M. W. Brother Lybarger was born in Wayne County, Ohio, on September 29, 1840. His boyhood days were spent at Millwood, Knox County, Ohio were he was educated in the common schools and academy. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was mustered in as a private in Company K, Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving for four years and coming out of the service with the rank of Captain. He then entered business life, being active in mercantile, agricultural, and banking affairs. For twenty years he was a director of the Commercial National Bank of Coshocton, and was President of the Warsaw Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank at the time of his death.
He was also active in politics, serving several terms in the Ohio State Legislature; as a Trustee of the Girls’ Industrial School at Delaware; as a member of the State Board of Public Works and the State Board of Agriculture. He was a member of the Commission, which planned the construction of the Annex to the State House at Columbus.
His first wife was Saphrona Rogers, who died in 1881. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Nannie Moore of Coshocton, who, with one son, Harry S., of Coshocton, survive him.
He was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and in 1896 served as Commander of the Department of Ohio. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the Loyal Legion, and the Elks.
He received his Entered Apprentice Degree on August 7, 1865, Fellow Craft on October 4, 1865 and Master Mason Degree on December 2, 1865, in Antioch Lodge No. 286 of Danville, Ohio. He dimitted from Antioch Lodge and affiliated with Warsaw Lodge No. 255 Warsaw, Ohio and served as Worshipful Master for ten consecutive years. He was a member of Samaritan Chapter R. A. M. No. 50, of Coshocton; of Coshocton Commandery, No. 63, K. T. and of Ohio Consistory A. A. S. R. Cincinnati, Ohio. He was M. W. Grand Master of this Grand Lodge in 1899 and served as Trustee of the Ohio Masonic Home for a number of years.
Death came to M. W. Brother Lybarger at his home in Warsaw, Ohio on June 26, 1924 in Warsaw, Ohio at his home. Warsaw Lodge No. 255 with the Grand Master presiding, conducted Masonic services on 29 June and buried in the Valley View Cemetery at, Warsaw, Ohio.