The Portland daily press., 1889-03-27
James Bracket Libby.

The death of James Bracket Libby, re-
corded in our columns this morning, re-
moves another of the few old merchants who
gave reputation to Portland as one Of the
thriving cities of New England.
| Born in Limerick August l, 1916, Mr. Lib
by was almost 70 years of age at the time of
his death. He was clerk in his fathers
store in Limerick and afterwards carried on
the business himself until 1886, when he re-
moved to Portland and associated himself
In business with his brothers. Harrison jew
ell and Francis Ormand Libby, under the
firm name of II. j. Libby & Co. The firm
was engaged in-the jobbing and commission
wooden business at first. both in Portland
and New York. The headquarters of the
Portland firm, prior to the great fire, were
In the large brick block, known as the Libby
Block, on Free street; after the fire in the
block where A. Little & Co., are now lucat-
ed; in the cid First National Bank building;
and still later in the new bank on the corner
of Exchange and Middle streets.
But 1t is more especially as wooden manu-
facturers and commission merchants that the
firm is known to the world. In 1862 branch
house was established in New York and it
firm was transacted. In 1877 81. j. and James
Is. Libby built the extensive mills of the
Harper Manufacturing Company at WEIGH
vile, Me-, which have been such a decided
| success. In 1881 the great Madison wooden
mills corporation was formed, located at
Madison, and in 1887 the Indian Spring Mill.
these two corporations employing some
100000 capital OF both these latter cor
porations Mr.. B. James Libby was treasurer
but resigned the office owing to i'll health
last January. When he retired he was
elected president of the Madison Company.
and MIR. FL. j. Libby succeeded him as treas
urer of both the latter named companies.
Mr.. James B. Libby was also president of the
Harper Manufacturing Company. Besides
their Identification with these establish
ments the firm of FL. j. Libby & Co., had
close relations with large manufacturing
companies in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,,
Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York
1t is now one of the Oldest wooden commits
sion houses in the country and during al
the great financial storms that have swept
over this country their credit was never i'm
peached, or the standing Of the house shak-
en-.
Mr.. James Libby was for many years In
charge Of the branch house in New York and
attained deserved reputation among the bus
mess men in that city, as well as In Maine,
as merchant of great ability and excellent
judgment; man of sterling integrity. He
has been for many years identified with the
and was at the time Of his death director
in the International Steamship Co., in which
ne was large stakeholder Mr.. Libby was
man OF strong and well denied religious
yiews-a Congregationalist of the old school.
de never wavered in his attachment to High
street church-of which he has been mem
Der during all is years Of residence in this
city, and no one was more constant or devot
ed in his attendance upon its ministrations.
Mr.. Libby was married to Hannah Cath
crime Morrill,, daughter of Moses and Mary
Wise Morrill, of Kennebunk. She died
May I'd. 1879. Their children are Mrs. ClaI-
ence Fl. Corning; Augustus Frost-a member
of the firm in New York-and Hon. Charles
F. Libby of Symonds & Libby, ex-Mayor of
Portland.
The funeral will take place Thursday at
30 N