Libby, James Wooden 1826 - 1915

LIBBY, MOSHER, GOODWIN, WHITE, TORREY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/31/2022 at 11:46:34

Register and Argus, 08 July 1915.

James Wooden Libby was born at Bath, Steuben county, N.Y., Feb. 27th, 1826, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Goodwin, at Volga City, Iowa, July 3rd, 1915, aged 89 years, four months and six days.

Mr. Libby was left an orphan when six months old and was adopted by an uncle, Isaac Libby, at the age of six years. He moved to Chautauqua county, New York, where he lived for four years and then to northeastern Pennsylvania and lived for a time on the shore of Lake Erie. In 1846 he moved to Milwaukee, Wis., and then to Beloit, Wis., where he lived two years and at Jefferson, Wis., five years, when he came to Elkader, Iowa, in the month of June, 1852.

He was married to Miss Eliza Mosher, at Beloit, Wis., in 1855 and to this happy union were born seven children, three of whom died in childhood.

Mr. Libby was a manly man. He developed those faculties which made for strict honesty and integrity of character. It was in a revival meeting, held at Elkader before his marriage, that he was converted to God, baptized and united with the M.E. church, where he has remained an honored member ever since. The first sermon Brother Libby listened to in Iowa was at Lima, under an oak tree. Rev. Briggs preached it.

He was made a Master Mason in Jefferson, Wis., and united with the Masonic fraternity at that place Sept. 18th, 1848. Later, with his home at Elkader, he became a charter member of Elkader lodge No. 72, on June 8th, 1855, and was the first Worshipful Master, where he is held in the highest esteem by brethren.

Mr. Libby was a well informed man. His intelligence was above the average. He was a student of events and well versed in the history of his country and his church, to which he was so loyal. To him the Bible was a great book. It was his daily companion. Its truths he treasured up in his heart. It was one of the great lights that illuminated his soul and guided his feet in royal paths of life. He was preeminently a man of prayer and faith, which brought him in touch with the heavenly life of communion with God. He had a high conception of the Christians life and the possibilities of immortality. The following was from his pen, which was read at the Epworth League devotional service one Sabbath evening last year: "This world is just the right place for a preparation for a better one, its pain and disappointments, its sorrows and adversities have in them the possibilities of character. The real life is beyond. Death is the gateway to a larger and more real world of affairs. It is a promotion to higher tasks and nobler responsibilities." Now our brother has entered into them, the heritage of the Heavenly life. His work is done and he has been called by the Master whom he loved so faithfully, to his eternal reward. Peace to his sacred memory.

He leaves to mourn their loss, two sons, Fred Libby, of Chicago, and Leon Libby, of Oelwein, Iowa, and two daughters, Mrs. Anna Goodwin and Mrs. Hattie White, both of Volga City, Iowa; also four grandchildren, two nephews, M. A. Torrey, of Portland, Oregon, and Henry Torrey, of Millville, Iowa, and thirteen great nephews and nieces.

The services were held in the M.E. church at Volga City, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Walter Piper, and a large body of Masons from the Elkader lodge No. 72 was in attendance and took charge of the burial services at the grave, and the remains were laid to rest by the side of his wife, awaiting the resurrection morn.

"Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep!"

The floral gifts were many and beautiful.

(Note: A picture of James Wooden Libby accompanied this obit, but did not reproduce well enough to copy here.)