Spring 2004

LYBARGER REUNION AND ANNUAL MEETING

It is that time a year again to make plans to attend the reunion and annual meeting of the Lybarger Memorial Association to be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 17-18, 2004. For those arriving on Friday the 16th there will be an informal gathering at the Best Western Motel in Bedford, PA,. The schedule of events are as follows:

This edition of Lybarger Linkages is using a different layout because your editor was not able to gain access to his computer owing to his inability negotiate the basement stairs. And this is because he is recovering from major right hip replacement surgery. So he used his wife's computer which has a different word processing program. The two-column format will return with the Fall edition. This also explains why, in spite of considerable effort, the newsletter is a bit later than it should be.

Lunch : 12 noon, Clara's Place, Best Western Motel Trustees meeting : 1:45 pm, Lybarger Lutheran Church Annual meeting : 2:30 pm, same place

Dinner : 6:30 pm, The Apple Bin Restaurant, east of Bedford (directions will be provided) Sun. July 18

Church service : 10 am, Lybarger Church nondenominational service of remembrance Group photo opportunities : 11 am.

Twelve rooms have been reserved at the Best Western Motel for Lybarger relations. Call 814-623-9006 for reservations. To get the group rate mention that you are part of the Lybarger reunion. The deadline to receive this rate is July 1. No reservations are required for meals at the Best Western or at the Apple Bin.

Coming by car via the PA Turnpike, exit Bedford. After the toll booth turn left going uphill. You will quickly see the Best Western on your left. There are many excellent motels in Bedford but our group rate is only available at the Best Western. If you have the equipment you can camp under the trees at the Lybarger Picnic Grove. Call Jack Lybarger at 814-266-7919 for details. Any other questions? Call John H. Lybarger, the LMA president at 740-342-3110.

John "Jack" Lybarger, president of the LMA, was recognized with a front page story and photo in the Perry County Tribune, New Lexington, Oh last Nov. 23rd. As the newspaper reported, "The son of Bennett and Margaret Lybarger, he was raised in New Lexington and graduated from the local high school in 1941. In 1942 he served in the amphibious forces of the U.S. Navy as was stationed in the Pacific Theater."

Following the war, John reported that "I received my bachelor of science degree in education at Ohio University in 1949, and I stayed right with it, went back and got my master's degree in 1950."

Jack has many accomplishments to his credit beginning with teaching 5th grade. He was not only a teacher, but a coach and principal of the junior high school. He also served five years as superintendent of the Perry County Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities Board.

He is a long time member of the First Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge, and the Lions Club. He has belonged to the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators for five years and served two terms as state treasurer. He was also a member of the New Lexington School Board for two terms. He is president of the Perry County Retired Teachers Association.

As the newspaper reported, "Looking back," Lybarger concluded, "I've been so fortunate to serve with wonderful people those success has helped make possible any success I've had throughout my career."

Now that winter is over the following story may seem out of season. However, the editor found it so interesting when he read it in the Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) that he thought it would be worth sharing with Lybarger relations.

Dan Lybarger, 43, of Lakeville, MN and his sons Mike and Jason participated in an ice fishing contest on Gull Lake in mid January called the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza. According to the Star Tribune he "was among 11,986 anglers who braved a numbing northwest wind to fish in what is probably the world's largest ice fishing contest." 150 prizes were up for grabs including a four-wheel-drive truck or $100,000,

Dan was one of those who hoisted a flag at this fishing site - in his case a pirate flag. As he said, "We went to the bathroom one year and couldn't find our way back to our spot, so now we bring the flag." Dan has participated in the contest for 6 years but has not yet won a prize. The kind of fish that can be caught in the winter include Walleye, Northern Pike, and Perch. Dan is an aircraft mechanic, is married to Judy, and has two daughters, Candice and Sara, in addition to his two sons. He is the son of Robert Lee (1921-1995) and Dorothy June (Watson) Lybarger and the grandson of Fred Lybarger (1894-1957).

Word from Tulsa, OK has it that Stan Lybarger played a key role in raising private funds to help stimulate the local economy in a program call "Vision 2025". Prominant Tulsans gave $19 million toward the revitalization of the county and to encourage voters to authorize an additional $85 million as reported in the Sept. 4, 2003 edition of The Tulsa World.

