Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-28
IN MEMORIAM.
Honors TO- the Memory Of the
Late Judge Libbey.
Supreme Courts Tribute Of Respect
TO Deceased Associate.
FuIo,iss by Aitornsys-chisi Justice Peters
FssIinsIy and EIoqusntiy Replies.

In the Supreme Court Saturday fore
mon, the court and bar engaged in eulogisti'
exercises on the late Judge Libbey.
E.W. Whitehouse addressed the cour
IS follows:
May il Please Your HOnOrs:
II becomes my most sorfowful duty t,
announce to this court the death of Hon
ARENAS Libbey late member of this bench
:, his home in Augusta, on the 18th day o,
March, 1894.
Judge Libbey was born in Freedom, in tn
county of Waldo, on Jan. 9Th, 1928. Ii
l8s5 bis family removed with him to AL
bon, where he continued to reside, attend
inc the town schools, working upon thu
farm. and acquiring as best he could tn,
,udimepts of q common school education
His Youthful ambition was for somethin,
higher than q farmers life, and 30 at thu
esylv age of IL years we find him pursuing
The study of law in the Office of Samuel S
Warren of Albion, where for the subse
ouent four years he continued his studies
ysrying it winters by teaching the tow
schools.
In the summer of 1874, Mr.. Warren re-
moving to Massachusetts, Mr.. Libbey then
entered and completed his course of studies
in the office of Il. Washburne, of China, and
in the fall of that year, was, at the age Of
tventy-one, admitted to the bar, and short
" afterward opened an office at Albion
Here he continued in the practice of Law
with varying success and somewhat increas
ipg cientage, until, at the end of clever
years, he deemed it expedient to remove te
larger town, and in 1858 did remove tc
and open an Office in Augusta.
Mr.. Libbey here came in contact witt
such men as the late Lot Merrill. JOSEPH
Baker, Sewall Lancaster, Samuel Titcomb
Eben F. Pllsbury, and our still living and
honored brother, James W. Bradbury
With these men of rare minds, all lawyers
Of unusual ability, he frequently met in
legal contest; and always with credit to
himself. The sterling integrity of the man his
close, clear logic and reasoning, the method
and system which he threw into every effort
soon secured for him that marked success
which made him leading member of the
Kennebec Bar, and foremost among the
lawyers of the State.
First practicing by himself, he, after some
years, formed partnership with Tobias
Snow. Mr.. Snow removing to Portland
Mr.. Libbey entered into partnership with
W. s. Choate, our present clerk Of courts.
This relationship having been dissolved, he
then formed third partnership with Danl.
G. Robinson. now prominent member OF
the Suffolk Bar, which continued until his
appointment to the bench.
Tai ,~xIx -
for political favor, scorning to seek office,
yet, such was his good standing among his
fellow men, that office came to him un-
sought. In 1852 he represented his town in
the State Legislature, was a member of
Gov. Samuel Wells executive council in
1856 and in 1875 Gov. Dingley appointed
him member of the constitutional COM
mission. Later in the same year, there be-
ing vacancy on the bench, and a repre-.
sentative from the opposite political party
being desirable, Mr.. Libbey was, on the
oath day of April, appointed justice of
the Supreme Court. This position he con-
tnued to till with the exception of short
period from April "a, 1882 to Jan. l =, 1898,
until the time of his decease.
BY his marked ability and force OF
character advancing himself to the high
position of a justice upon this bench, dy.
ing at the age of seventy-one years, high in
the esteem of ALL with fair competency
and ripe with honors, his, it may be truly
said, was the life of self made man;
"Strons to the end. a man Of men. from GU,
the strife he passed;
The grandest hour of all his life that Of eartl
the last"
Resolutions.
AT the March term of the S. J. court fol
lowing the decease of Judge Libbey, the
members of the Kennebec Bar, met ant
appointed E. w. Whitehouse, 4. +. Webt
and Emery o. Bean, q committee on resolu
tons, who drew up and reported the follow
ing, which on the 22nd day of May. wert
duly approved at meeting of the bar.
Through Divine incorporation Judge
Ldbbey having been removed from our midst
and the bar by his death having lost one Of
Its abest members, the court one of it,
most efficient, wise and faithful councillors
the bench one of its most upright, digni6ee
and learned associates, and the State one Of
Its most honorable and distinguished cit
zens,
Therefore Resolved, That Judge Libbey
IN his quiet and exemplary private life, II
MS faithful and honest devotion to his pro-
iessional duties, and in his clear, conserva
i've and learned administration of his ju
dicial office has left bright and shining
example worthy of imitation from the high
cot and noblest manhood.
Resolved, That this tribute of respect Il
the memsry of our departed brother be pre-
sented to the Supreme Judicial Court now ii
session at Augusta with prayer that it b
entered upon its records, and that the sec
ietary Of the Kennebec Bar be instructed +
forward a copy of the same to the famil
OF the deceased and also to the DAILY KEN
NEREc JOURNAL and the New Age for pub
hcation in their columns.
Hon. Z. F. Webb then said -
Nay 1t Please the Court
Memorial is like painting. To be Q
'aiue, 1t must be true in outline. correctl
eo'ored, and be faithful in review Of tn
man and his career. Fulsome praise. lik
an oserdrawn picture, does not give satii
.scaon. Public opinion assigns to ever
m1n his place in history.
l nave known Judge Libbey As teacher
Mw'student, practitioner, and Judge. TIL
same characteristics were prominent in eac
pnase OF bis life. His was . strong type q
Weu-poised. dignifed manhood. Born
w advantages Of wealth or position, b
raised himself to what he became by b
own exertions.
his intelligent will which controlle