Lybe, D. I.

LYBE, SNYDER

Posted By: Donna Lindauer
Date: 1/27/2026 at 11:52:25

The Fremont County Herald, published in Sidney, Iowa
Thursday, February 9th, 1899

It falls to our lot to make the sad announcement of the death of Dr. D. I. Lybe, which occurred at his home on Monday last at about 9:30 a.m.

The doctor was first taken sick four weeks ago Thursday of the present week, but after the first week's illness, was up and down and his condition was not considered dangerous. The disease was neuralgia of the heart. One paroxysm in an early stage of the sickness seemed alarming, but on calling in promptly the family doctor remedies were given that relived him for the time, so that in about half an hour he was around again as usual. So it continued, the doctor passing from his home to the office adjacent, without apparent difficulty, until Monday of the present week, the 6th inst., when he was attacked with another distressing paroxysm. Dr. DeFeece being absent in the country, Dr. Stephens was called in, but too late to render any assistance. When the paroxysm came on, Mrs. Lybe helped him to a chair in which he sank helplessly down. Seeing that the case was critical and that a crisis had arrived, Mrs. Lybe ran to the door and called out for help which soon brought her neighbor, N. C. Wilson and his son, to her assistance, Frank Derr also coming in at about the same time. They immediately laid the doctor upon the floor, after which he was not discovered to breathe. Thus suddenly and apparently almost painlessly, after the paroxysm, Dr. Lybe passed through the portals of death into that "Bourne whence no traveler returns."

Dr. D. I. Lybe was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, on December 25th, 1848. He enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War from Mifflin, Penn., when only 16 years of age. He served but a few months until he contracted disease that disabled him from further service and he was dismissed from the army and sent back to his home. From this disease he has been a sufferer ever since and especially so during the last quarter of a century.

Soon after his return from the army he began the study of dentistry which profession he practiced almost up to the hour of his death.

On July 2, 1872, he was married in Monroe, Jasper County, Iowa, to Miss Sarah A. Snyder, who with their daughter, Leona, survives him. Three children in all have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lybe, two of whom, a boy and a girl, precede their father to the spirit land, leaving only Leona to be the comfort and solace of the mother as she travels the lonely way of the widow.

Mr. Lybe has been a familiar figure in Sidney for many years, locating here in March, 1878, and living here continuously since that time. A great share of that interval he had a large dental practice; he once mentioned to the writer the number of dental plates of his construction now in use by residents of Fremont County, and although we do not remember the exact number stated, we do remember that it ran up well into the hundreds.

The doctor was a quiet citizen and possessed many commendable traits; kind-hearted, humanitarian and offering a ready hand to any in distress. He was genial and companionable, without haughtiness or taciturnity and one in whose presence the little child, as well as the grown man, would feel at home.

He will be missed from a large circle of friends. Failings he had in common with all mankind; but of these failings he neither made concealment nor urged palliation. Once you knew the man you knew the whole man; and as he threw over no weakness of his the veil of hypocrisy, he left his fellow man to throw over these weaknesses the veil of charity.

The funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday, 7th inst. at 2 p.m. being conducted by Rev. Dickinson, of the Presbyterian Church, assisted by Rev. Hoff, of the M. E. Church.