The challenge grant from private sources was coordinated by Stan, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Oklahoma. He said, "The donors want to see Tulsa County prosper and share in the belief that Vision 2025 is critical for Tulsa." He added that the donors want a significant amount to go to river-related development.

Born in 1950, Stan is the son of Sanford Alvin and Lillian Elisabeth (Olson) Lybarger. He is married to Marcia Susan Holland and they have two children, Stacey and Brooke. Stan is also active in his Presbyterian Church. The LMA is proud that a Lybarger is playing such a strong leadership role in the development of Tulsa.

Readers of Lybarger Linkages will be interested to know that the Lybarger Descendants web page is still alive and well and continues, since its beginning in 1995, to be faithfully maintained and monitored by John Lavern Lybarger in Mansfield, OH. It is very easy to access. Simply go to Google (or any other search engine) on your computer and type in Lybarger Descendants. Then click "I'm feeling lucky" and up it comes.

Once into it you will have a wealth of features from which to choose. There is promotion for the 2000 edition of "Lybarger Descendants" - the complete family history book on Lybarger relations. John reports that there are only 7 copies left. Be sure to order your copy before they are gone. The 1997 edition is sold out.

There are current and back issues of "Lybarger Linkages" dating back to the Spring, 1997 issue. Then, under "pictures", there are color photos of the Lybarger Lutheran Church, the Lybarger Revolutionary War Memorial and graves, the presentation of the Lybarger history, photos of John and his wife Michi, and the vintage car he refurbished as a hobby.

There is also a genealogy section where the first five generations of Lybargers are outlined, John's own lineage, and a listing of 5,921 different surnames found in the 2000 edition of the Lybarger history. And then are the links to various other Lybarger web sites. Most important is the "help wanted" section where the names of many Lybargers are listed who cannot be linked to the larger genealogy of the family. This is where you might be able to provide some answers. Please take time to look them over. The website would be remiss if it did not include a the Lybarger Memorial Association membership and contribution form which you can print out and send to the LMA treasurer. Finally, there is a fun section called "smiles which will help to make your day.

John reports that there have been approximately 1,000 descendants added to the database since the 2000 book came out comprising about 115 pages of additions and corrections. He receives about 10-20 e-mail inquiries and messages a month. He answers each one even if he is unable to direct that person to someone else who can help. The e-mails consist of searches for information about a family or about a surname listed on the web site which may or may nor be related to the Lybarger name. He also gets questions about someone trying to locate a Lybarger school mate. You will find it very worth your while to check out the Lybarger Descendants website.

The Lybarger Descendants web site includes a guestbook where anyone can send in inquiries and post messages. They can be read and responded to by anyone who logs on to the web site. A sample of some of the postings are as follows:

From Candace (April 29, 2003): Just stumbled across this. Was just wondering if there are any Lybargers in Arkansas but I haven't found any.

From Jim Gibson (May 17, 2003): I am looking for Rich and Colleen Lybarger who lived in Denver, CO in 1946 at Easter time. Rich was 14 ears old and Colleen was 13.

From Lewis Bryan Coover, III (Sept. 30, 2003): My own Lybarger connection is my great grandmother, Esther Belle (Lybarger) Coover, who was married to William Dietrich Coover in Shelby, OH where I was born in 1949. We have lived in Portland, OR area for 45 years now. Thanks for the website and information.

From Karen Lea (Collins) Lybarger (Nov. 18, 2003): Hey, this is a great site. I am very impressed. I had no clue that there were so many of us Lybargers running around. I am one of the children of John Roland and Virginia Lea Lybarger. Virginia's maiden name is Striggow. She was born in Nebraska. John was born in Michigan. You can write me at 17130 Van Buren #84 Riverside, CA 92504.

To respond to any of these persons simply access their e-mail address by going to the Lybarger Descendants website, click on "Guestbook" and scroll down the list of messages until you find the one you want. You can also post your own comment or inquiry'. Their e-mail address will be noted.

