Father Wible, a Methodist minister, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, eleventh of fifteen children born to John J. Wible and Maria Deemer Wible. His mother died when he was 10 days short of 10 years old, 2 days after his baby brother, Samuel, died at 12 days old. The family moved to Adams County, Illinois, where Rev. Wible grew up. As a young man Elias taught school. He married Sarah E. Wren, on 27 March 1852 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. Four of their children were born there, Anna Adeline, Julia Florinda, Laura Evarilla, and Ezra Barton. He was ordained a minister in 1857. In age he remembered crossing the prairie to California with an ox team in 1859, walking most of the way, though the 1860 census counted the family in Lima Township, Adams County, Illinois. He related tales of his plains crossing and of how natives and whites alike, who first intended to harm him, were made friends when he refused to fear them and a smile spread over his face. In California he first worked on a ranch in Jackson, Amador County. Men just as wild as those he encountered on the plains filled the Mother Lode mining towns. His and Sarah's two younger sons, Milo Brown and William Lloyd, were born in the California Mother Lode country.
Father Wible devoted the rest of his life, some 55 years, sometimes riding a circuit, to establish the Methodist Church throughout Northern California from the coast to the Sierra and from Del Norte to Stanislaus Counties. He served in Yankee Jim, Georgetown, Copperopolis, Columbia, Paradise, Salinas, Red Bluff, where his cousin, Isaac Wible lived, Folsom, Half Moon Bay, Arcata, Crescent City, Smith River, Newcastle, Ophir, Occidental, Freestone, Blue Lake, Korbel, and Eureka. Likewise, two of his nephews were instrumental in establishing the farming and petroleum industries in Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA.
In March of 1875 his daughters, Anna and Julia, graduated from the State Normal School in San Jose and began their teaching careers. In December of that same year his eldest son, Ezra, died at age 17. In November of 1878 Father Wible exhibited at Stanley's Stables in Sacramento "an improved method of constructing running gear for wheeled road vehicles of all kinds". In September of 1879 he exhibited with former Sacramento County Sheriff, Benjamin N. Bugbey, a Folsom grape farmer, a spring wagon with the Wible patent axles. On 16 December that same year he married his daughter, Julia, of Brighton in Sacramento, to Mr. Bugbey in Folsom. In 1880 he patented his self-lubricating vehicle axle, a rubber axle cushion, and a drawbridge. His son-in-law also patented a butter cooler. In May of 1888 his third daughter, Laura, earned her teaching degree from the State Board of Education and began her teaching career in Los Angeles. On 14 June 1888 his son, Milo, an engineer at the Bullwinkle Lumber Mill in Fortuna, married Emma S. Adams in Humboldt County. In 1889 the Methodist Church in Crescent City built a new parsonage and called it the 'Wible Parsonage' in his honor. On 24 June 1891 his daughter, Laura, married Arba L. Benton, a shoemaker, in Los Angeles. Laura died in November 1895 after giving birth to her second child, Ellen. On Christmas Day 1898 his son, William Floyd, a doctor, married Margaret Amelia Fox in Humboldt County. On 6 October 1899 Rev. Wible spoke in favor of women's suffrage at the Women's Christian Temperance Union Convention in Sacramento.
He retired in 1900 in Rohnerville, but left retirement when the church in Eureka called him to serve as assistant pastor, which he did for 15 years. He founded and built the church in ‘Sunnyside' on Summer St. south of Harris in Eureka. On 25 October 1903, his birthday, his parishioners surprised him at the dedication of the Methodist Church in Rohnerville and called it the 'Wible Chapel'. In 1905 he built a parsonage at 3650 Spring St. Neither it nor the Wible Chapel still stands. The chapel burned to the ground on 3 July 1927 and the parsonage was later sold. Many years later it was sold again and demolished to make way for a Dollar Store and gasoline station. On 8 August 1907 he patented an 'invalid's bed'. Rev. Wible was active in fraternal organizations, particularly the Loyal Orange Lodge, in which he held all of the different offices and was its honorary chaplain.
