Sunday, October 6, 2019

Winfield Scott Libbey - August 27, 1851-May 17, 1914

W. S. Libbey

Winfield Scott Libbey (W. Scott Libbey) (W. S. Libbey)
From Biographical section of History of Maine - pgs 175-177

     W. Scott Libbey was one of the ablest and most energetic businessmen of Lewiston and Auburn. He was a man who had grown up in these cities, who earned his first money here, and who, by careful investments in property and business in these places, through his own keen business sagacity and remarkable foresight and judgment, increased those early earnings into a fortune of magnitude. In accomplishing this he made a reputation for himself as a businessman, which was known throughout the length and breadth of New England. The story of his life is an interesting one. It shows what persistence will accomplish. He started (as) a poor boy and died a man of wealth, influence, and importance, not only in his own city but in his State and an entire section of the country.
  
W. Scott Libbey - Born in Avon, Maine, in 1851,
he moved to Lewiston in 1873, working for the Western Union for
$65 per month. He became Lewiston's foremost industrialist in
the post-Civil War period. Image from W. S. Libbey: A Man
and His Mill

     Upon completing his education, which ended before his course at the Colburn Classical Institute, Waterville, was finished. Mr. Libbey became a telegraph operator, and in 1876 came to the Western Union office in Lewiston as its manager, which position he retained until 1887, resigning of his own accord to devote his entire time to other business interests. From the start of his career, he was determined to get ahead and reach a point where it could be said he had achieved success. It was seldom that he talked of those early days to his friends, but when he did, it was a very interesting tale, for the frugality that he practiced to get a start in life was astonishing. One of his earliest investments was in Lewiston real estate. He purchased a tenement on Lincoln Street. At that time his capital was so limited that, even though he had bought the building, he could not afford to provide the janitor service which was required. He was equal to the emergency, however. He rose early each morning and went to the building and did the work himself, following this by visiting it again at night, after long hours in the telegraph office, and doing such work as was needed. Convinced that there was money to be made in the woolen business, he kept a watchful eye on that industry. All the time he was looking for an opportunity to secure a woolen mill at a reasonable figure, and in time he secured a lease of one of the small mills in Vassalboro. Realizing that he was not in a position to give up his certainty of a salary as manager of the Western Union in Lewiston, he retained that position and continued the work. From Monday morning, until Saturday night he devoted himself to the telegraph office. The remainder of the week he gave to his woolen mill interests in Vassalboro. As soon as the business of the week in Lewiston closed Saturday night, he took the train to Vassalboro, from which point he walked three miles to his woolen mill. At the mill, he worked all day Sunday, arranging plans for the coming week, walking back to the station, and coming home early Monday morning. It was a strenuous life. Many men could not have stood the strain. He had a remarkable physique. A strong constitution and was regular in habits. Used neither alcoholic drinks nor tobacco, and was careful of his diet. He stood the test splendidly, made the mill pay, and saw his capital and business increase. Later Mr. Libbey secured a small woolen mill in the town of Dover. It was not a paying proposition, but Mr. Libbey felt sure it could be put upon a profit-producing basis. Realizing that it was necessary to have personal supervision of the plant if it were to be made a paying investment, Mr. Libbey engaged another operator, paying the salary from his own pocket, to work in the telegraph office in Lewiston, and so, retaining the management, as an anchor windward, went to Dover and took charge of the mill. The story of how the East Dover Woolen Mill was made a good investment is one of keen management, hardships, and disappointments sufficient to make a volume. The hours that he put in and the obstacles that he overcame seem impossible, but in the end, his judgment was proven, and the mill paid. It was not until 1886 that Mr. Libbey ventured into the mill business in Lewiston. That year he purchased the Cumberland Mill. Five years later, in 1893, he secured the Lincoln Mill, which was operated by him in connection with the Cumberland property after that time. Mr. Libbey always felt very proud of the purchase of the Lincoln Mill because it was the first mill he was ever in. In speaking of this to intimate friends he frequently remarked that his thought on the occasion of that first visit was: "Will I ever have money enough to own a mill like that?" Not only did he become one of the owners of that plant, he had an interest in others and in many other varieties of industry.
   
Libbey & Dingley Mill
Image from W. S. Libbey: A Man
and His Mill

      Mr. Libbey became interested in the electrical possibilities of the Androscoggin River, and in 1901 he purchased control of the Lewiston & Auburn Electric Company and the American Light & Power Company and consolidated them under the name of the former company. This light and power interest was added to in 1906 by the purchase of the Mechanic Falls Electric Company. For many years Mr. Libbey conceived the idea of a huge power plant at Deer Rips. Work was begun early in 1902 and in 1904 this plant was put in operation after thirty-one months of labor and expenditure of a considerable amount of money. The plant is today estimated as worth considerably over a million dollars.

Libbey-Dingley Dam - Deer Rips
Postcard of PWM

     In the year 1908, Mr. Libbey became interested in the project of building an electric railroad from Lewiston to Portland. At first, he took a block of stock in the road but eventually purchased all stock, underwrote the bonds, and built the line which was practically completed at the time of his death. This is one of the finest interurban lines in the country and it was the hobby of Mr. Libbey since he first became interested in it. He took personal charge of its construction and equipment. It was built to compete with steam roads, both in comfort and speed.

