Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Caleb LIBBY

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Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, <rmontgomery@cishome.com> June 2005

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The telegraph yesterday informed relatives and friends of C. A. Libby, that
he quietly passed away in Maine, where he and his wife were visiting.
Pneumonia was the cause. The remains will arrive here late tomorrow.

Mr. Libby has long been a resident of Evansville and is well known to a
large circle of people.

He was born at Great Falls, N. H., Nov. 6, 1846. In November 1869, he was
married to Miss Lucila Crandall, and to this union five children were born,
Fred Nelson, Mary Alice and Almond Melvin--twins--Burr Ansel and Roy, the
latter dying in infancy. The children are all settled for themself and with
the wife have the deep sympathy of friends in this hour of sad afflicition.

No arrangements have been made for the funeral, on account of two of the
boys being in the west, who are expected to arrive here later.

October 18, 1906, Evansville Review, Evansville, Wisconsin 

CALEB ANCEL LIBBY GONE Suddenly Passed Away While Visiting In Maine

The sad tidings reached this city, Wednesday, afternoon, Oct. 17, 1906 at
4:30 o’clock, that C. A. Libby, Proprietor and Editor, of this paper, had
suddenly died at the home of his niece, Mrs. Wm. Staples, at Newfield,
Maine.

Mr. and Mrs. Libby took their departure Sept. 11th, for a visit of several
weeks with relatives in the east. A letter was received about a week ago
announcing that he was ill, but not dangerously, and relatives supposed he
was improving when the telegram of his death reach here.

His son, A. M. Libby, leaves this afternoon for Chicago to meet the wife,
who is accompanying the remains, and will arrive in Chicago late this
evening. The funeral party is expected to reach this city, Saturday morning
on the 6:30 train. 

It is expected that arrangements will be so perfected that the funeral
services will be held on Sunday afternoon, at 2:00 at the late residence,
and at 2:30 at the Cong’l. church; however there may be a change made when
the remains arrive.

October 19, 1906, Enterprise, Evansville, Wisconsin 

OBITUARY CALEB ANCEL LIBBY

The community was shocked last Wednesday, Oct. 17, 1906, upon hearing of
the death of Mr. C. A. Libby. He was in the East, where he and his wife
went some six weeks ago for a visit with relatives and friends. He was not
well when he left home, and later pneumonia settled down upon him. No one
thought his condition was dangerous, and no one dreamed of such an untimely
death. His last days were spent at the home of his niece, Mrs. Mary Staples
at Newfield, Maine, and she, with other relatives did all that loving hands
could do to relieve his sufferings, and make his last hours peaceful.

Mr. Libby, the proprietor and editor of the Evansville Enterprise and
Tribune for about twenty-six years, was a native of New Hampshire and was
born at Great Falls, Nov. 6, 1846. He lived in his native state until he
was nine years of age and came west with his parents to Evansville, Wis.,
in 1855. His primary education, received in the common schools was
supplemented by a course in Evansville Seminary. In 1864 he enlisted in the
army and became a member of the Company D, 40th Wis. V. I. He remained in
the service until honorably discharged by reason of the expiration of his
term of enlistment. During that time he had a sun-stroke and contracted a
chronic disease which permanently affected his health.

On Nov. 6, 1869, Mr. Libby was united in marriage with Miss Lucilla
Crandall. After their marriage they moved to Kansas, where they lived three
years. Then they returned to Evansville and here they have since resided
with the exception of one year, 1895-1896 spent in Chicago. Since 1881 he
has been in successful newspaper work, having developed two papers, The
Enterprise and The Tribune. he was a charter member of T. L. Sutphen Post,
No. 41, G.A.R. He was also a Pension Attorney, Real estate agent, and agent
for other concerns.

Besides his wife, he leaves three sons and one daughter: Fred, who entered
the United States Pension office in 1895 and is now located in Portland,
Oregon; Burr, who is in San Francisco, California; Almon M., who was with
his father in newspaper work; and Mary Alice, Mrs. Frank Turrell, who
resides in Belvidere, Ill. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Byron Campbell,
and one brother, Nathaniel Libby, both of whom reside here.

The funeral was held at the Libby residence, Sunday afternoon, Oct. 21, at
2:30 o'clock. Rev. Edwin A. Ralph, pastor of the Congregational church
officiated.

The funeral was very largely attended by the citizens of Evansville and
neighboring region. The W. R. C. and G. A. R. escorted the body to the
cemetery, where the G. A. R. burial service was read by Commander Gray and
the flag planted by Comrade Beebe.

These are the few details that give out a meager outline of a busy life of
nearly sixty years. They but suggest the things which received his
attention. Mr. Libby may well be called a man who grew gradually into the
hearts of his fellow citizens, especially during the last fifteen years. He
became more and more a representative business man, a successful editor and
conscientious citizen. His business ability resulted in his accumulation of
considerable property. As a newspaper man he succeeded in publishing a
local paper that contained the news, that was read by a large number of
people. It was read by numbers of former citizens who in this way kept
posted on the things that were going on in their home town.

It is as a man and a citizen though that he was best known. He did not hold
any office in the community but he made it his rule to be the kind of a man
the city needed, to be a safe man for any boy to pattern after and to stand
for all that made the city life strong and right. He was a man of good
habits having given up many habits of earlier years, as he said, that no
boy or young man should ever have his example as his excuse for bad habits.
His pen was often directed against the use of tobacco and intoxicating
liquors. He never hesitated to single out any person or any group of
persons whom he thought a menace to the community and print his
condemnation of them. For this one aim to be a good example to the boys in
the city he deserves much praise.

In matters of politics he had his convictions and stood for them through
thick and thin. He published many articles that dealt with the political
situation in the town, in a forceful, even though a partisan manner. So
successful were his thrusts that people were made to see both sides of the
question before the public.

He was deeply interested in the schools, those supported by the city, and
the Seminary. He always urged attendance of the citizens at the annual
school meetings and paid his compliments to the complainers who remained at
home.

He was interested in the churches, every one of them, and gave much space
in his paper to the discussion of church matters. He offered each church
all the space it wished, free of charge. He was a strong temperance
agitator and came out in the strongest terms against the proposition of
licensing a saloon in our city.

He was the children's friend. They often visited his office, where they
received a warm welcome. He enjoyed the children's services in the church
and always had a word of encouragement for them.

Though sharing with the rest of us many short comings, he was nevertheless
a man who carried the interests of the city and its people upon his heart
and who did much to better things. As an earnest citizen, newspaper man,
and business man, he will be greatly missed by the majority of our
citizens, but the soldiers, and the soldiers' widows, whose pensions he
looked after. The man who does his best never fails to win a place for
himself. He will surely by misunderstood, and sometimes cordially maligned;
but in the end his earnestness will win for him the respect of the people.
We believe that Mr. Libby was this sort of man. His family receives the
sympathy of the community in this sad affliction.

CARD OF THANKS

We wish to sincerely thank all those who rendered assistance and extended
sympathy to us during our sad affliction, in the death of beloved husband
and father. Especially do we wish to thank the G.A.R. and W.R.C. societies;
Rev. E. A. Ralph for the excellent words spoken; the choir, especially Mrs.
Wilder for the solo rendered; and to those who gave beautiful floral
offerings.

October 26, 1906, Enterprise, Evansville, Wisconsin