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James Webb Jr.

James Webb Jr. and his wife bought Over-the-River, John Wall Norwood's house across the Eno from Hillsborough, in 1848 and enlarged it. In 1881 he had the Italianate house later called Mid-Lawn built at East Queen and North Cameron streets; it was sold to David and Elizabeth Patterson in 1919.

Source: NC State Historic Preservation Office: Hillsborough Historic District Additional Documentation, National Register (OR0077ad, 2014), pdf pp. 144 and 198

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Storylines this person is part of, in date order. Each has its own page.

StorylineEno Cotton Mill and its village1896–1984 · 54 events · Allen J. Ruffin and James Webb Jr. founded the Eno Cotton Mill at Hillsborough in 1896, and it began production in 1897 with a village of cottages for its workers. It added weaving in 1904 and gingham in 1909, rented its houses for 25 cents a week in 1915, reached about 600 workers in 1940, and became part of Cone Mills in 1952; the mill houses were moved in 1956, and the mill closed in 1984.

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 26 dated events in the chronology →

  1. Orange Presbytery votes to move Caldwell Institute to Hillsborough Orange Presbytery chose Hillsborough over Yanceyville and Oxford as the new seat of its Caldwell Institute, and a town meeting chaired by Dennis Heartt welcomed the school and pledged the town's support. The trustees named Rev. John A. Bingham professor of Latin. People: Dennis Heartt, James Webb Jr., John Wall Norwood Place: Hillsborough · Also named: John A. Bingham · Also mentions: Caldwell InstituteHillsborough Recorder, June 19, 1845, p. 3
  2. James Webb Jr. and his wife buy Over-the-River from the Norwoods and enlarge it John Wall Norwood and his wife sold Over-the-River to James Webb Jr. and his wife, who added to the two-story wing. In 1936 the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. James Webb Cheshire. People: John Wall Norwood, James Webb Jr. Place: Over-the-River (Norwood-Webb-Cheshire House), 210 US 70A, Hillsborough · Also named: James Webb CheshireSearch the index · Hillsborough Historic District National Register Additional Documentation (2014), pdf p. 198
  3. James Webb Jr. advertises his Cheap Cash Store in Hillsborough Advertisements in the Hillsborough Recorder in 1867 offered garden seeds, white granite cups and saucers, coffee, sugar and candies at the Cheap Cash Store of James Webb Jr. Place: HillsboroughSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, April 24, 1867, p. 4 (advertisements)
  4. Senator Graham of Orange introduces a charter for the Bank of Hillsboro Senator Graham of Orange introduced a charter making Thomas B. Hill, C. M. Latimer, Thomas Webb, George Laws, D. C. Parks, J. Y. Whitted, P. C. Cameron, James Webb Jr. and others the Bank of Hillsboro, with capital up to $200,000. People: Thomas Webb, George Laws, David C. Parks, Paul C. Cameron, James Webb Jr., Thomas Blount Hill Place: Senate, Raleigh · Also named: C. M. Latimer, J. Y. WhittedSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, December 13, 1871, p. 3
  5. James Webb Jr. builds Mid-Lawn at East Queen and North Cameron streets James Webb Jr. built a two-story Italianate house, later called Mid-Lawn, on the northwest corner of East Queen and North Cameron streets. The Observer reported his 'very handsome residence' nearly finished in November 1884 and Webb moved into his new house by April 1885; if that is this house, it was finished then rather than in 1881. David and Elizabeth Patterson bought it in 1919. People: James Webb Jr. Place: 131 East Queen Street, Hillsborough · Also named: David Patterson, Elizabeth PattersonSearch the index · Hillsborough Historic District National Register Additional Documentation (2014), pdf p. 144 · Also: Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 29, 1884, p. 3; Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), April 18, 1885, p. 3
