The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-06-10
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\ New \ 0rk Sun correspondent
recently interviewed the "learned
blacksmith of Lebanon Valley, Law
renee J. Ibach. the Astronomical cal
culator or compiler of Gruber's celc-
brated Hagerstown Almanac. He al
so furnishes thirteen other large estab-
lishments with Astronomical calcula-
tons including several New York
newspapers. The correspondent writes
as follows:
Sheriddp, Lebanon County Pa,
Nav II. lST3.-There are not many
blacksmith astronomers in the world.
Yet here in this quiet little village in
the valley of Lebanon, | have found
one. probably the only one in the Uni
ted States a man who to-day is max
ing astronomical calculations for a lit
tie world of almanac makers, and who
EMPLOYS the other half Of his time in
making iron spoons, ladies, horse
shoes. and other articles Of the black
smith trade. His star gazing and
eclipse calculations do not bring him
in sufficient sum to support himself
and family, and hence he pounds and
fashions red hot iron for livelehood.
That's the kind of a man Lawrence J.
Ibach is.
Just l37 miles west of New y ork
by way of the Allentown Line, to-
ward Harrisburg, is station on the
Lebanon Valley Railroad named in
honor of gallant little Phil Sheridan.
1t is about thirty-fve miles east of
Harrisburg and seventeen west of
Reading. From Sheridan your cor
respondent rode two miles inland to
the village of Newmanstown. 1t was
late in the afternoon when the jolly
German driver drew rein and came
to a halt in front of little low coun-
try blacksmith shop on the main street
of the village. 1t was dingy place,
rickety, sooty and black. A small
pile of coal and a lot Of scrap iron
were lying near the door The tirk-
ling song Of the anvil and hammer
was heard. The door opened, and a
tall, wcll-built man appeared.
Nothing wrong, Mr.. Ibach," said
the wagner, "only brought a stran-
ger TO see YOU. Wants to have a
talk with you"
Two hours afterward, by appoint
ment, was in the study Of this most
remarkable man. 1t was a singular
apartment away off here in the wilds
Of Pennsylvania, apparently beyond
the borders Of civilization. The walls
were hung with maps, and corners Of
the room contained piles of books. A
low broad table was in the middle Of
the room, and large coal oil lamp
was dimly burning. Several beauti-
ful globes, elegantly mounted, were
on the table. The rain pattcred in
cessantly on a skylight above. A
large sectional telescope was lying in
a rack. Another, on a beautiful stand
was near the door. An old Chinese
work on astronomy is a rare relic.
He has reprint of Montucla, recount
ing observations that were made $500 |
years ago. He has "reminiscences of
Thales and Meton The Ptolcmies
are represented. lie has a work of |
George Of Peurbach, an astronomer /
of the Austrian dominions, born in
1923. Also of of John Muller. of
Koningsberg, from whom we possess
the first good and complete Ephem-
erides. He is a great student of
Nicholas Copernicus, born in l473
also, Of Tycho Branc, a Dane, born in
1916 The opinions of Calico, Hev-
elius, Huygens, Newton, Kepler, Hal
ley, Bonguer, Maupertius, la Caille,
Tobias Mayor, FIsle, Lambert, Euler
and very many others Of later date,
are on the shelves and table. He has
charts, instruments, sketches, outlines
Of air and wind currents, and very
many other articles pertaining to this
branch of his business. And all these
bid away here in the rear portion of
n two-story frame house, far from the
habitation of science, art or letters.
Mr. Ibach is fifty-cight years of
age. lie was boru in Allentown,
Pennsylvania, and in all respects is
4 self-made man as far as he has gone. s
lie speaks English, German, Spanish,
French, and some Italian. He is {
thirteen large establish I
ncnts with astronomical calculations, j
several newspapers in New {
l ork for their almanacs. His calcu- l
ations for 1874 we're made two years !
lgo. Those for 1875 are finished and {
translated into four languages, and ]
n a few days will be sent away. |
The calculations for 1876 have been '
commenced. i
In the morning the astronomer I
works with his telescope, charts, and !
In the afternoon he
hoes horses. makes nails, hammers {
ron into ladies and spoons, and finds s
inc to instruct his neighbors and &
ustomers. In the evening he enter c
aims his wife and little ones, and S
lever fails to pass two hours With )
lis books. His translated calculations I
% as far as South America. lie is S
n correspondence with many of the !
eading minds on astronomy in this G
ountry. 1
Ibach went to school until fifteen v
ears of age, and was then apprentic- t
d to the black smith trade. At the t
ge of twelve he began the study of 5
stromomy, and read much on the a
ubject after working hours. \ t
named Mancard paid c
ONE attention to his education. a
bach served his apprenticeship in V
al. At thirty years of age he fell Il
cir to a large lot of instruments, Ii
be property of an aged astronomer a
bach determined to learn the profes- u
ion Of the dead man. He worked
and finally gained his '
oint. He has grown gray in his o
7ork, and it is an absolute fact that Ii
ne-fourth Of the people, in circuit a
+ twenty miles around this country, t.
re not aware of the presence of this Ii
Philosopher of the stars, and vet he 81
as lived among them twenty years r.
hey know him only as smith and Il
shf0r guckor-a Pennsylvania C,
ierman term for q star gazer. He c,
well informed on current toDics.
was shown the first pages of his