Libbie Riley Baer (born Elizabeth Caroline Riley; November 18, 1849 – February 27, 1929) was an American poet. She was the author of In the Land of Fancy and other works.[1]
Elizabeth (nickname, "Libbie") Caroline Riley was born near Bethel, Ohio, November 18, 1849. Her ancestors on the paternal side were the two families Riley and Swing. From the original family of the former descended the poet and humorist, James Whitcomb Riley, and from the latter, the philosopher and preacher, Prof. David Swing, of Chicago. On the maternal side, Baer was a descendant of the Blairs, an old family of Southern Ohio. She wrote her first poem when she was ten.[2]
Upon the organization of the Woman's Relief Corps, as allied with the Grand Army of the Republic, Baer took an important part in the benevolent work of that order, and held various responsible positions connected with it, devoting much time and energy to the cause. Though always proficient in poetical composition, she really began her literary career about 1883.[3] Many of her poems published in various journals were inspired by the spirit of patriotism. Devotion to friends and to the cause of humanity, and warm sympathy for every deserving cause that needs assistance, were reflected in her poems. Her verse flowed smoothly, with an easy rhythm and unstudied grace, which seemed to indicate a spontaneous origin.[4]
On November 14, 1867, she married Capt. John Mason Baer.[5] She went with him to Appleton, Wisconsin.[3] Their son, John Miller Baer, served as a U.S. Representative from North Dakota.[6] She died February 27, 1929,[7] and was buried at Riverside Cemetery, in Appleton.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Herringshaw, Thomas William (1914). "BAER, MRS. LIBBIE C. RILEY". Herringshaw's American blue-book of biography; prominent Americans of ... An accurate biographical record of prominent citizens in all walks of life ... (Public domain ed.). American Publishers' Association. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Matson, Francis G. (1921). "JOHN MILLER BAER". Official Congressional Directory (Public domain ed.). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Moulton, Charles Wells (1890). "LIBBIE C. BAER.". The Magazine of Poetry. Vol. 2 (Public domain ed.). Charles Wells Moulton. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). "BAER, MRS. LIBBIE C. RILEY". A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life (Public domain ed.). Moulton. p. 41.
Works related to Woman of the Century/Libbie C. Riley Baer at Wikisource