  6. James Webb Jr. and Brother buy the Churton Street storehouse C. M. Parks had left James Webb Jr. & Bro. bought from Maj. John W. Graham for $4,400 the Churton Street storehouse lately occupied by C. M. Parks, planning to repair it and move their own store into it. The paper took the price as proof that Hillsborough property still held its value. People: John W. Graham, Charles M. Parks Place: Churton Street, HillsboroughSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 17, 1884, p. 3
  7. Hillsborough elects editor Joseph A. Harris mayor Hillsborough voters chose Joseph A. Harris, editor of the Orange County Observer, as mayor, with A. W. Graham, James Webb Jr., W. H. Newman, George C. Corbin, W. E. Steward, J. W. Hooker and D. M. Laws as commissioners. The outgoing mayor, Corbin, had declined to run again. People: Joseph A. Harris, James Webb Jr., George C. Corbin, Augustus Washington Graham, J. W. Hooker, Dudley M. Laws Place: Hillsborough · Also named: W. H. Newman, W. E. StewardSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 9, 1885, p. 3
  8. D. C. Parks is elected a Hillsborough town commissioner At a quiet town election Hillsborough chose George C. Corbin mayor and elected A. W. Graham, James Webb Jr., J. W. Hooker, William Anderson, D. M. Laws, D. C. Parks and William H. Newman commissioners. People: David C. Parks, James Webb Jr., George C. Corbin, Augustus Washington Graham, J. W. Hooker, Dudley M. Laws Place: Hillsborough · Also named: William Anderson, William H. NewmanSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 8, 1886, p. 3
  9. The Webb & Co. tobacco partnership in Hillsborough is dissolved James Webb Jr., Joseph C. Webb and George C. Corbin gave notice that their tobacco manufacturing firm, Webb & Co., was dissolved, leaving the two Webbs to collect its debts and wind up its business. The firm had been making tobacco in Hillsborough since at least 1881. People: James Webb Jr., George C. Corbin Place: Hillsborough · Also named: Joseph C. WebbSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), February 26, 1887, p. 3 · Also: Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 15, 1881, p. 3
  10. Hillsborough elects Joseph A. Harris mayor With no opposing ticket and only about half the registered voters taking part, Hillsborough elected Joseph A. Harris, editor of the Orange County Observer, as mayor, with A. W. Graham, James A. Cheek, Henry Richards Jr., A. J. Ruffin, John Rosemond, James Webb Jr. and Jesse Hedgpeth as commissioners. The new board took office May 7 and chose Thomas D. Tinnin clerk and John Laws treasurer. People: Joseph A. Harris, Allen Jones Ruffin, James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek, Augustus Washington Graham Place: Hillsborough · Also named: Henry Richards Jr., John Rosemond, Jesse Hedgpeth, Thomas D. Tinnin, John LawsSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 7, 1887, p. 3
  11. Hillsborough re-elects Joseph A. Harris mayor over Samuel M. Gattis Hillsborough voters re-elected editor Joseph A. Harris mayor over Samuel M. Gattis, 79 to 39, and chose D. C. Parks, George Laws, Thomas Hedgpeth, James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek, Henry Richards Jr. and D. Y. Mebane as town commissioners. People: Joseph A. Harris, Samuel Mallett Gattis, David C. Parks, James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek Place: Hillsborough · Also named: George Laws, Thomas Hedgpeth, Henry Richards Jr., D. Y. MebaneSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 12, 1888, p. 3
  12. Hillsborough Township Democrats organize a Cleveland and Fowle Club Democrats of Hillsborough Township met at the court house and organized a Cleveland and Fowle Club, electing James Webb Jr. president, M. W. McCollum and D. H. Hamilton vice presidents and E. L. Cooley secretary. Webb declined the post, and at the next meeting McCollum moved up to the presidency. People: James Webb Jr. Place: Court house, Hillsborough · Also named: M. W. McCollum, D. H. Hamilton, E. L. CooleySearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), July 7, 1888, p. 3
Show all 26 dated events
