OUR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, MARY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Pioneer Lady Dies.
It is with regret that we are called upon to record the death of Mrs. Mary Ware which took place at her home near Hershey on last Wednesday afternoon. This unexpected death has come as a shock to the entire community.
Mrs. Ware with her daughter, Mrs. Porterfield, and child had been to Hershey in the afternoon and were on their way home, when a calf in the road frightened the horses who started to run, and ran about half a mile before Mrs. Porterfield could get them under control. Observing that her mother seemed frightened, the daughter assured her that there was no danger, that she could control the horses. When the horses could be stopped they were tied to a nearby fence. Presently another daughter came along and Mrs. Ware got into her carriage and went to her home. Shortly after she arrived at her home she complained of being ill and asked that her son, Everett, be sent for. The son, who was but a short ways distance from the house, arrived there a little while later to find his mother dying, and in about three minutes after his arrival she was dead. Her death was pronounced as due to heart trouble caused by fright and excitement.
Mrs. Ware, who was sixty-one years of age, has for years been a resident of this county and is therefore known to many of the citizens of this part of the state. As a staunch, christian character she was held in high esteem by many friends who will greatly miss her. As immediate relatives she leaves to mourn her loss eleven children, her husband having died a number of years ago. The following are the names of her children who will ever miss the counsel of a loving mother: Mesdames Porterfield, Harvey, Haist, McConnell, Jacobson, Hollingsworth and Black and Messrs. Ralph, Edward, Everett and John Ware.
To the bereaved family the entire community extend their heartfelt sympathy."
.
*(received the above 1907 obituary from family, Glenn Montgomery)
_________________________________________________________
"In Memorium.
Mary Maria Webb was born March 10, 1846. near Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and died Nov. 13, 1907, at Hershey, Neb. In early womanhood she was married to Chas. Anderson, who died from injuries received during the Civil War. Of this union one daughter Mrs. Black, of Benkleman, Neb., survives. December 19. 1872, she was married to W. M. Ware. They moved to Lincoln county twenty-one years ago, and bought a home three miles northwest of Hershey. Mr. Ware died about six years ago but Mrs. Ware still lived in the old home. Ten children of these parents are left to mourn. they are Everett Ware, Ralph Ware, John Ware, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Jacobson, Mrs. Hollingsworth, Mrs. Porterfield and Mrs. McConnel all residing in or near Hershey, and Mrs. Haist, of Mayflower, Neb., and Edward Ware, of Cheyenne,, Wyo.
Mrs. Ware's death came as a great shock to her relatives and friends. She attended aid society on Wednesday and while driving home with one of her daughters their horse became frightened and ran away. The daughter controlled the horse but Mrs. Ware seemed short of breath during the rest of the drive. On reaching home she walked into the house but in about ten minutes she passed quietly away with-out suffering and with a prayer on her lips. At first it was thought that the fright had caused her death but a medical examination revealed the fact that a formation of fat had closed about her heart and that the end was here.
Mrs. Ware became a christian in early life and was ever loyal to her faith. At the time of her death she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was a faithful wife a devoted mother and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. Her place cannot be filled in the home or in the church and community, but her sorrowing loved ones have the comfort of the Psalmist "She cannot return to me but I go to her."
The funeral was held from the house Friday. The services were conducted by Rev. Murless of the M. E. church assisted by Rev. Evans of the Baptist church, and her body laid to rest in Riverside cemetery beside her husband and other loved ones to await the resurrection morn.
Friend"
.
*(received the above 1907 obituary from family, Glenn Montgomery)
------------------------------------------------

An On-going Biography
from research and some family records

MARY MARIA WEBB
was born to Green Webb and Mary Ann Prickett on March 10, 1846 in Iowa.

Green Webb was born 1821-1822 in Illinois.
Mary Ann was born in Bond County, Illinois in 1826 and died in 1848 in Henry County, Iowa while their daughter 'Maria' Webb was around the age of two.

