Person:Squire Webb (1)

Death of Squire Levi Webb

It's unlikely that it reached epidemic levels, but areas of Lincoln County, WV were hit hard by typhoid fever in 1931/32. Several members of our family, allied families and neighbors died from it or from related illnesses.

Rhon Webb, son of Leroy & Minnie Staley Webb, had died from typhoid. No one else would risk handling the boy's body and the parents were also ill. Squire was determined that the boy would be "laid out proper to his rest and I, By God, aint afraid of nothing". So, Squire Levi Webb prepared the body of his nephew for burial dressing him in his best clothes, so that Rhon could receive "a proper funeral". This was in October, 1931.

Shortly after, Squire came down with typhoid fever from handling his nephew's body. While battling the fever for weeks, he then contracted pneumonia and died Jan. 5, 1932 (per death record at Hamlin Courthouse). This information was told to me by Rhon's brother, Homer Webb, at the Ranger Reunion last month. He said he clearly remembered the incident, even though only about 9 years old.

A humorous note: Had found Squire's death record and wanted to see if there was an obit written. So checked the films at the Hamlin library. Found one... kinda... actually found two articles.

Lincoln Republican: Jan 7, 1932 noted "that Squire Webb was improving from his bout with typhoid fever and subsequent pneumonia and was expected to recover".

Lincoln Republican: Jan 14 (Thursday), 1932 noted: "Squire Webb, after a long illiness with typhoid fever and pneumonia, passed away at his home at 3:30 on Wednesday morning. Funeral services were conducted on Thursday morning, burial following"... It then went on to list his wife, children, brothers, and sisters.

This for a man who supposedly died Jan. 5, 1932, two days before the first article and 9 days before the second one. So here's what I think may have happened. The Death record says he died on the 5th of January. On the 7th of Jan, paper said he was getting better. On the 14th (a Thursday), said he had died on Wednesday.

The paper at that time was a weekly. So apparently a day or so before they did the edtion for the 7th, someone (perhaps a neighbor or relative) reported that Squire was getting better. So on the night of the 6th, the paper set up to print the next day's edition for the 7th saying he was improving.

In the meantime, however, on the 5th or in the middle of the night on the 6th (mostly likely this cause it would have been a Wensday), Squire died. So the following week in the Thursday edition dated the 14th, they had to report his death, but it was from the week before.....on Wed. the 6th. Just wasn't made clear in the obituary. So much for being a detective.....8-)))

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Squire Levi Webb, in Find A Grave.
2.   Virginia Lee Tokie: Her dad, Calmer went to care for Squire before he died.
3. ↑ DOD: Confirmed- visit to Adkins Cemetery Ranger, WVA on 5-20, 1998