  1. James Webb Jr. & Bro. buy out C. M. Parks's Hillsborough business James Webb Jr. & Bro. bought C. M. Parks's entire business, his brick store, stock, goodwill and fixtures, in a deal thought to exceed $50,000, which the paper called the largest business transaction ever made in the county; Parks retired after 28 years in trade. People: J. Cheshire Webb, Charles M. Parks Place: C. M. Parks's brick store, Churton Street, HillsboroughSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), February 16, 1889, p. 3
  2. James Webb Jr. and Joseph C. Webb buy town lot 94 in Hillsborough George C. Corbin, who had bought the property in 1878, sold the land and house on Hillsborough's lot 94 to James Webb Jr. and Joseph C. Webb. James Webb sold the lot to the Methodist church for a parsonage in 1903. People: George C. Corbin Place: Hillsborough · Also named: Joseph C. Webb, James WebbSearch the index · Pauline O. Lloyd and Allen A. Lloyd, History of the Churches of Hillsborough, N.C., ca. 1766-1962 (1963), scan p. 110
  3. Hillsborough re-elects Mayor Joseph A. Harris and chooses a seven-man town board Harris, the editor of the Observer, won the Monday town election as mayor. The new board was James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek, S. J. Lynch, H. N. Brown Jr., H. L. Faucette, O. D. Hooker and T. C. Hayes. People: Joseph A. Harris, James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek Place: Hillsborough · Also named: S. J. Lynch, H. N. Brown Jr., H. L. Faucette, O. D. Hooker, T. C. HayesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 9, 1891, p. 3
  4. Hillsborough's town board votes 4 to 3 against a liquor license for John U. Smith Smith of Raleigh brought petitions from many citizens asking to retail liquor in the town, and Major John W. Graham and C. E. Parish spoke for him. James Webb Jr. moved to grant the license, but the board refused by four votes to three. People: John W. Graham, Calvin E. Parish, James Webb Jr. Place: Mayor's office, Hillsborough · Also named: John U. SmithSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 23, 1891, p. 3
  5. James Webb Jr. and Allen J. Ruffin hire an architect for a cotton mill at Hillsborough James Webb Jr. and his partner Allen J. Ruffin went to Providence, Rhode Island, and engaged an architect named Makepeace, a native North Carolinian, to design their Hillsborough cotton factory. The mill was to stand on the knoll just west of the Southern Railway station, with brickmaking to start at once and building the next spring. People: James Webb Jr., Allen Jones Ruffin Place: Knoll west of the Southern Railway station, Hillsborough · Also mentions: Southern Railway stationOrange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 17, 1895, p. 2
  6. The Farmers' State Alliance buys the old Hillsborough Military Academy grounds The Farmers' State Alliance's executive committee bought the old Hillsborough Military Academy barracks and about 40 acres from the Cameron heirs on November 16, 1895, with 70 acres from D. C. Parks and 20 from James Webb Jr.; the deeds were delivered and paid for by the end of the month. A 1913 plat of the neighborhood labels the old barracks as the Farm Life School building. People: James Webb Jr. Place: Hillsborough Military Academy site, Barracks Street, West Hillsborough · Also named: D. C. ParksNC Digital Collections: Heather Wagner Slane, Hillsborough Architectural Survey (2017), p. 14 · Also: Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 23, 1895, p. 2; Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 30, 1895, p. 2
  7. Allen J. Ruffin and James H. Webb Jr. found the Eno Cotton Mill Ruffin and Webb, both of old Hillsborough families, founded the Eno Cotton Mill on the north bank of the Eno west of town, chartered by special act of the General Assembly in 1896. It was the first textile mill in Hillsborough and in present-day Orange County. People: Allen Jones Ruffin, George A. Durham, James Webb Jr. Place: HillsboroughSearch the index · NC State Historic Preservation Office: Eno Cotton Mill, National Register nomination (OR1300, 2011), section 8, p. 10