They had been married on July 13, 1843 in Henry County, Iowa, when Mary Ann was the age of 17. Document says Mary Ann 'Prichett' and Green Webb.
---------------------
Mary Ann's parents were Jacob Prickett and Jane Lee.
Jacob was born in 1803 in Georgia.
Jane was born in 1808 in Illinois. They were married in Bond County Illinois, then in the 1830's moved to Henry County, Iowa.
Jane died on Dec. 8,1848, the same year and location as their daughter-Mary Ann had died.
--------------------
Green Webb buys 40 acres of land on Feb. 1, 1848 in Henry County, Iowa.
"The South East Quarter of the South West Quarter of Section One in Township Seventy One North of Range Five West..."
--------------------
Green Webb then buys another 40 acres on April 3, 1849 in Henry County, Iowa.
"The North East Quarter of the South West Quarter of Section One North of Range Five West..."
(this must have been done after his wife Mary Ann, had died some time in 1848.)
--------------------
On the August 22, 1850 Federal Census in New London 'Township', Henry County, Iowa, Green Webb is a "Farmer", living with daughter Maria, 5 years old.
They are living on the farm of Hezekiah Lee and Amanda Lee and their children. Hezekiah is the brother-in-law of Green Webb.
--------------------
**One day later on August 23, 1850 Federal Census in New London 'Township', Henry Co., Iowa
Maria Webb 5 years old is in the household of Christopher Griggs (a farmer), and his wife and child.
They are right next to her uncle-Jeremiah Lee and his family, and on same page of Census as her grandfather-Jacob Prickett and family.
I am sure that this is the same Maria Webb, and she is staying with relatives, since her father Green Webb (now a young widower) and a farmer would have an almost impossible time of trying to care for a 5 year old daughter by himself, while he is working a farm.
Seems like she was with him sometimes, and at the very least, very close-by with relatives and friends.
--------------------
On an '1854' census in New London 'Township', Henry County, Iowa, Green Webb is living with-out Maria or a spouse, next to Jacob Prickett and his family, and next to Hezekiah Lee.
Jacob is the father-in-law of Green Webb, and Hezekiah is Green's brother-in-law.
-------------------
***A large 'Webb family tree' shows that this Green Webb had remarried in 1848, but the above two censuses contradict that this is the same Green Webb, even though the name is not common.

Their Green Webb listed himself as born in Ohio on his Civil War Draft Registration document, and our Green Webb was listed as born in Illinois on the 1850 census.

Their Green Webb on the 1850 Census is 27 years old, occupation as a laborer born in Ohio, with a wife and 2 children.

Our Green Webb in the 1850 census, is listed as '29' years old, a 'farmer', no spouse, and born in 'Illinois'.

Our Maria and father Green Webb, have been proved to be living continuously in Henry County, Iowa before and after the 1850 Census. The Green Webb family in Ohio is another family.

Update-Our Green Webb has now been found to have removed to Potosi, Grant County, Wisconsin around 1863 after his daughter, Maria, had married Charles B. Anderson in Iowa. Green remarried and had two more children. Green continues to live there until his death in 1892. We have now located his grave stone which includes his 2nd wife, Jane Ann.
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
**information on Jacob Prickett and Jane Lee Prickett, thanks to Megan-findagrave member 46488108.
------------------------------------------------

Maria Webb, age of 16, her mother having died when Maria was about 4, living in Henry County, Iowa, marries Charles B. Anderson on January 28, 1860. They traveled to Clark County, Missouri to get married by the Justice of the Peace. It is likely that they went to Missouri because of her young age.
~~~~~~~
State of Missouri
County of Clark
This is to Certify that on the 28th day of January AD 1860, Mr. Charles B. Anderson and Miss Mary M. Webb, were by me united in marriage according to the laws of the State of Missouri at Clark County Missouri.
J.C. Weaver, Justice of the Peace
Filed August 1st 1872. W. A. Spu.... Recorder
~~~~~~~
Shortly later on the June 21, 1860 Federal Census, they have been living on a farm right next to the farm of Charles' father and mother, Amos and Mary Anderson, and 7 of their other children, in Des Moines County, Washington Township, Iowa.
Charles is listed as age 21 and a 'farmer' and 'Mary' is listed as age 16.

War breaks out and Charles enlists along with his brother, David, in the Union Army in Company K of (Bissell's) Engineer Regiment of the West' which was organized in Burlington, Iowa and mustered-in October 31, 1861. 'Charles B. Anderson' and 'D. Anderson' enrolled in Burlington in 1861.

Charles later files for an 'Invalid' Civil War Veteran Pension.

Charles and Maria had four children together.
1. William A. Anderson was born 10/11/1860 and died 11/22/1878.
2. Mary D. Anderson was born 3/~22/1862 and died 8/29/1864.
3. Florence Marie Anderson was born 10/8/1865 and died 12/11/1917.
4. Charles B. Anderson was born 6/24/1867 and died 12/27/1867.

