MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1928

WEBB, 38 YEARS
IN REALTY, DIES.

Brought From England as Boy, 2; Ill Since July; Burial Tomorrow.

John W. S. Webb, 76, one of the oldest and most widely
known of Cleveland's real estate men, died suddenly yesterday noon at
his home, 18010 South Woodland Road, Shaker Heights.
Mr. Webb had been in failing health since July, but his illness
was not regarded as critical. He was out of bed and talking with
members of his family a few minutes before his death.
For 38 years Mr. Webb was engaged in the real estate
business in Cleveland, and his firm, J. W. S. Webb & Sons Co., 450
the Arcade is one of the largest agencies dealing in residential
property in this city.
Funeral services will be at 3 p. m. tomorrow from Calvery
Presbyterian Church., Euclid Avenue at E. 79th Street. Rev. A. P.
Higley, the pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Lake View
Cemetery.
Mr. Webb came of a family of English yeomen. He was born
Feb. 16, 1852., in Hertfordshire, England. He was 2 when he came to
America with his parents, crossing in a sailing vessel that took seven
weeks for the voyage.
The Web family settled at Dover, in the west end of the
county, and the father, Archer Webb, became a prosperous farmer.
Early in the '60s the Webbs moved to a large farm that is now
occupied by business and residential districts in Lakewood.
The Webb homestead was where the Webb building now
stands, at Detroit Avenue and Webb Road. The farm extended from
Detroit Avenue to the lake, westerly to the Rocky River Valley and
easterly to what is now Webb Road.
John Webb attended public school in West Cleveland and was
graduated from Brooks Military School and Humiston Institute,
private educational institutions of the nineteenth century in Cleveland.
In 1890 Mr. Webb started his successful career in real estate.
His business, small at first, soon flourished under a sound, sagacious
policy that realty dealers in Cleveland characterize as exemplary

Joined by Sons.
Two sons, James A. and the late Charles W. Webb, joined
their father in business a few years after their graduation from college.
In 1919 their company became known as J. W. S. Webb & Sons.
For nearly three decades Mr. Webb retained the active
leadership of his firm. Through these years he appeared daily at his
office punctually at 8:30 in the morning. His first enforced absence
from business came the last week in July when his health failed. Since
that time he had been confined to his home.
Mr. Webb was a member of Real Estate Board, the Chamber
of Commerce, the Shaker Heights Country Club and the Woodward
Masonic Lodge and was a charter member of the Calvary Presbyterian
Church. He was for several years the senior ruling elder of the church.
His wife, Mrs. Nettie A. Webb, died in January, 1926, three
years after the celebration of their golden anniversary. Charles W.
Webb died in January, 1919. James A. Webb, who will direct his
father's business, and Miss Abbie Z. Webb, a daughter, survive.

J.W.S.Webb

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