Alicia Gallagher of Salem, MO sent in some interesting information about her great grandfather, Ralph Herbert Lybarger. He was born on May 27, 1896 in Ashland, OH, the 4th of six children. He was the son of Samuel J. (1861-1917) and Margaret Orwig (1869-1917) Lybarger.

Ralph married Gretchen Marie Abbott. When he got into trouble in Chicago in the 1930's he changed his name to John Abbott, the name of Gretchen's first husband. He told everyone that he had abandoned a car on the side of the road and was going to get into trouble. However, it is believed that while he was in Chicago he did some work for the gangster, Al Capone, but saw some things he should not have seen. However, the details on this are hazy at best.

Their four children, Alice, Dorothy, Arnold and Eugene all have the Abbott surname and are still living. Alice lives in Illinois, Dorothy lives in Texas, Arnold lives in Kansas City, MO. Eugene, Alicia's grandfather, worked in the mines for 40 years. He and his wife, Evelyn had three children. They live in Salem, MO. Alicia's father, Keithly Eugene and his wife live in Morrilton, MO. They had four daughters and two sons including Alcia.

What is interesting is that the search for our ancestral heritage often takes us down paths we never anticipated. Often we have to investigate names we least suspected because some ancestor changed his name or its spelling. We already know this to be true with the surnames of LYBERGER and LYBYER which had once been spelled LYBARGER. In the case of Alicia, she was excited to learn about her Lybarger history by doing a search on the internet. As she said, "We are all glad that we have finally found someone. We have been searching for Lybargers for years!"

Six years ago Lybarger Linkages ran a story about medical genealogy that featured an article that appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It explained the importance of making a family tree of your blood relations past and present and diseases from which they died or may have if living.

It is time to revisit this matter. A recent report appeared in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association on the carriers of a gene mutation that was brought to this country by immigrants from the German village of Hesse in 1727. The mutation (a basic alteration in the hereditary makeup of the essential components of genes) has been discovered in nine families. Scientists say that it might explain a significant number of colon cancer cases. It is not known how many descendants carry this mutation but it could be in scores of families across the nation. The point is that we all need to be aware of any diseases that are carried by our blood relations past and present. Records are available from the vital statistics office of state governments. Conversations with older relations would also be important to consider.

Lybargers are no different from other Americans for the way they move from place to place from ever since they arrived in this country in 1749. The following account tells the story of one such family, Ira Calen Lybarger (1868-1924) and Kathryn Liechty (1866-1942). Ira was born and raised in Van Wert, OH, very close to Indiana. He was the son of William Shannon and Amelia Ann (Roush) Lybarger. This account was written by Flossie Mae Fenstermaker, wife of James Lybarger who was the 11th child of Ira and Kathryn. She used the spelling of Catherine for Ira's wife although the correct spelling is Kathryn. Flossie's account was sent to Jean Lybarger Smith who sent it to Vera Lybarger Casto , who sent it to the newsletter editor. Jean and Vera are sisters and granddaughters of Ira. Now, on with Flossie's story of Ira and Kathryn Lybarger.

In the summer of 1889 Ira (age 21) came from Van Wert, OH to Hartford Twp. near Geneva, IN to build a barn for a German farmer, Aaron Zeigler. A son was born to the Zeiglers during the time the barn was under construction. A neighbor girl, Catherine Liechty, came to care for the mother and baby and cook for the carpenters. Ira was quite attracted to this quiet capable little German girl. He built a home for himself in Geneva and in December, against his family's wishes, took Catherine as his bride. During the next 6 years 4 children were born in this little house - Mary, Jesse, Calen, and Clara [1890, 1891, 1893, 1894 respectively]. Never satisfied too long in one place and needing a larger house, they moved back to Ohio. He rented a farm near Ohio City and did some farming along with his carpentry work. Here Ralph and Mable were born.

In 1898 they purchased a farm back in Indiana near her parents in Hartford Twp. They were preparing to move when Catherine decided they would have to hurry or they would be delayed in Ohio by the birth of another child. The time was approaching so fast that they decided to let the children bring the wagons with their belongings and the livestock and they would hurry ahead with the horse and buggy. They made the 30 mile trip to the home of her parents on November 9th. Murl was born there on the 10th [1898].