Mary's husband, Charles, died very young on October 25, 1867 in Iowa, only about two years after returning from the War.
Many years later, his wife's obituary says that Charles had died from some injuries received during the War.
He had filed for an 'Invalid' Civil War Veterans Pension sometime before his death.

On the 1870 Federal Census, Mary M. Anderson is a "seamstress". living only with her 4 year old daughter Florence M. Anderson close to the "Mt. Pleasant post office" in the "Town of New London, Henry Co., Iowa". It would seem that son, William must have died already. "Town of New London" may have been the Township of New London; the city of New London is also close by. The current city of Mt. Pleasant is the correct location.

Mary marries William Montgomery Ware on December 19, 1872 in Iowa as per her obituary, however Mary had written in her Civil War Widow's Pension application that they were married in Pleasant Grove, Des Moines Co., Iowa, on February 19, 1873, and that his divorce from Mary Jane Stewart had been finalized in 1873 at Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa.
*Divorce document has a date of April 25, 1872, so the date of 1873 for the divorce was not correct on Mary's pension document.
Mary has her children, and William brings his young daughter, Carrie, from his prior marriage, into their new household.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** (Below sketch: The marriage of Florence Marie Anderson, the daughter of Mary Maria Webb-Anderson-Ware and Charles B. Anderson, to Frank Black, occurred many years after the death of Florence's father, Charles B. Anderson, who had been a Civil War veteran, and died shortly thereafter. Florence's mother, Mary Maria, had remarried in 1872, William Montgomery Ware, another Civil War veteran, while Florence was still young. This family was farming around Nelson, Nuckolls Co., Nebraska, when Frank and Florence met and married one-another.)

~~~
Frank Black, farmer and stock raiser, lives on Section 6, Town 3, Range 6, Blaine Precinct. The subject of this sketch was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1852, the youngest of thirteen children. His father, William Black, was a native of Germany, and emigrated to this country about 1850, settling in St. Louis, at which place he lost his wife shortly after. During their passage to America, the family were taken with that dread disease, cholera, and all the children died. The father was a cooper by trade, and followed that occupation in St. Louis until the time of his death, in 1858, when his son Frank was but six years of age. He had been a member of the Masonic order, and his lodge took charge of his little son, binding him out to a butcher of St. Louis until he had reached the age of twenty one years; the little fellow was treated so harshly, that when he reached his fifteenth year he ran away from his master, and gained his independence, following the butcher's trade until he was twenty-two years of age. He then went to Tazewell County, Ill., and worked in a brick-yard for one year, after which he worked by the month on a farm for about three years, then went to Bates County, Mo., and remained for one season, and then returned to Tazewell County, and rented a farm working it on shares. In the spring of 1873 he came to this county, and took up a homestead on Section 16; this he improved and sold in 1886, after which he purchased the farm on which he now lives, which he has greatly improved. He has the place well stocked with cattle, horses and hogs, has a fine orchard of all kinds of fruit, and has made for himself and family a good comfortable home. Here he is living the quiet, comfortable life of a farmer, and is very proud of the fact that all his possessions are the fruits of his own labors. In November, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Florence Anderson, a daughter of Charles B. and Mary M. (Webb) Anderson, the former a native of Illinois, and that latter of Iowa. She was born in Iowa, in October, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of five children, viz.: Jessie, Charlie, Merrill, Martin, and George (deceased). Mr. Black is an active Democrat in politics, is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and both he and wife are members of the United Brethren Church of Pleasant View. Mr. Black has always contributed, so far as able, to the support of schools and churches, and all laudable public enterprises. Since his residence in this State he has been very successful; accordingly is well pleased with the State, and expects to make it his permanent home.
~~~
** the above sketch is from the book;
'Biographical Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Webster and Nuckolls Counties, Nebraska, Comprising A Condensed History of the State, a number of Biographies of Distinguished Citizen of the same, a Descriptive History of each of the Counties mentioned, and numerous Biographical Sketches of the Citizens of such Counties.'

The Goodspeed Publishing Co. Chicago. 1890.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To see other pictures and Civil War Widow's Pension documents, click on the right side of this page on the:
"click here to view all images".

Maria was twice a widow of Civil War veterans, her first husband, Charles Anderson, and her second husband, William Ware.

It is obvious from the many family photos taken, the many newspaper articles, the obituaries, and Maria's well raised children, that Maria was very much loved by her husband, children, family and many friends.

page written by, t.garlow