  8. Work begins on the Eno Cotton Mills as James Webb Jr. breaks ground for the railroad siding Construction of the Eno Cotton Mills at Hillsborough began when James Webb Jr. broke the first dirt on the mill's railroad siding. The builders meant to keep at it without a stop until the factory was finished and running. People: James Webb Jr. Place: Eno Cotton Mills site, West HillsboroughOrange County Observer (Hillsborough), April 11, 1896, p. 3
  9. James Webb Jr. lays the first brick of the Eno Cotton Mills James Webb Jr. laid the first brick of the Eno Cotton Mills building at Hillsborough. Henry Richards of Hillsborough, who had overseen the building of several Alamance County mills, took charge of the brickwork. People: James Webb Jr. Place: Eno Cotton Mills site, West Hillsborough · Also named: Henry RichardsOrange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 23, 1896, p. 3
  10. Eno Cotton Mill's buildings near completion and its first cottages are occupied Work on the Eno Cotton Mill at West Hillsborough was well along: about a million bricks had gone into the two-story main building, some 252 feet long, and several mill cottages were finished and occupied. The company, capitalized at $100,000 with Allen J. Ruffin as president and Thomas H. Webb as superintendent, planned to start with 10,000 spindles and hoped to run by April. People: Allen Jones Ruffin, James Webb Jr., George A. Durham Place: Eno Cotton Mill, West Hillsborough · Also named: Thomas H. Webb, H. Winder WebbOrange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 26, 1896, p. 3
  11. Hillsborough Methodist Church buys town lot 94 and its house for a new parsonage The church bought lot 94, with a one-story five-room house, from James Webb, son of Dr. James Webb, and used it as the parsonage. The lot later held the 1958 parsonage. People: James Webb Jr. Place: Lot 94, Hillsborough · Also named: James WebbSearch the index · Pauline O. Lloyd and Allen A. Lloyd, History of the Churches of Hillsborough, N.C., ca. 1766-1962 (1963), scan p. 110
  12. H. W. and J. C. Webb take over the James Webb Jr. & Bro. store H. Winder Webb and J. Cheshire Webb bought the stock, trade and good will of James Webb Jr. & Bro. from the estates of its late partners and put up their own sign at the old stand on Churton Street. The old firm was dissolved except for collecting its debts, which John Cox Webb took in hand. People: J. Cheshire Webb, James Webb Jr., H. Winder Webb Place: Webb store, Churton Street, Hillsborough · Also named: John Cox Webb · Also mentions: Churton StreetSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), July 21, 1904, p. 3
  13. James Webb Jr.'s house Mid-Lawn is sold to David and Elizabeth Patterson In 1919 Mid-Lawn, the Italianate house James Webb Jr. built in 1881 at East Queen and North Cameron streets, was sold to David and Elizabeth Patterson. It has since been known as the Webb-Patterson House. People: James Webb Jr. Place: Webb-Patterson House (Mid-Lawn), 131 East Queen Street, Hillsborough · Also named: David Patterson, Elizabeth PattersonSearch the index · NC State Historic Preservation Office: Hillsborough Historic District Additional Documentation, National Register (OR0077ad, 2014), 131 E. Queen Street, Webb-Patterson House (Mid-Lawn)
  14. Mr. and Mrs. James Webb Cheshire buy Over-the-River The Norwood house across the Eno, which James Webb Jr. and his wife had bought in 1848, was sold in 1936 to Mr. and Mrs. James Webb Cheshire. People: James Webb Jr. Place: Over-the-River (Norwood-Webb-Cheshire House), 210 US 70A, Hillsborough · Also named: James Webb CheshireSearch the index · NC State Historic Preservation Office: Hillsborough Historic District Additional Documentation, National Register (OR0077ad, 2014), 210 US 70A, Norwood-Webb-Cheshire House

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Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Site locations from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office survey, Open Orange, Orange County GIS, OpenStreetMap and a few other published sources named on each site’s page; town and community pins show approximate locations.

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