Edwards, Rev. Jonathan. "An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of Washington." San Francisco: W. H. Lever, 1900. p. 447. PROFESSOR I. C. LIBBY Of the department of Latin in the Spokane high school, a pioneer of 1882, was born in the vicinity of Portland, Maine, March 1, 1852. He was raised on a farm and attended school only during the winter months, but when seventeen he began teaching, at the same time devoting every spare moment to preparing himself for college. In 1872 he entered the Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Connecticut, the parent Wesleyan institution of its kind in this country, and three years later graduated from the classical course with the Phi Beta Kappa rank. He made his own way through college, earning most of the necessary funds during vacations. After graduating he accepted a position as assistant superintendent of the Maine State Reform School, but was there only a few months, when he decided to return to the university for further study. He took a post-graduate course in physics and languages, then was elected assistant principal of the Middletown high school and after two years was promoted to the principalship. He held that position for two years also, then served in the same capacity for two years also, then served in the same capacity in the high school of Great Falls, New Hampshire, for one year, after which he returned to Middletown and opened a private preparatory school, at the same time filling the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal church at West Rock Hill, near by. In 1882 he came to Spokane as pastor of the first Methodist Episcopal church and president of the Spokane College. He occupied the pulpit in the Methodist Episcopal church till January, 1884, and retained the presidency of the college till the summer of that year, then, with his wife, opened the Spokane English and Classical School. After maintaining this institution for two years, he was forced to leave the schoolroom on account of ill health. He farmed for a while, then was elected, on the Republican ticket, county superintendent and held that office two years. In January, 1897, he returned to the schoolroom and became professor of Latin in the high school. His wife also teaches rhetoric and composition in the same institution. Professor Libby has long been one of the leading educators in this part of the country and he has done much for the intellectual development of Spokane city and county. By his own patient industry in his younger days he wrought his way, against overwhelming odds, to a mastery of a university course, so that he has been enabled to accomplish a great work in the cause of education wherever he has since lived. He was married in Westbrook, Maine, July 25, 1877, to Miss Martha E. Libby, a native of Maine. She finished he education in the Connecticut State Normal School. They have four children, Mary L., Ruth R., Laura M., and Paul T. Transcriber's additional notes: CENSUS 1860, June 8; Cumberland Co, ME; Standish, p 633 Daniel J. Libby, 39, ME, farmer Mary C, 39, ME George W., 10, ME Isaac C., 8, ME Elva E, 5, ME Levi S., 70, ME, cloth dresser Lydia H, 68, tailoress 1870, June 16; Cumberland Co, ME; Westbrook, p 458 Daniel J. Libby, 49, ME, shoe shop Mary C, 49, ME, keeping house Geo. W, 20, ME, laborer Isaac C, 18, ME, teacher Elva E, 15, ME 1880, June 21; Middlesex Co, CT; Middletown, p 21 Isaac C. Libby, 28, ME, ME, ME, teacher Mattie, wife, 27, ME, ME, ME, keeping house Mary, dau, 1, CT, ME, ME Ruth, dau, 1, CT, ME, ME Affie A. Frost, aunt, 74, ME, ME, ME 1900, June 9; Spokane Co, WA; Nosler Pct, p 46 Isaac C. Libby, 48, March 1852, ME, ME, ME, mar 23 yrs, school teacher Mattie, wife, 47, Feb 1853, ME, ME, ME, mar 23 yrs, 6 children-4 living, school teacher Mary L, dau, 20, June 1879, CT, ME, ME, single Laura M, dau, 13, Jan 1887, WA, ME, ME, att. school Paul T, son, 12, May 1888, WA, ME, ME, att. school Daniel J, father, 79, July 1820, ME, ME, ME, Wd 1910, April 18; Spokane Co, WA; Spokane Wd 1, Albert Pct, p 78 Isic C. Libby, head, m, w, 58, ME, ME, ME, mar 33 yrs, teacher, public school Martha E, wife, f, w, 57, ME, ME, ME, mar 33 yrs, 6 children-4 living Bertha R, dau, f, w, 31, CT, ME, ME, single, teacher, music school Laura M, dau, f, w, 21, WA, ME, ME, single Pauel T, son, m, w, 20, WA, ME, ME, election, wareman? 1920, Jan 9; Spokane Co, WA; Spokane Wd 1, Albert Pct, p 100 Isaac C. Libby, 67, ME, NH, ME, teacher, high school Alice T, wife, f, w, 43, WA, NY, US * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2006 by Diana Smith. Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.