Russell LaFayette & Lydia M. (Miller) Vibber

MILLER, VIBBER, BALDWIN

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 3/20/2020 at 09:07:06

Russell LaFayette Vibber was a prominent citizen of Farley, Iowa. Born in Sandusky, Ohio, April 17, 1832, he came to Iowa in 1858 at the age of 26. Russell remained in this state two years. He then returned to Ohio for a short time. Two years after, Mr. Vibber came back to Iowa settling in Dubuque Co. In 1860 he started a mercantile business in Epworth in partnership with O. J. Metcalf. After two years the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Vibber then moved to Farley, opening a general store. The business grew and he began buying grain to facilitate the new enterprise. Mr. Vibber, with Mr. A. K. Heald entered into partnership which continued to Vibber’s death, a period of 35 years. Russell L. Vibber married Miss Lydia M. Miller in Feb. of 1867 in Dubuque. Lydia was born in 1839 at Brackney, PA. She’d come west to Dubuque the previous year preceding her parents. The couple had three children. All the children died quite young. (Charles E., 1870-1871; Carrie M., (1873-1877); Mrs. Lydia Vibber was a frail woman, affected with bronchial trouble for fifteen years. She died Jan. 21, 1898.

On the 5th of March, Mr. Russell Vibber went to Dubuque on business. He had not been feeling well and while in the city went to stay at the home of Mrs. C. S. Baldwin, a sister of his deceased wife. His condition grew worse with Mr. Vibber expiring on March 10, 1898. This was just seven weeks after the passing of his wife. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vibber were Presbyterians and were buried in Fairview Cemetery.

The newspaper account of his funeral states the church “was packed to full capacity” and many mourners were not able to gain entrance to the service.

The History of Farley, Welu Publishing, Copyright 1996