After the birth of Martha [1900, Hartford Twp.] they sold their farm in Indiana and moved to St. Joseph County, MI. Here they engaged in farming and raising navy beans, and here Arthur was born [1904]. About this time land was being homesteaded in South Dakota. Ira's uncle, Dr. William Roush of Lima, OH had acquired 160 acres in Beadle County near Huron, SD and wanted Ira to go there and fulfill for him the required residency for homesteading. Ira accepted the challenge. After bidding farewell to the relatives in Ohio and Indiana they moved by rented rail cars to South Dakota arriving in September. There was a small lake on the property and it was on the shore of Lake Byron that they pitched a tent and started life on the prairie. They first erected a shelter for livestock with a room in one end for a bedroom for Ira and Catherine. They then built a house and moved into it in November. On the shore of the lake they built a small structure for a school. Together with neighbors they hired, housed and paid a teacher.

During the time they lived in South Dakota they had plenty of rain. Their wheat and pasture flourished and they prospered. Clarence, James, and Lee were born here [1906, 1908, 1910 respectively]. Lee was born in the month of January during a blizzard. The doctor was 10 miles away in Huron unable to get through to their home. Ira delivered the baby. [With Lee's birth the family was complete with 8 boys and 4 girls]

After living in South Dakota for 6 years, Catherine's mother died and her father wanted them to move back to Indiana to be near him. Ira again rented rail cars for their personal property which included a prized Bronco Stallion. They stayed a short time with her father in Hartford Twp., then bought a farm 5 miles east of Geneva. Their next move was to a farm at the east edge of Geneva. There were two houses on the farm so Mary came back from South Dakota and moved into the smaller house to be near her parents [she was married at the time]. A few years later Ira bought an adjoining farm on which was located a sand pit. In addition to farming and carpentering they sold sand, did concrete work and operated a threshing machine.

While living here Catherine's sister Susan and brother Jonas, Ira's eldest brother, William, and his mother lived with them. This made 17 mouths to feed three times a day. It is rather ironic that although she was unhappy because Ira married Catherine, Ira's mother spent many of her later years with his family and bequeathed her personal property to them.

In 1923 Ira, Catherine and Lee made a trip to California. Three years before, their son Calen had gone to California and was now married. Ira made the trip in his Buick touring car. Ira's cousin, Perry, also made the trip with them in his Studebaker. Many were their trials, fighting mud in Kansas, rocks in the road, and blowing sand in New Mexico and Arizona. After about three weeks they arrived in California and spent the winter there.

The next August Ira was killed when he was backing up a steam engine to hook up a threshing machine. Through a malfunction he was unable to stop the engine and was crushed between it and the machine. He died on the way to the hospital [August, 1924, age 56].

One often wonders how Catherine was able to keep her large brood clothed, fed and kept healthy through all the moving and hardships. Ira was a good provider and food was always plentiful.

When Connie Lybarger heard that announcement over the loudspeaker system at the Columbus, OH airport, she perked up her ears. She was not looking for Elaine Lybarger. She was there on March 12 to pick up her daughter, Kathryn, who had just arrived from California for a family visit. When she saw Elaine approach the information counter in the baggage claim area she went up and introduced herself. She said her husband, Lee, is the editor of the "Lybarger Linkages" and collaborated with John Lavern Lybarger in producing the 1997 and 2000 editions of the family history. Elaine responded that-she knew of John as she lives-in the Mansfield area where he lives. She also recalled a Judge Lybarger who had come out with an earlier edition of the history. Connie explained that he was the father of her husband. It turns out that Elaine, born 1945, is the daughter of Woodrow W. Lybarger (1913-1996) and Florence Schmidt. All of which goes to prove that the name of Lybarger (or Lyberger, Lybyer) is rare enough to warrant special notice when it is announced in an airport or appears in the media.

Hi! My name is Sandra Lybarger and I writing to make corrections on the obituary for George B. Lybarger in the Fall, 2003 issue of "Lybarger Linkages". George lived in Spencerville, OH, but was born in Lima, OH. He was the grandson of Ora and Ruth (Sperry) Lybarger. The American Legion Post should be 191. Also, his half-brother should be Wilson, not William. Finally, our daughter, Melissa, is getting married on April 24, 2004, not 2003 as listed in the Linkages.

