National Republican., 1886-08-01
Ho9. Harry; hibbey.
SECOND DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA.
+SSNSS<-e

MS EARLY HISTORY AND THE EXCELLENT REC
ORD HE HAS MADE DURING his FOUR
YEARS SERVICE IN CONGRESS.
Hon. Harry Libbey, Representative in
the Forty-eighth and Forty ninth Congress
of the United States from the Second dis
trict of Virginia, was born in Wakefield,
Carroll county, New Hampshire, November
%, 1S43, being, at the time of his first elec-
ton to Congress, just thirty-nine years of
age. His parents were Nathan and Olive
Berry Libbey. Nathan Libbey, the father,
was born March IS, 1902, at Berwick, York
county, Maine. The family settled at Scar
borough, Cumberland county, Maine, about
1885, and have continued from that time to
reside in that part of Maine up to June.
1916, when Nathan Libbey, having married
Olive Berry, of Milton, New Hampshire,
settled upon the tract of land in Wakefield
where he continued to reside to the
time of his death, o period of forty
eight years, and where one of his sons,
Washington Libbey, the twin brother of
Harry. Libbey, still lives, a good farmer and
much-respected citizen.
Early in 1851 Harry Libbey, then boy
of scarcely eighteen years, entered the en-
ploy of the Adams Express Company at
Old Point Comfort, Virginia, where he re-
mained for years, after which he was en-
gagged in business at the same place with an
elder brother-Joseph Lbbey. At the
close of the war Mr.. Libbey settled in Eliza
beth City county, near Old Point Comfort,
as merchant and farmer, and has there
remained, so employed, to the present
time.
Mr.. Libbey was first elected to Congress
in November, 1882, upon what was then
known as the "Readiuster ticket, over
both the Democratic or boiling Republican
candidates. In November, 1884, he was
again elected to Congress over Marshall,
the Democratic candidate, by a majority of
5,43l.
To one of Mr.. Libbey's quiet ways, en-
crossed with the cares of his business, moth
ing could be more out of place or more dis
tasteful than office-seeking or the practices
of questionable school of politicians. Still,
disinclined to enter the field of politics as
a political athlete, it must not be supposed
that Mr.. Libbey has failed to show that in
terest in politics which marks the highest
type ofAmeri6an ci izenship. Ever since at
tanning his majority he has in an undemon-
strative way, but with all the calm earn
estness that sincerest conviction prompts,
endeavored to promote the success of his
favorite political party. Doubtless the fact
that he has not been an aspirant for office
has forcibly impressed the people of his
adopted State with the honesty of his pur-
poses and his firm conviction of the JUS
tice of his political views.
To-day the future of no man in Eastern
Virginia promises better things; thoroughly
identified with the interests of his adopted
State as he is, scrupulously faithful in the
performance of all the duties incident to
good citizenship his most earnest aim is to
elevate the masses and eXat the State in
material wealth and moral excellence.
During the first session of the Forty-ninth
Congress, just closed, Mr.. Libbey has been
most earnest and faithful in the discharge
of his arduous duties, and ever on the
alert to advance the best interests of all the
people of the Second district of Virginia
Since he has been in Congress he has
accomplished more for his district than has
ever been accomplished by any of his
predecessors. He has succeeded in having
an appropriation of 100000 made for the
construction ofa new wharfat Fort Monroe,
and on the last day of the session of Con-
gress just closed almost succeeded in pass
ing the bill for public building at Nor
folk. The latter bill and the appropriation
for the improvement of the Naval Hospital
grounds at Portsmouth will become laws
next winter. The people of his district
could not better advance their own inter-
ests than by returning Mr.. Libbey to the
Fiftieth Congress, where his experience
and influence will enable him to do so
much for them, far more than can possibly
be done by new or inexperienced men,
ber.