Clark County WA Archives Biographies.....Webber, J. A. 1859 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 27, 2009, 8:23 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     J. A. WEBBER.  The Webber Machine Works of Vancouver, one of the best 
equipped and most complete plants of the kind in the Columbia River valley, 
represents the results of the persistent and well directed efforts of J. A. 
Webber, who began his business career here in a modest way about twenty-five 
years ago and whose record since then has been marked by steady and continuous 
progress, until he is now enjoying a well merited prosperity.

     Mr. Webber was born at Cedar Lake, Illinois, in 1859, a son of Joseph A. 
and Mary E. Webber, and received his educational training in the public 
schools, to which he was compelled to walk four miles night and morning. He 
later apprenticed himself to learn the machinist's trade in Chicago, where he 
worked for three years, and then went to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he 
spent three years in learning the trade of blacksmithing. In 1885 he came to 
the Pacific coast, locating at Port Townsend, where he was employed in the 
railroad shops for awhile, and then moved to Seattle, Washington, just after 
the big fire there. He established a blacksmith shop of his own, which he 
operated for six years, and in 1892 went to Portland, Oregon, where he spent 
several years in the same line of business.

     From there Mr. Webber came to Vancouver, where he worked for Samuel Marsh 
until 1902, when he established a small blacksmith shop at 102 Fourth street. 
About that same time he opened an implement store at Fourth and Main streets 
but later turned his attention to the machine shop business, beginning 
operations in an old frame building at his present location at Fourth and 
Columbia streets. His first equipment consisted of a small foot-power lathe 
and a drill press. Business came slowly at first but the high quality of his 
work and his close attention to his interests soon gained for him an 
increasing patronage and in the course of time he gained recognition as one of 
the leading machinists of the city. In 1917 his original building was replaced 
by a two-story brick structure, fifty by fifty feet in size, and he gradually 
added to his equipment until he is now prepared to promptly and efficiently 
handle any sized job in his line, having a milling machine, lathes up to sixty 
inches in size, shaper, radial drill, gear cutter, belt cutter, hack saws and 
other machines and tools to be found in an up-to-date shop, the entire 
equipment being valued at approximately ninety thousand dollars. He also does 
welding, for which he is well prepared, and no job is too small to receive his 
careful attention. Mr. Webber has patented and manufactures the Webber 
Splitting Gun, for the splitting of wood, which has been very favorably 
received, a larger number of them now being in use. He employs from nine to 
fifteen men, and his business is steadily increasing.

    Mr. Webber was married in Minnesota to Miss Mary Nelson, a native of that 
state, and they are the parents of three children, namely: E1mer, who was born 
in  Seattle, is associated with his father in business; Harry, who is married, 
is with his father; and James, also with the Webber Machine Works, is married 
and has had two children, one who died in infancy and Mary Joe.

     Mr. Webber has been interested in the public affairs of his city and 
served for eight years as a member of the council. He belongs to the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has been a member for thirty-
three years, the Artisans and the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. He is a man 
of progressive spirit, sound business judgment and sterling integrity; enjoys 
the confidence of all who have had dealings with him, and throughout the 
community is held in high regard for his excellent personal qualities and his 
genial manner.


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 583-584

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