In 1910 his daughter, Julia, was confined in Napa State Hospital, his beloved wife, Sarah, fell ill, and his spinster daughter, Anna, returned home to help care for her mother. Sarah, preceded him in death on 10 March 1911 after almost 59 years of marriage. Father Wible carried on in his ministry until his own death five and three quarters years later, even performing a wedding earlier in the year he died. He performed more than 1,000 weddings. More than a year and a half before his death he planned his funeral, desiring the same hymns as were sung at his late wife's funeral: Saved by Grace, My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast, Meet Me There, and Triumph. He died peacefully in his sleep after contracting a cold which worsened into grippe, as influenza was called in those days. At his death he was the oldest and longest serving clergyman in California. Hundreds attended his funeral in Eureka, too many for the church to hold.
Go in peace good and faithful servant.
Father Wible devoted the rest of his life, some 55 years, sometimes riding a circuit, to establish the Methodist Church throughout Northern California from the coast to the Sierra and from Del Norte to Stanislaus Counties. He served in Yankee Jim, Georgetown, Copperopolis, Columbia, Paradise, Salinas, Red Bluff, where his cousin, Isaac Wible lived, Folsom, Half Moon Bay, Arcata, Crescent City, Smith River, Newcastle, Ophir, Occidental, Freestone, Blue Lake, Korbel, and Eureka. Likewise, two of his nephews were instrumental in establishing the farming and petroleum industries in Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA.
In March of 1875 his daughters, Anna and Julia, graduated from the State Normal School in San Jose and began their teaching careers. In December of that same year his eldest son, Ezra, died at age 17. In November of 1878 Father Wible exhibited at Stanley's Stables in Sacramento "an improved method of constructing running gear for wheeled road vehicles of all kinds". In September of 1879 he exhibited with former Sacramento County Sheriff, Benjamin N. Bugbey, a Folsom grape farmer, a spring wagon with the Wible patent axles. On 16 December that same year he married his daughter, Julia, of Brighton in Sacramento, to Mr. Bugbey in Folsom. In 1880 he patented his self-lubricating vehicle axle, a rubber axle cushion, and a drawbridge. His son-in-law also patented a butter cooler. In May of 1888 his third daughter, Laura, earned her teaching degree from the State Board of Education and began her teaching career in Los Angeles. On 14 June 1888 his son, Milo, an engineer at the Bullwinkle Lumber Mill in Fortuna, married Emma S. Adams in Humboldt County. In 1889 the Methodist Church in Crescent City built a new parsonage and called it the 'Wible Parsonage' in his honor. On 24 June 1891 his daughter, Laura, married Arba L. Benton, a shoemaker, in Los Angeles. Laura died in November 1895 after giving birth to her second child, Ellen. On Christmas Day 1898 his son, William Floyd, a doctor, married Margaret Amelia Fox in Humboldt County. On 6 October 1899 Rev. Wible spoke in favor of women's suffrage at the Women's Christian Temperance Union Convention in Sacramento.
He retired in 1900 in Rohnerville, but left retirement when the church in Eureka called him to serve as assistant pastor, which he did for 15 years. He founded and built the church in ‘Sunnyside' on Summer St. south of Harris in Eureka. On 25 October 1903, his birthday, his parishioners surprised him at the dedication of the Methodist Church in Rohnerville and called it the 'Wible Chapel'. In 1905 he built a parsonage at 3650 Spring St. Neither it nor the Wible Chapel still stands. The chapel burned to the ground on 3 July 1927 and the parsonage was later sold. Many years later it was sold again and demolished to make way for a Dollar Store and gasoline station. On 8 August 1907 he patented an 'invalid's bed'. Rev. Wible was active in fraternal organizations, particularly the Loyal Orange Lodge, in which he held all of the different offices and was its honorary chaplain.
In 1910 his daughter, Julia, was confined in Napa State Hospital, his beloved wife, Sarah, fell ill, and his spinster daughter, Anna, returned home to help care for her mother. Sarah, preceded him in death on 10 March 1911 after almost 59 years of marriage. Father Wible carried on in his ministry until his own death five and three quarters years later, even performing a wedding earlier in the year he died. He performed more than 1,000 weddings. More than a year and a half before his death he planned his funeral, desiring the same hymns as were sung at his late wife's funeral: Saved by Grace, My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast, Meet Me There, and Triumph. He died peacefully in his sleep after contracting a cold which worsened into grippe, as influenza was called in those days. At his death he was the oldest and longest serving clergyman in California. Hundreds attended his funeral in Eureka, too many for the church to hold.
Go in peace good and faithful servant.
