William T. Libby

BATES, DILLINGER, LIBBY, LINN, MALLIT, MOULDING

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/8/2004 at 11:39:19

William T. Libby is a retired farmer living in Winterset and, while the opportunity has come to him to now enjoy a period of rest, he has led a most busy and useful life as an agriculturist and by reason of his intelligently directed efforts has gained the competence that is now his. He was born near Ontario. Canada, March 15, 1851, a son of William and Eliza (Mallit) Libby, both of whom were natives of England. Following their marriage they crossed the Atlantic to Canada and in the spring of 1860 became residents of Kane county, Illinois, where for a time the father engaged in the cultivation of rented land. In 1868 he purchased a farm and continued its cultivation until 1881, when he sold that property and retired from business life. He then came to Iowa and both he and his wife made their home on a farm in Greene county until they were called to their final rest. They were Methodists in their religious faith and sterling worth won for them high regard. In business affairs they met with a fair measure of prosperity.

William T. Libby was but nine years of age when the family left Canada and went to Illinois. He continued to work at home until seventeen years of age and then, on the 30th of July, 1868, he married Miss Susan R. Moulding, who was born in England, February 15, 1850, and came to the United States in 1852 with her parents, Thomas and Rachel (Bates) Moulding, who were likewise natives of England. Her father engaged in business as a machinist and merchant in England and after coming to the new world he took up his abode in Chicago, where he engaged first in bookkeeping. He also devoted some time to preaching the gospel and later he turned his attention to farming, becoming the owner of a farm in Kane county, Illinois. His wife died upon that farm, while Mr. Moulding passed away while on a visit in Wisconsin. Mrs. Libby spent her early life in Kane county, Illinois. Following their marriage Mr. Libby rented a farm in that county and there they lived for about a decade, coming to Iowa in 1878, at which time they took up their abode in Greene county, where Mr. Libby rented land until the spring of 1882.' He then bought eighty acres of land and later he purchased eighty acres adjoining, residing upon that place until 1901, when he sold out and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Scott township, Madison county, seven miles southeast of Winterset. He then developed and further improved the farm until February, 1913, when he rented the place to his sons and came to Winterset, where he is now living retired. He engaged in the breeding of French draft horses and shorthorn cattle and his stock-raising interests added materially to his prosperity. His methods of tilling his fields were practical and progressive. He utilized the latest improved machinery and carefully studied the conditions of soil and climate as related to crop production. Thus year by year his farm brought to him a comfortable income and he is now the possessor of a competence that enables him to put aside further business cares. He still owns his farm, together with an attractive residence in Winterset.

To Mr. and Mrs. Libby have been born eight children: Etta, who is the wife of William Dillinger, of Page county, Iowa; William, at home; Charles W., of this county; Fred James, who follows farming in this county; Myrtle M., the wife of Clarence R. Linn, a resident farmer of Madison county; Albert R. and Frank James, who operate their father's farm; and Elmer Earl, also upon a farm. Mr. Libby is an independent republican, nor has he ever been an office seeker. His religious faith is that of the Society of Friends and throughout his life he has been loyal to its teachings. He has ever been honorable and upright in all of his relations with his fellowmen and he enjoys the unqualified respect of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”