The Brown County Historical Commission dedicated a Texas historical maker Friday, May 30th at 10:30 a.m. at Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood, Texas. The marker recounts the history of Charlie Webb, a Texas Ranger and John Wesley Hardin, the man who shot and killed him.
Friday morning, members of the Brown County Historical Commission, Greenleaf Cemetery board members, city and county officials, along with past and present Texas Rangers honored the service of Webb who served as a Texas Ranger and a Brown County Sheriff’s deputy in the 1870s.
Ronnie Lappe, representing the historical commission, gave a historical account of how Webb signed up to be a Texas Ranger and along with other Texas Rangers, began hunting down the notorious Hardin-Taylor gang. Lappe stated that the rangers caught up with Hardin in Comanche, Texas where he shot and killed Webb on May 26, 1874 in a gun fight outside of the Jack Wright Saloon, which was where the Comanche Courthouse square is today.
Frank Hilton of the historical commission helped Lappe unveil the marker, and read the inscription which included the story of how Hardin fled Texas with his wife and child and was on the run. He was then captured in Pennsicola, Florida by the Texas Rangers and the Pinkerton Men. He was brought back to Texas where he was sentenced to 25 years for the death of Webb. He served 15 years and studied law while he was incarcerated, and then later was pardoned and released. Hardin became a lawyer setting up practice in El Paso after his release and was later shot and killed at the Acme Saloon in El Paso, it further stated.
Retired Texas Ranger Carl Weathers, representing the Former Texas Ranger’s Association dedicated a Texas Ranger memorial cross which was placed at Webb’s gravesite.
Pictured above is Frank Hilton reading the inscription on the marker, also pictured is Ronnie Lappe.
Below are more photos from the event.
Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes, former Texas Ranger Jack Morton, Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs (former Texas Ranger), County Judge Ray West, former Texas Ranger Carl Weathers, and Donnie Lappe of the Brown County Historical Commission reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the dedication.
Texas Ranger Jason Shae and former Texas Rangers Jack Morton, Bobby Grubbs, Carl Weathers, and Ralph Wadsworth stand behind Webb’s gravesite and the Texas Ranger cross placed Friday.
