The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-12-23
LAURENCE J. IBACH.
The Observation-Disclosures of the Leba,
non Valley.
From the Phrenologlcal Journal


The little village of Sheridan. Lebanon coun,
ty, Pa. has its ''learned blacksmith in the
name of the gentleman whose name heals this
sketch. and in letter not long since received
from MIR. Ihach himself. alll,son is thus briefly
made to his private history.
II was born January II. 1915, Mt Allentown,
Pa, where my father, Gnstavls Ibach, was en-
gagged in manufacturing iron ladies. skilets.
etc. After attending the school of Mr. Mali
cord, a Frenchnan, for a few years, and get
ting. besides the common branches, a little
knowledge OF astronomy and of the higher
mathematics. commenced to learn the trada
OF my father in my fifteenth year. In 1885, our
family moved to Sheridan, where we carried
on our business for three years, when my father
died. 1 then took a partner, but in 1S49 we
dissolved partnership, and | rented a forge near
Reading. The person from whom hired was
Mr.. Siedle, a soil-in-law of Mr.. Charles T. En-
gleman. an astronomer of considerable note,
with whom became acquainted through the
former. The climate of the locality not agree
ing with my health, returned to Sheridan in
1852. During my stay near Reading fire.
quently visited Mr.. Englenan, and through
him my bovish fondness for astronomy was re-
Yiyed. and Ilayez made ia speciaI study ever
man in many ways; in our intercourse, he
frequently made wise and timely hints, esnez
scially so when the conversation turned upon.
educational topics. After his death, which oc-
cured in 1860, came into possession of all
his books, charts, etc., and [ was prevailed
upon to make almanac calculations for the or
slers which remained untitled when Mr.. En-
gleman died. My first calculation appeared
in 1861 since that time [ have yearly been
calculating for different parties through
out the United States, Canada, California,
Cuba and South America, aud am still manu-
| featuring iron ladies' on small scale, working
| a few hours a day on the anvil, and believing
| in the harmonious development OF body and
| mind" a t=i n
| A correspondent of a New York newspaper
| visited MIR. lbach not long since. and found.
| him very worthy subject for interviewa.
| He thus alludes to the study Of the blacksmith
astronomer.
/ ut was a singular apartment away off here
in the Wilds OF Pennsylvania, appa emily be-
/ yond 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 d large
coal oil lamp was dimly burning. Several
beautiful globes, elegantly mounted, were
the table. The rain pat!ed necessarily OH y
skylight above. A large sectional telescope
| was lying in a rack. Another. on u beautiful
| stand, was near the door. An old Chinese
/ work on astronomy is u rare relic. He has 4
reprint of Montucla, reconn ing observations
| that were made two thousand five hundred
/ years ago. He has "reminiscences of Thalea
aid Mention. The Ptoemcs are represented
/ fIe has work of George Of Peurbaclh. an az
trononer of the Austrian !oninlons, born il,
1913. Also, John Muller, OF Koningsberg. FROM
whom we possess the first good and complete
Ephemeritles. He is great student OF
Nicholas Copernicl,s, born in the year 1873; al
so, of Iycho Brahe, Dane. born in l546.-=
| The opinions of Calico, lTevelius, Huygens,
Newtons Keper, HALEY. Bouguer, Mauperius
/ LaCaille, Tobias Mayer, L'Isle, Lambert, Euler,
and very many others of later date arc an
the shelves and table. He has charts, instrus
ments, sketches, outlines of air and wind cur
rents, and very many other articles pertaining
to this branch of his business. And all these
hid away here in the rear portion OF q two
story frame house. far from the habitation ct
SCIENCE art or letters" He furnishes more
than dozen large establishments with aStro-
nomcal calculations, including several news
papers in New York, for their almanacs. His
| calculations for 1875 were translated into four
languages by himself, and those for 1876 were
completed some time Stree. Here in Sheridan.
an obscure village, seventeen miles west of
Reading, this truly learned man is content to-
| dwell, furnishing at once a model Of what may
be accomplished in the walks Of an abstrusa
science by patient industry, andan example OF
modesty and serene satisfaction in his quiet.
isolated home.