Joseph Tibbetts Sherburne Libbey was born on Oct. 31, 1823 in Rochester, NH the son of Paul and Elizabeth (Sherburne) Libbey. At the age of 15 he came to Dover to learn the printing business in the office of the Dover Gazette. After several years with the Gazette, he left to attend Rochester Academy. Next he went to Boston to work for about three years and then returned to the Gazette office.
In April of 1849 he went to work for the Morning Star. This position he held, except for a short time while in the Army, until Jan. 1, 1868, when he and John R. Varney purchased the Dover Enquirer. Mr. Varney died in 1882 and John Scales took over his interest in publishing the Dover Daily Republican. In 1888, due to ill health, he sold his interest in the papers to Fred E. Quimby, but continued to work as station agent at the Folsom Street station of the Portsmouth & Dover Railroad.
On Sept. 2, 1864 Mr. Libbey enlisted in the army as a private in Company D, 1st New Hampshire Heavy Artillery. He was soon promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and served until the close of the war. After his return to Dover, he was one of the organizers and the first commander of the C.W. Sawyer Post G.A.R.
He was a member of the state legislature in 1878, 79 & 80, and he was clerk of the Dover Common Council for seven years. He lived at 261 Washington Street, a house which he had built before he went into the service.
On Oct. 4, 1849 he married Abigail Wingate, the daughter of Stephen and Susan (Calef) Wingate of Farmington and they had four daughters:
Ella Eudora b. 20 June 1851 m. 20 June 1870, Charles H. Horton Jr.
Marie Abby b. 5 Sept. 1853 m. 30 Dec. 1879, Charles E. Manock of Dover
Lizzie Etta b. 9 Aug 1857
Flora Belle b. 29 May 1866
Mrs. Libbey died April 26, 1893. Joseph T.S. Libbey died March 18, 1907 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Manock, at 11 Richmond Street. (now 19 Richmond St.)
Photograph from Dover Public Library archives, text from Marston, Robert, Dover, NH: People, Businesses and Organizations: 1850 to 1950. Dover, NH, 2004.