Father Wible, a Methodist minister, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, eleventh of fifteen children born to John J. Wible and Maria Deemer Wible. His mother died when he was 10 days short of 10 years old, 2 days after his baby brother, Samuel, died at 12 days old. The family moved to Adams County, Illinois, where Rev. Wible grew up. As a young man Elias taught school. He married Sarah E. Wren, on 27 March 1852 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. Four of their children were born there, Anna Adeline, Julia Florinda, Laura Evarilla, and Ezra Barton. He was ordained a minister in 1857. In age he remembered crossing the prairie to California with an ox team in 1859, walking most of the way, though the 1860 census counted the family in Lima Township, Adams County, Illinois. He related tales of his plains crossing and of how natives and whites alike, who first intended to harm him, were made friends when he refused to fear them and a smile spread over his face. In California he first worked on a ranch in Jackson, Amador County. Men just as wild as those he encountered on the plains filled the Mother Lode mining towns. His and Sarah's two younger sons, Milo Brown and William Lloyd, were born in the California Mother Lode country.
Father Wible devoted the rest of his life, some 55 years, sometimes riding a circuit, to establish the Methodist Church throughout Northern California from the coast to the Sierra and from Del Norte to Stanislaus Counties. He served in Yankee Jim, Georgetown, Copperopolis, Columbia, Paradise, Salinas, Red Bluff, where his cousin, Isaac Wible lived, Folsom, Half Moon Bay, Arcata, Crescent City, Smith River, Newcastle, Ophir, Occidental, Freestone, Blue Lake, Korbel, and Eureka. Likewise, two of his nephews were instrumental in establishing the farming and petroleum industries in Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA.
In March of 1875 his daughters, Anna and Julia, graduated from the State Normal School in San Jose and began their teaching careers. In December of that same year his eldest son, Ezra, died at age 17. In November of 1878 Father Wible exhibited at Stanley's Stables in Sacramento "an improved method of constructing running gear for wheeled road vehicles of all kinds". In September of 1879 he exhibited with former Sacramento County Sheriff, Benjamin N. Bugbey, a Folsom grape farmer, a spring wagon with the Wible patent axles. On 16 December that same year he married his daughter, Julia, of Brighton in Sacramento, to Mr. Bugbey in Folsom. In 1880 he patented his self-lubricating vehicle axle, a rubber axle cushion, and a drawbridge. His son-in-law also patented a butter cooler. In May of 1888 his third daughter, Laura, earned her teaching degree from the State Board of Education and began her teaching career in Los Angeles. On 14 June 1888 his son, Milo, an engineer at the Bullwinkle Lumber Mill in Fortuna, married Emma S. Adams in Humboldt County. In 1889 the Methodist Church in Crescent City built a new parsonage and called it the 'Wible Parsonage' in his honor. On 24 June 1891 his daughter, Laura, married Arba L. Benton, a shoemaker, in Los Angeles. Laura died in November 1895 after giving birth to her second child, Ellen. On Christmas Day 1898 his son, William Floyd, a doctor, married Margaret Amelia Fox in Humboldt County. On 6 October 1899 Rev. Wible spoke in favor of women's suffrage at the Women's Christian Temperance Union Convention in Sacramento.
He retired in 1900 in Rohnerville, but left retirement when the church in Eureka called him to serve as assistant pastor, which he did for 15 years. He founded and built the church in ‘Sunnyside' on Summer St. south of Harris in Eureka. On 25 October 1903, his birthday, his parishioners surprised him at the dedication of the Methodist Church in Rohnerville and called it the 'Wible Chapel'. In 1905 he built a parsonage at 3650 Spring St. Neither it nor the Wible Chapel still stands. The chapel burned to the ground on 3 July 1927 and the parsonage was later sold. Many years later it was sold again and demolished to make way for a Dollar Store and gasoline station. On 8 August 1907 he patented an 'invalid's bed'. Rev. Wible was active in fraternal organizations, particularly the Loyal Orange Lodge, in which he held all of the different offices and was its honorary chaplain.
