From the 1938 Centennial Edition of The Times-Register
Minor Dillard Webber, head of Smead & Webber’s drug store, in Salem, needs no introduction to the people of this vicinity. He was born in Salem, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Webber, and attended the Salem schools as well as Roanoke College. He is a registered pharmacist and has devoted most of his life to that profession, although he was a motion picture operator at one time and was engaged in construction work for the firm Langhorne & Wiley.
During the World War in which he saw much active service Mr. Webber was in the medical corps. For some time he was in charge of all the medical and surgical supplies of the first base hospital at Camp McClellan, Ala. On his way to France during the war he was in charge of two pharmacies which served ten thousand men Crossing the Atlantic, the shop sighted two submarine destroyers but did not come within firing distance. The transport traveled without escort or convoy.
War Service
The Salem business man saw actual service under heavy shell fire on the Verdun and Alsace fronts and had the thrilling experience of seeing much aerial combat. He received a commendation from his major for staying above the ground during the fighting about Verdun, refusing the privilege of concealing himself in the dugout, with other members of his company.
Mr. Webber is a member of the Masonic lodge and its affiliates, the Shrine and Scottish Rite order, as well as a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the local Methodist Church, South, the Salem Kiwanis Club, Finance Officer of Post 19, American Legion, and a director in Salem Chamber of Commerce.
For recreation he enjoys hunting and fishing and he also finds interest in the collection of Indian relics. He is very fond of travel and has been to many foreign countries as well as the majority of the states of the union.
For twenty-eight years he has been in the drug business at the stand. In 1931 he purchased the full interest of the firm of Smead & Webber.