Original porcelain promotional sign.
O. R. Cummings Collection at Seashore Trolley Museum  

     Mr. Libbey was a director of the Manufacturer's National Bank and was a trustee of Coburn Classical Institute. He always took a deep interest in Bates College, and only a few years ago donated to that college a large society building known as Libbey Forum.


Libbey Forum at Bates College
Image from W. S. Libbey: A Man
and His Mill

     Mr. Libbey never took a great part in politics. In 1906 he was a candidate for member of the executive council of the State and was elected., serving with great credit during the administration of Governor Cobb. He was a member of the sub-committee of that council which selected the site of the school for the feeble-minded, which was then established. It has always been claimed by those who understood the facts of that purchase that his business acumen, devoted to the interests of Maine, saved the State many thousands of dollars in the purchase. During that term, he gave the State the same good judgment and careful attention to detail as he always gave his own business. His associates on the board regarded him as one of the ablest men among them and one of the best councilors that the State ever had.
     W. Scott Libbey was born in Avon, on August 27, 1851, the son of Asa M. and Joanna B. (Powers) Libbey. He was educated in the common schools of Oakland and Coburn Classical Institute at Waterville. He came to Lewiston about 1876, and in 1877 was married to Annie E. Shaw, of Lisbon. He died on May 17, 1914. Five children were born to them: Truman C., who died in infancy; Mrs. Gertrude Anthony and Harold S. Libbey, of Lewiston; Alla A., of Newton; and W. Scott, Jr., who enlisted in the Navy for the duration of the War. There are five grandchildren: Richard, Warren, Charles Anthony, and Eleanor and Channell Libbey, of Lewiston.

August 27, 1892 photo of (l-r) Alla, Gertrude, and Harold
Libbey, children of W. S. and Annie Libbey, before W. S. Jr.
was born. Courtesy of Androscoggin Historical Society.

W. S. Libbey, Sr. with W. S. Libbey,
Jr. Circa 1913. Photo courtesy

January 6, 1945, official U.S. Navy photo
of then Retired CMDR W. S. Libbey, Jr.
His WW I and WW II uniforms are in the
collection of the Androscoggin Historical Society.
Photo courtesy of Androscoggin Historical

     No man had a greater degree of business acumen or a more prophetic sense of business opportunities than he. His courage was unbounded. Nothing ever frightened him, never even halted him, when once he had begun. He had absolute confidence in his capacity to carry through to a finish any undertaking which he had once canvassed and decided to be practicable.  His knowledge of mechanics, engineering, manufacturing, and financial matters, which to a large degree was intuitive, was so remarkable as to be practically a business genius. The man who from a telegraph operator in 1876 becomes a millionaire and industrial leader in thirty years by his unaided effort and who very practically hews the fortune out of the very town in which he began is no ordinary man.
     Mr. Libbey personally had two distinct sides to his character. One of them was the restlessness, forceful, driving machine with which he spurred on men and machinery to do its utmost, and the other was the sensitive, gentle, kindly, and appreciative personality that was most lovable and which is sweetly remembered by those within the circle of his intimate friends. If he was often brusque and impetuous, he was also considerate, courteous, and kind. He had his own positive views upon all matters, which it was perhaps, as well that you respected and permitted him to enjoy unrestricted, but at the same time, his mind was open to every new thought, receptive to information, and eager to look beyond the immediate surroundings into the future, especially so far as business was concerned.  He was very fond of good literature; very sensitive to praise or criticism; exceedingly generous, especially to his trusted employees; very charitable, especially where his charities could not be a matter of publicity, and withal a man of singular and positive character; a man of genius in business, of thorough-going honesty in all affairs, and of singular fidelity to his friends.
     In thirty years he made a greater impression upon Lewiston and Auburn than perhaps any other man who has ever lived there. The mere recapitulation of his enterprises bears this statement out. The boy who, on the side of old Mount Blue, in the town of Avon, said to himself, as we have been told, that someday he would make his name in the world, kept his word.

W. S. Libbey depicted in a
caricature from the book,
"Men of the Hour". Notice his Stanley :)
Courtesy of DigitalMaine.com

     The caption under the sketch reads:
Hon. W. S. Libbey of Lewiston
                                                   The man who dares - that's what they say,
                                                   And dares and wins, most any day,
                                                   But well he might - tho Rips come deer -
                                                   They bring in something every year.
                                                   The mills they run in our emporium
                                                   And bring to Bates an auditorium,
                                                   Tho quickly climbed, this ladder of fame -
                                                   The climb was not so very tame.
                                                   He lost and won; with equal zest
                                                   Went shooting clays for quiet and rest.
                                                   The soul of truth, with lots of fight,
                                                   He hustles to win but hustles right.

Click Here for the post on W. S. Libbey: The Man and His Mill
Click Here for the post on the Sudden Death of W. S. Libbey on May 18, 1914
Click Here for the post on W. S. Libbey's Newspaper stories of his Stanley Steamer
Click Here for the post on W. S. Libbey's Rare 1908 Stanley Steamer k-30hp semi-racer
Click Here for the post on Harold Shaw Libbey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continue the restoration work on the 1912, Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. 

Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts

Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem.  This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!

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The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.

Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban

     The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.

Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project

Independent book publisher, Phil Morse, holding
the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
 the Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive

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