The Washington times., 1908-04-27
OLDEST RESIDENTS
MOURN TWO DEATHS
John Edward Libbey and
Charles B. Church Die
Same Day.

The Oldest Inhabitants Association,
its ranks repeatedly thinned by death
since the first Of the year, is today
mourning the loss of two additional
Numbers who passed away within u
few hours of each other and will be
buried the same day.
John Edward Libbey. president Of the
Association and a pioneer luIGber mer-
chant died at his home. 1865 7 street,
Georgetown, at 4:55 yesterday morning,
within three hours after the death Of
Charles B. Church, vice president and
one of the two surviving charter mem
bers Of the association, which occurred
at his home, 800 Eleventh street south
west, at O'Clock The remaining char
ter member is William H. Williams,
Slghty-nine years old.
A special meeting of members Of
the association viii be held at 100
O'Clock tonight in room 2, Corcoraa
building, 70 consider arrangements for
the funeral Of Mr.. Libbey.
Both funerals viii be held at ? O'Clock
tomorrow afternoon. The funeral or Mr..
E-fbbey will be held from the family resi-
dence. Services will be at the Congress
street Methodist Church and interment
at oak Hill Cemetery The honorary
paubearers, members Of the Oldest In
h2biLants' Association, viii be Fred j.
Moore, ). Thomas Brown, Thomas W.
Smith. Judge Charles :. Bundy, Harry
X Willard, A II. Regain B. II. Warner
and J. u. CathelL Secretary Benjamin
w. Reiss and Louis +. SiebOld, of the
association; William King, Charles Ed
monstOn, John Lynch, and NJ. j. Adler,
all residents Of Georgetown, Will be the
active pallbearers.
Funeral of Mr.. Church.
The funeral of Mr.. Church will be held
al the same hour from the residence al
B06 Eleventh street southwest. with serv-
ices at Westminster Presbyterian Church
and interment in Congressional Gene
terry The active pallbearers will be
ne2heWS Of hr. Church The Oldest In
habltantS Association will send an hon
Ordry escort A meeting Of the associa-
ton has been called tins evening at 100
IN its rooms to arrange for attending
the funerals Of its two prominent mem
bers-
John Edward LIbbey, president Of the
association, WAS born in this city No
Nember =, 1851 Like Mr.. Church, he
had Tor many years been one Of the
CITY $ leading lumber merchants, active
~ engaged in the upbuiIdiug OF the sec
ton OF the city in which he lived. Mr..
1dhDey and family had planned TO 60
20 LeesoUfs' Va, yesterday 10 visit the
Old homestead where his mother was
born lO5 years ago He awakened quite
early yesterday morning, and or going
= the window awOke his wife. telling
trip. He returned To bed and a few
minutes later his heavy breathing
alarmed Mrs Libbey, who summoned
DR.. Reginald Munson. Every effort was
made 10 revive the aged man. but he
died within few minutes, partly con-
scious until the last. While suffering
from the grip, contracted about three
months ago, for a time he had appar-
emily recovered and his death was un-
expected
Landed in Sixteenth Century.
The Libbey family is Of Puritan stock.
the first landing in the sixteenth cen
fury. Joseph Libbey. the elder. founded
a lumber yard in Georgetown in 1910.
After completing his studies. John Ed
ward Libbey entered his fathers .husi-
ness, and after the latters death con-
tinued IL, the firm OF J. +. LiDbCy <
Son afteTward being formed.
Mr.. Ldbbey was elected a member Of
the Oldest Inhabitants Association
about eight years ago lie was elected
one Of the thirteen vice presidents Feb
ruary 3. and on the death of President
Allison Mailer he was elected president
OF the association March II.
Mr- Libbey was active in church mat
1erS. and had been a member of Con-
,gress Street Methodist Church since
childhood. He was active in George
town business affairs being a member
OF the Board of Trade. a director in the
Farmers and Mechanics Bank and one
OF the UOdA4 81 BONtAANlS Al the NaIllldI
Traction Company. Mr. Libbey was
first married TO Miss Emily r. Orme,
IN April. 1863. The surviving children
of this union are Francis Benjamin Lib
hey. Mrs. Clara CrOpley, and J. 2. Lib
hey, jr.. all Of this city. Mr.. Iibbey's
first wife died in 1895, and on June %.
1902 he married Mrs Mary a. Collins,
VINO survives him.
What Mr.. Iibbey had been to George
town Mr.. Church had for half cen
fury been to Southwest Washington. He
had great faith in this section OF the
city, and had always interested him
self in its business and church affairs.
Came From Maryland.
be came 10 Washington from Freder-
Eek county. Md in 1870 and in 1Sl5
went in business for himself as a car
renter and joiner, which he continued
until 1876. In 1861 he established the
lumber business of G. +. Church & Co.
lie was also one Of the organizers of
the old Independent Ice Company. be-
ing it's president until Il was merged
into the American Ice Company about
eight years ago, after which ne be-
came a. director in the company, re-
firing a short time ago. He was one
OF the body Of men to form the Oldest
Inha bitants' Association in 1865. Mr..
Williams Is now the sole survivor Of
the original organization.
Mr. Church built the Westminster
Presbyterian Church, at Seventh and ID
streets southwest. and gave II to the
congregation. Mr.. Church has been in
terested in almost every enterprise be-
gun for the upbuildinS of Southwest
Washington.
lie married Miss Matilda Harris
daughter of his first employer in 1877.
their married life extending over fifty
four years Mrs. Church died in 1901.
he is survived by c. w. Church and
W. A. H Church and three daugh-
tiers, Mrs. Alice V Dupue, Mrs. Matte
Z. Berkeley, and Miss Mary A. Church.