Person:James Webster (38)

The following portions of his biography were copied from: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohbutler/memoirs/750-794.html

Memoirs of the Miami Valley, pages 750-794 "James R. Webster. Among the citizens of Hamilton who have contributed to the material progress and advancement of this locality, few can lay claim to greater or more helpful achievements than can James R. Webster. Mr. Webster, now living in retirement, was during his active years a leading factor in real estate circles and his accomplishments in that direction served to increase the size of the city, the volume of its population and the importance of its business industries and institutions. At various times he was identified with pretentious business enterprises which benefited greatly by his abilities and through his public spirit and good citizenship he assisted in the success of movements which made for civic betterment. Mr. Webster is a native of Hamilton, having been born on the present site of the Red Trunk store, February 8, 1843. . .

"James R. Webster was given his educational training in the public schools of Hamilton, subsequently attending Wesleyan university. He read law in the office of N. C. McFarlan and was admitted to the bar in 1865, but in January, 1866, went to New Orleans, La., where he was engaged in a cotton venture with his cousin. He also spent one year in Mississippi, and then returned to Ohio and located at Columbus, where he was engaged in the manufacture of trunks with A. J. Vandergrift until 1877. He then went to near Keokuk, Lee county, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming for some years, and spent the years 1883 and 1884 in the timber business in Tennessee, where he had large groves of oak and poplar. Because of the poor health of his father, who desired him at his side, he returned to the old home, and there remained for several years. In 1887 Mr. Webster located at Hamilton, where he embarked in the real estate business with Potter, Parlan and Ehrman. He subsequently laid out three subdivisions in West Hamilton and was the main factor in securing the big factory of the McNeal & Irwin Safe company for Hamilton, at a cost of $48,000, and was the medium through which numerous other large deals were transacted, all tending to add to the commercial importance of his native city. Later Mr. Webster secured large tracts of land in the rice country of Louisiana and built what is known as the Union Rice mill, located at Crowley, that state, which he operated with much success for two years. He also organized the company which built and operated the Orange Rice mill, at Orange, Texas, and conducted it for a time, but subsequently returned to Crowley, La., where he operated the Webster rice plantation of 1,700 acres, a property which he still owns. On his return to Hamilton, he and his brother tore down the old Webster building, on High street, and replaced it with the present modern structure. In various other ways Mr. Webster has contributed to the business prestige of Hamilton.

"He is a member of the Mayflower Society of Cincinnati, and of the Masons, which he joined in 1868, being identified with the lodge at Columbus. He is a staunch Republican, and he and his family belong to the Presbyterian church. . . Mr. Webster is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Webster also have an adopted daughter, Eleanor Webster Anness."

1.   Www.rootsweb.com/~ohbutler/memoirs/750-794.html Memoirs of Miami Valley.
2.   United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432)
   Fairfield, Butler Co., Ohio.