Joseph P. WEBB and his twin sister, Mary P., were born on 14 Feb 1875, in Memphis, Scotland County, Missouri. Their parents were Joseph Howard WEBB and Mary Jane COOPER.
By the age of 16, Joseph, who known as "Jodie," "Jode," or "Joe D.," was 6 foot 11 inches tall and weighed just over 100 pounds. A 2 Jun 1892 newspaper article reported:
By the age of 16, Joseph, who known as "Jodie," "Jode," or "Joe D.," was 6 foot 11 inches tall and weighed just over 100 pounds. A 2 Jun 1892 newspaper article reported:
Jode Webb, the "Giant" drum major has a gorgeous uniform with red military coat, a two-foot black bear shaker and a six-foot baton, when arrayed in all his glory, he has to dodge all signs that swing less that eight and one-half feet from the sidewalk
On 1 Sep 1892, the paper reported:
(Joseph) left for Lincoln, Nebraska, where he has an engagement in a museum and is, we presume, now being advertised as the 'giant boy from Missouri–eight feet tall.'
Joseph traveled with the Lemen Brothers Circus and also with Ringling's Circus, as a giant–he was known as "the living skeleton."
In Jun 1908, Joseph was in the small town of Las Vegas, Nevada. He may have been performing with one of the circuses or side shows that traveled throughout the west. (The Sells-Floto Circus, which had performed in Las Vegas in 1907, had recently performed in Riverside, California.)
In Jun 1908, Joseph was in the small town of Las Vegas, Nevada. He may have been performing with one of the circuses or side shows that traveled throughout the west. (The Sells-Floto Circus, which had performed in Las Vegas in 1907, had recently performed in Riverside, California.)
NOTE: Las Vegas began as a train stop in 1905, and by 1908, the population was less than 100. Las Vegas did not become a city until 1911.)On 23 Jun 1908, Joseph and two other men hopped a train leaving Las Vegas, heading to Salt Lake City. The train stopped at Dry Lake Pumping Station, 30 miles north of Las Vegas, where the brakeman discovered the three men riding on top of the train and put them off.
When they asked for water, the pumper and his wife ordered the men to leave. The other two started walking away, but when Joseph did not respond (one report said he was hard of hearing), the couple shot him and left him lying on the hot sand to die. (The couple was tried and convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison.)
Joseph, who had been seen on the streets of Las Vegas the previous several days, had $34.75 in money and a certificate of deposit for $52.00 drawn by the bank at Albia, Iowa. He was unarmed.
His body was shipped to Albia, Iowa, where his parents lived. He was buried at Memphis, Missouri.
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