota, Illinois, New York
3, 3/3, Charles Druse, White, Male, 4, Son, Single, na, in school, Minnesota, Illinois, New York
3, 3/3, Helen Druse. White, Female, 3, Daughter, Single, na, na, Minnesota, Illinois, New York
3, 3/3, John Miller, White, 22, Servant, Single, Farm laborer, na, Indiana, (blank), (blank)
5, 4/4, Luther Webb, White, Male, 35, Head, Married, Grocer, na, Ohio, New York, New York
5, 4/4, Isabel Webb, White, Female, 35, Wife, Married, Keeping house, na, Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
5, 4/4, Louisa Webb, White, Female, 11, Daughter, Single, at school, yes, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
5, 4/4, Angeline Webb, White, Female, 9, Daughter, Single, at school, yes, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
5, 4/4, Mabel Webb, White, Female, 7, Daughter, Single, at school, yes, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
5, 4/4, Harvey Webb, White, Male, 3, Son, Single na, no, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
5, 4/4, Blanche Webb, White, Female, 2, Daughter, Single, na, no, Minnesota, Ohio, Scotland
5, 4/4, Charles Dana, White, Male, 28, Boarder, Single, Clerk in Store, na, Illinois, Vermont, New York
5, 4/4, Lizzie Coleman, White, Female, 18, Boarder, Single, Teacher, na, Indiana, ?, ?
--
Sources :
1857 Territorial Census of Minnesota Territory
1860 & 1870 Federal Census of the United States
