John F. Webber 1874-1928

WEBBER, PILKINGTON, LEWIS, BEEMAN, ANDERSON, BECKMAN, WALKER, WADE

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/24/2009 at 21:07:41

Obituary
John Francis Webber was born near Ferris, Hancock county, Illinois, September 26, 1874, and died in Ottumwa, Iowa, April 7, 1928. His parents were William J. and Mary Ann (Pilkington) Webber. As a boy he worked on his father's farm in summers and attended country school in winters, but when nineteen years old spent a year in the academic department of Carthage College, Carthage, Illinois. He entered the Law Department of the State University of Iowa in September, 1897, and was graduated and admitted to the bar in June, 1899. He was a traveling representative of a farm implement company with headquarters at Ottumwa for over two years, and in 1902 opened a law office in Ottumwa, giving particular attention to farm mortgages and investments. In 1910 he was elected senator and served in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth general assemblies and took a leading part in legislation, especially on the subjects of taxation and public utilities. He was a Democrat in politics, and was prominent in the party councils. He had early become interested in banking and in 1919 was made president of the Ottumwa National Bank, which position he relinquished January 1, 1928, but retained the presidency of the Wapello Savings Bank. He had extensive land holdings, was a keen student of farm conditions, and was a director of the Iowa Good Roads Association. His violent death was a tragedy precipitated by a deluded customer of a bank with which Mr. Webber was connected.

~Obit source:
Annals of Iowa, A Historical Quarterly, January, 1929; Notable Deaths, pg 554

_______________________________________
Additional info.

~from the Davenport 'Democrat & Leader', April 8, 1928

Ottumwa Banker, Former Senator Slain
Shot Down in Quarrel Over Money

Ottumwa, Ia, Apr 7 - John F. Webber, 53, prominent Ottumwa banker and former state senator, was shot and fatally injured at the door of his home here tonight by J. Everett Lewis, 31, of Agency, near here, who told police he believed the banker was misappropriating a legacy left by Lewis' grandmother.

Lewis, who has confessed to the slaying, according to police, appeared a the Webber home about 6:30 o'clock tonight, summoned the banker outside the door, and after a dispute which ended in Lewis accusing Webber of being a "crook," shot him once thru the head. He died about two hours later in a hospital.

Lewis, who saw overseas serivce duing the World war with the 51st and 52nd infantry told officers at the county jail, where he is being held, that during the argument over the estate, Mr. Webber threatened to strike him. Lewis drew a 32-calibre revolver, and Webber turned to enter the house, but was ordered to halt. Lewis called Webber a coward and as the latter raised his hands, Lewis shot him. The bullet passed thru Webber's head entering the right temple and emerging below the left temple. He staggered back and slumped at the feet of his wife, who had opened the door upon hearing the disturbance.

Lewis went in a nearby grocery store and called Police Chief J.F. Beeman, who sent officers to arrest him and bring him to jail.

Until recently, Mr. Webber was president of the Ottumwa National bank, being succeeded in January by J.H. Anderson. He was a former state senator, and one of the largest land owners in this section of Iowa.

Besides his widow, two sons, Basley and John Jr., both students at the University of Iowa, survive. The sons were visiting home on Easter vacation tonight, but were away at the time of the slaying.

_______________________________________

~from the Mason City 'Globe-Gazette', April 10, 1928

Ottumwa, April 10 - J. Everett Lewis, confessed slayer of John F. Webber, prominent Ottumwa banker and attorney, waived to the grand jury upon arraignment today before Police Judge Martin J. Wade, Jr. County Attorney Elmer K. Beckman announced that the grand jury will take up the slaying when it convenes late tomorrow afternoon. He expects to have Lewis brot [sic] to trial early in the April court docket here. Distraict Judge William Walker of Keosauqua will preside.

Funeral services were held today for Mr. Webber at the first Methodist church, of which he was a trustee and life long member. Internment [sic] was in a local cemetery. The church foyer and entrances were crowded with those unable to obtain seats.

_______________________________________

~from the 'Waterloo Evening Courier', Friday, June 8, 1928

Slayer of Banker Sent to Anamosa
Ottumwa, Ia., June 8 - J. Everett Lewis, 31, confessed slayer of John F. Webber, local banker, who was found not guilty of the murder by virtue of insanity, today occupied a cell in the insanity ward of the state reformatory at Anamosa. Lewis must spend the remainder of his life there unless at a later date he is shown to be sane.