The timeline leading up to the start of Webb City

Over the years, “Ancestors Legends & Time” author Jeanne Newby has developed and updated a timeline of Webb City’s history. In the next few issues, the Sentinel will print Jeanne’s latest version of the timeline.

1792 – Jesse Killey from Kentucky, arrived in the area of the Osage Indians and settled in Southwest Missouri in what would eventually become Barton County. This area was Under Spanish domain and part of Louisiana.

1801 – The Louisiana territory was returned to the French.

1804 – March, the United States purchased Louisiana

1805 – President Thomas Jefferson appointed James Wilkinson as governor of the territory.

1807 – Lewis Merriwether became governor.

1809 – Benjamin Howard appointed governor.

1810 – John Walton and George Hornback and families settled in the area soon to be called Carthage.

1811 – Massive earthquakes shook Southeast Missouri, and the effects were felt on this side of the state.

1831 – Thacker Vivion settled in an Indian Village he called Centerville, but later known as Sarcoxie. He was soon joined by John Fullerton.

1838 – James Carter moved his family to Jasper County and settled in an area that would later be known as Carterville and Lakeside. He lived in a log cabin until just before the Civil War when a frame house was built.

1841 – Barry County was subdivided, resulting in the formation of Newton and Jasper Counties.

1842 – Carthage was founded.

1844 – A government survey of the area was completed and the settlers could finally begin making proper filings to secure title to their lands. The government land office was in Springfield, which was about a 7- to 10-day trip there and back… weather permitting. The price on first entries ranged from 25 cents to $1.25 per acre. Usually if one of the neighbors was making the trip to Springfield, he would file for his neighbors and bring back the proper release or deed for the rightful owner.

1848 – Medoc was founded but not platted.

1849 – William Tingle and David Campbell discovered/uncovered 100 pounds of Galena in Turkey Creek in a little valley known as “Shakerag,” which would soon be known as Leadville Hollow. (Joplin) The same year, Judge Cox and his negro boy Pete discovered lead along Joplin Creek in what would soon be known as the Kansas City Bottom.

1849 – Judge Andrew McKee and Thomas Livingston hit pay dirt and started a new town called Minersville (later platted as Oronogo in 1856).

1850 – J.G.L. Carter, son of James Carter, married Mary Cooley, daughter of Judge Samuel Cooley. They had 10 children.

1853 – Mining began in Minersville (Oronogo).

1856 – John C. Webb and his wife, Ruth, moved to Jasper County and purchased 200 acres to begin with, later purchasing an additional 120 acres for a total of 320 acres. They built their log cabin in the location that in future years would be the northwest corner of Broadway and Daugherty Street. Webb cultivated 100 of his acres.

1856 – The town of Sherwood (been in existence since 1847 and known as Rural) was formally platted.

1856 – Oronogo was platted

1856 – Avilla was founded but not platted until 1858.

1857 – Benjamin Franklin Hatcher moved to Jasper County with his parents. He was the nephew of John C. Webb. Benjamin married Dora Daugherty, daughter of W.A. Daugherty, in 1870.

1858 – A Sarcoxie teacher who had come from Kansas taught his students the evil of slavery. He was asked to resign. He would not, and the same citizens gave him a coat of tar and feathers.

1860 – Jan. 27, Preston (east of Alba), the seventh city of Jasper County was platted by Luke E. Ray and Jacob Nicholson. Dr. Patterson built the first building, a general store. The town burned during the Civil War but was revived and replatted on Sept. 10, 1867.

1861 – John C. Webb answered the call of Gov. Jackson to volunteer to serve in the Confederate Army.

1861 – July 5 – Battle of Carthage.

1861 – Aug. 23 – A skirmish occurred at Medoc between Confederates and Union sympathizers enroute to Fort Scott to enlist.

1862 – June 18 – Coon Creek Engagement between Confederates and Union soldiers in northern Jasper County.

1862 – Skirmish between the Confederates and an Indian regiment started at an old mill near what would soon become Lakeside. The Indian Regiment was overtaken at Shirley Ford on Spring River. The Confederates had a dispute among themselves, and the Indian Regiment escaped.

1862 – Nov. 20, A short engagement between the Confederates and Union near Carthage

1863 – A fight just south of Sherwood resulted in the Confederates sustaining severe loss.

1863 – May 14, skirmish at French Point, located west of Oronogo, with a second skirmish on the 18th. The Confederates came out ahead.

1863 – May 19, skirmish at Sherwood resulted in the burning of Rader home by the Federal soldiers.

1866 – Ulysses Hendrickson moved to Jasper County, three miles west of Oronogo. He became county sheriff in 1874 and in 1890 he was elected to the Senate for four years.

1867 – Dr. David Whitworth moved to Jasper County and purchased land west of the future Webb City. He served as a doctor in Webb City until 1895.

1867 – Preston (east of Alba) was replatted on Sept. 10, after first being platted in 1860 and burned during the Civil War.

1868 – Granby Mining and Smelting Co. obtained control of the mines in Oronogo. Col. J. Morris Young, the superintendent, served as legislator 1869 – 1870.

1869 – Joseph Aylor and Andrew McCorkle began mining in neighboring towns. Aylor lived on the hill across from what would become Mount Hope Cemetery.

1870 – W.A. Daugherty purchased 260 acres of land just west of John C. Webb (later known as Colonial Road). He soon purchased 320 acres east of John Webb from James Gilbert Leroy Carter.

1870 – Andrew McCorkle purchased 80 acres just south of John C. Webb and built a 1½ story home at 106 S. Webb St. He would later build a larger home on the same spot (1899).

1870 – Oct. 1, John Cox leased 90 acres on Joplin Creek to Moffett and Sargeant to mine (Joplin).

1872 – The Memphis, Carthage, and Northwestern (later the St. Louis & San Francisco) Railroad was built through Oronogo.

1873 – On a bright June morning, John C. Webb was plowing his land (between what would later be Webb City and Carterville) when he uncovered a shiny rock known as lead. He did not make it known to anyone for about four months.

1873 – In October, John C. Webb and a friend named Murrell, attempted to do a little digging at Murrell’s pleading with Webb. Webb supplied the tools, Murrell brought his knowledge. The shaft kept filling with water, and Murrell was getting discouraged. William Daugherty bought Murrell’s share for $25. Webb was also losing interest, but Daugherty knew the water could be controlled. Grant Ashcraft came into town and Webb leased them the land. Within two days, Ashcraft had unearthed a 1,000-pound chunk of lead. Within four days, they brought up 18,000 pounds. The fun began as the word spread.

1873 – Nov. 19, by court order of Jasper County, the name of Minersville was changed to Oronogo and incorporated as a town. The post office was changed from Center Mines to Oronogo at the same time.

1874 – John C. Webb hired Elijah Lloyd to survey and plot out the town of Webbville. Elijah Lloyd bought a mine in 1874, he struck payload in 1882. The original town consisted of 12 blocks.