Joseph Bibby

Joseph Bibby (1851–1940), animal feed and soap manufacturer of J. Bibby and Sons

1851 Born at Conder Mill, Vale of Conder, Lancashire, the second of the three sons of James Bibby, farmer and miller, and his wife, Amelia Barnett.

1865 He joined his father in the milling business.

1872 He travelled steerage to Canada. Later in the year he was encouraged to return home by his father, who promised him and his younger brother James greater responsibility in the running of the firm.

1878 Joseph and James were made partners in what became J. Bibby and Sons

Joseph experimented, on a small farm, with the development of specially blended (or compound) feeds for different requirements, such as rapid fattening, higher milk yields, or calf rearing.

1881 he married Ruth Pye (1858–1946), two of whose sisters successively married his brother James. Joseph and Ruth had six sons (one of whom died in infancy) and two daughters.

1885 The Lancaster mill burnt down. The brothers decided to transfer milling to Liverpool

1886–8 They transferred the firm's head office to Liverpool and closed the Lancaster operations.

From 1886 onwards, he produced several one-off magazines

1896 Bibby's Pure Soap was introduced.

1896 he launched Bibby's Quarterly magazine, intended mainly for farmers

1905 Agricultural matters were then covered in Bibby's Farm and Dairy Notes, published quarterly between 1905 and 1928.

From 1906 to 1922 Joseph Bibby also produced Bibby's Annual.

By 1900 J. Bibby and Sons was claiming to have the largest feeding-cake mill in the world.

1904-11 Joseph Bibby served as a Liberal member of Liverpool city council

1914 J. Bibby & Sons Ltd was registered. James Bibby was elected chairman, while Joseph became vice-chairman.

1940 He died at his home in Birkenhead.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• Biography of Joseph Bibby, ODNB