Also, Grace Marie Alspaugh Dorsten Lybarger Wilkerson died Nov. 13, 2002. She was married to Roger Lybarger on Feb. 6, 1954. He was the grandson of Ora S. and Ruth (Sperry) Lybarger. Also, could you put in that our son, Roger E. Lybarger, is serving in the U.S. Army in Ft. Benning, GA.

Edwin, "Ed^", Lybarger Jr. died on Feb, 20, 2004 in Phoenix, AZ. Born June 25, 1931, he was the son of Edwin F. and Ethelgrace (Osgood) Lybarger Sr. Edwin enjoyed an illustrious career as a construction manager, a position that took him around the world three times to different countries. He is survived by three children from his first wife, Terence, Kim, and Ed and by five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by his second wife, Nadine Lessman. He had always wanted to visit the Lybarger Church in Madley, PA but never got there. However, he told many friends and relations about this historic church and burial grounds. He was an active Lutheran. He was buried along side his parents in his home town in Independence, KS.

The editor learned from a notice in "The Oregonian" of the death of Virginia Beth Lybarger on Dec. 27, 2003 just three days before her 52nd birthday. She was the daughter of Kenneth Gilbert and Hazel Luella (Tesdall) Lybarger in Santa Fe, New Mex. Virginia earned two masters degrees, one from Oregon State University in family studies, and one from Multmomah Bible College where she also taught.

On Nov. 18, 1972 she married Dopuglas Adduci. They had two children, Michael and Katie. They survive as does their mother, her three brothers, and a grandchild.

Major James Robert Trower of Covallis, OR died on Aug. 2, 2003. His parents were 011ie A. Lybarger (1904-1991) and Wilfred R. Trower (1906-1987). Fe was born in Tulsa, OK on Jan. 4, 1931 where he attended Holy Family Catholic High School. lie later joined the Air Force and became an officer where he served for just over 21 years. He earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He specialty was radar installation.

He was stationed in Alaska, Watertown and Syracuse, N.Y., Taiwan, and the Philippines. He retired from the Air Force in 1970 and settled in Corwallis. He then worked for the Oregon State Employment Division for 20 years. He also attended classes at Oregon State University and Benton Community College and earned an associate's degree in business management. In retirement he enjoyed golf, reading and travel. He is preceded in death by his wife Shirley whom he married in 1952. In 1995 he married Marilyn Minden who survives him as do his 4 children, Jeff, Tim Andy and and Julie, plus 14 grandchildren.

Full name (please print)___________________________________________________________

Enclosed is check (or money order) payable to Lybarger Memorial Association (or LMA) for

Dues 7/0't-6/05($ l 0.00 per household)______________________________________________

The Lybarger Descendants (2000 edition) book no. of copies__ x $38.00 (Current members) or

Lybarger book of poems: no. of copies______________ x $ 7.00 (current members) or

Contribution to Lybarger Church Fund_____________________________________________

Contribution to genealogical research_______________________________________________

Send form and check to Genevieve Lybarger, LMA Treasurer, 901 St. Clair Ave., New Lexington, OH 43764 1 1 40 Please note: Genevieve will notify distributors where to send orders for books.

Lybarger Linkages Newsletter

Spring, 2004 . . . . . Vol. XX No. 1 . . . . . ISSN 0887-9354

Official Newsletter of the Lybarger Memorial Association

Lee H. Lybarger, editor llybarger@columbus.rr.com

Send mail to J_Lybarger@comcast.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 John L. Lybarger
Last modified: July 31, 2008

Lybarger Linkages Newsletter

Spring, 2004 . . . . . Vol. XX No. 1 . . . . . ISSN 0887-9354

Official Newsletter of the Lybarger Memorial Association

Lee H. Lybarger, editor llybarger@columbus.rr.com

Send mail to J_Lybarger@comcast.net with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2001 John L. Lybarger Last modified: July 31, 2008

Send mail to J_Lybarger@comcast.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 John L. Lybarger
Last modified: July 31, 2008