Last updated: December 4, 2023
Person
Edward Webb
Bennie Martin
Quick Facts
Significance:
Oklahoma Homesteader
Place of Birth:
Franklin County Virginia
Date of Birth:
1851
Place of Death:
Newton, Harvey, Kansas
Date of Death:
December 31, 1932
Cemetery Name:
Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas
Edward Webb was born in Franklin County Virginia in 1851. He married Amanda Martin in July 1881 in Carroll County Missouri. Edward and Amanda resided in Ray County, Missouri for several years where six of their children were born.
Amanda Webb
Photo Credit: Bennie Martin
Edward traveled to the land office in Kingfisher on December 24, 1894, to apply for 160 acres of land under the Homestead Act of 1862 in Dewey County in the Oklahoma Territory. Edward and his family settled on the land on June 20, 1895.
For six years, Edward Webb cleared a portion of the land to build a “house 14x16, a well, a stable, and orchard, 80 acres of fencing, 90 acres of breaking and a chicken house.” This enabled him to grow crops and livestock to support his family.
Edward asked the following individuals to serve as witnesses to testify on his behalf: Henry Rodgers, Edward McGaw, William McGaw and William Coxx.
The Taloga Times Newspaper published a notice for six consecutive weeks beginning May 16, 1901, and last published on June 20, 1901. This ensured that the entire community knew that Edward was in the final process of officially acquiring the land under the Homestead Act of 1862. On July 20, 1901, Edward submitted proof to the Land Office in Kingfisher that he had complied with the homesteader’s rules for settlers.
Edward received his Homestead Land Patent on February 28, 1903. Edward and his family resided on this land until about 1925.
~ Contributed by Bennie Martin
More about the contributor: Edward Webb’s wife, Amanda Martin Webb, is Bennie Martin's great aunt. Edward Webb is said to have worn a tie nearly every day, even when in the field. Bennie’s father often said his aunt “Mandy” was a lady that was always well dressed.
Bennie spent two years in the Army and retired from the Defense Mapping Agency. He has a B.S. in Physics from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a M.S. in Geography from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and a M.S. in Computer Science from Missouri Science and Technology-Rolla.
Bennie is a native of Carrollton, Missouri. His interest and activity in genealogy and family history centers around the North Central area of Missouri. He is a member of the St. Louis African American History and Genealogy Society and The State Historical Society of Missouri.