In 1910 his daughter, Julia, was confined in Napa State Hospital, his beloved wife, Sarah, fell ill, and his spinster daughter, Anna, returned home to help care for her mother. Sarah, preceded him in death on 10 March 1911 after almost 59 years of marriage. Father Wible carried on in his ministry until his own death five and three quarters years later, even performing a wedding earlier in the year he died. He performed more than 1,000 weddings. More than a year and a half before his death he planned his funeral, desiring the same hymns as were sung at his late wife's funeral: Saved by Grace, My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast, Meet Me There, and Triumph. He died peacefully in his sleep after contracting a cold which worsened into grippe, as influenza was called in those days. At his death he was the oldest and longest serving clergyman in California. Hundreds attended his funeral in Eureka, too many for the church to hold.
Go in peace good and faithful servant.
Father Wible devoted the rest of his life, some 55 years, sometimes riding a circuit, to establish the Methodist Church throughout Northern California from the coast to the Sierra and from Del Norte to Stanislaus Counties. He served in Yankee Jim, Georgetown, Copperopolis, Columbia, Paradise, Salinas, Red Bluff, where his cousin, Isaac Wible lived, Folsom, Half Moon Bay, Arcata, Crescent City, Smith River, Newcastle, Ophir, Occidental, Freestone, Blue Lake, Korbel, and Eureka. Likewise, two of his nephews were instrumental in establishing the farming and petroleum industries in Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA.
In March of 1875 his daughters, Anna and Julia, graduated from the State Normal School in San Jose and began their teaching careers. In December of that same year his eldest son, Ezra, died at age 17. In November of 1878 Father Wible exhibited at Stanley's Stables in Sacramento "an improved method of constructing running gear for wheeled road vehicles of all kinds". In September of 1879 he exhibited with former Sacramento County Sheriff, Benjamin N. Bugbey, a Folsom grape farmer, a spring wagon with the Wible patent axles. On 16 December that same year he married his daughter, Julia, of Brighton in Sacramento, to Mr. Bugbey in Folsom. In 1880 he patented his self-lubricating vehicle axle, a rubber axle cushion, and a drawbridge. His son-in-law also patented a butter cooler. In May of 1888 his third daughter, Laura, earned her teaching degree from the State Board of Education and began her teaching career in Los Angeles. On 14 June 1888 his son, Milo, an engineer at the Bullwinkle Lumber Mill in Fortuna, married Emma S. Adams in Humboldt County. In 1889 the Methodist Church in Crescent City built a new parsonage and called it the 'Wible Parsonage' in his honor. On 24 June 1891 his daughter, Laura, married Arba L. Benton, a shoemaker, in Los Angeles. Laura died in November 1895 after giving birth to her second child, Ellen. On Christmas Day 1898 his son, William Floyd, a doctor, married Margaret Amelia Fox in Humboldt County. On 6 October 1899 Rev. Wible spoke in favor of women's suffrage at the Women's Christian Temperance Union Convention in Sacramento.
He retired in 1900 in Rohnerville, but left retirement when the church in Eureka called him to serve as assistant pastor, which he did for 15 years. He founded and built the church in ‘Sunnyside' on Summer St. south of Harris in Eureka. On 25 October 1903, his birthday, his parishioners surprised him at the dedication of the Methodist Church in Rohnerville and called it the 'Wible Chapel'. In 1905 he built a parsonage at 3650 Spring St. Neither it nor the Wible Chapel still stands. The chapel burned to the ground on 3 July 1927 and the parsonage was later sold. Many years later it was sold again and demolished to make way for a Dollar Store and gasoline station. On 8 August 1907 he patented an 'invalid's bed'. Rev. Wible was active in fraternal organizations, particularly the Loyal Orange Lodge, in which he held all of the different offices and was its honorary chaplain.
In 1910 his daughter, Julia, was confined in Napa State Hospital, his beloved wife, Sarah, fell ill, and his spinster daughter, Anna, returned home to help care for her mother. Sarah, preceded him in death on 10 March 1911 after almost 59 years of marriage. Father Wible carried on in his ministry until his own death five and three quarters years later, even performing a wedding earlier in the year he died. He performed more than 1,000 weddings. More than a year and a half before his death he planned his funeral, desiring the same hymns as were sung at his late wife's funeral: Saved by Grace, My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast, Meet Me There, and Triumph. He died peacefully in his sleep after contracting a cold which worsened into grippe, as influenza was called in those days. At his death he was the oldest and longest serving clergyman in California. Hundreds attended his funeral in Eureka, too many for the church to hold.
Go in peace good and faithful servant.
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