I shall give in this sketch what I consider a very interesting history. The latter months of 1876 saw the dawn of a business career which was destined to spread itself like the mighty Mississippi, though small in its incipiency; having been retarded by many obstructions, which were gradually removed, it worked its way through valleys and plains, finally broadening and deepening itself as it went; having gathered volume and velocity, it is no longer mindful of such small obstructions as hindered its course in the beginning.
Such has been the business career of C. A. Webb, whose cut adorns page 311, and who is the president of the Webb-Jameson Co.
Like many others, he saw the light of freedom without money, education or friends, but being possessed of courage and a determination that always succeeds, having worked a few years as a laborer and in a few other minor capacities, he decided to venture for himself.
His first venture was teaming and making gravel streets and alleys. After a time, a new field was opened, and he began buying and selling wood in car lots to the large pork-packers for smoking purposes. Being successful thus far, he established a coal and wood yard to supply small consumers. Little by little the business grew, and in those days when the winters were more severe in Indianapolis than they are now, and natural gas was unknown, the coal and wood business was a busy one. So much so, that after the business was run a few years, and the borders of trade extended, it became necessary, in order to supply the demand promptly, to employ a steam-splitter and saw, instead of men who usually performed this work, and two to four teams, instead of one. The business up to this time had increased from $500 to $5,000 per year.
Still broadening itself, heavy draught and lumber-hauling were added, which required more teams and men to do the work, until now this branch of the business, which belongs to Mr. Webb individually, amounts to $10,000 per year.
All radical changes in the life of a city bring about changes in established business, and cause new ventures to spring up. In 1887, natural gas having been discovered near Indianapolis, all was excitement. The general topic in the papers and at the fireside was cheap fuel, which of course meant death or a meagre existence to the coal and wood dealers.