VAN BIBBER PIONEERS E-NEWSLETTER

A free monthly electronic newsletter for the VAN BIBBER, VANBIBER,
VAN BEBBER, VANBEBER, VANBABER, VANBEVER
and VANBEVERS families.

Vol. 5 No. 5 - March 2002

It looks like we made it through the winter in most parts of the country and I am sure everyone is looking forward to the warmer weather and longer days.

Next month, April, brings us something we all have been patiently waiting for, and that is the release of the 1930 census. This census is going to provide a challenge for us as there were only a handful of states which recorded the surnames using the soundex system. This means we are going to have to go in there and find the families, page by page, which is going to be a very time consuming task. I have included in this newsletter an article concerning the 1930 census. Just think, for those of you who have been around a lot longer than I have might find yourself listed on your first census record. If you were born before 1930 you should have been recorded.

Our condolences goes out to the family of one of our subscribers and cousin, Cookie Ervin, who lost her mother this past week. It is always hard when the Lord takes someone, and I am sure Lona Sue Guy Smith will be missed by all that knew her. Our prayers are with the Ervin family during your time of loss.

Your Editor,

Gary R. Hawpe

CONTENTS:

  1. New Subscribers -- Address Changes -- Invalid Addresses -- Corrections
  2. Wagley Family
  3. History of Ray County, Missouri
  4. Letter from Ira Van Bibber
  5. Family of Moses Yoakum
  6. 1930 Federal Census
  7. Obituaries
  8. Recent Deaths
  9. Birthdays
  10. Reunions
  11. Military News
  12. Queries
  13. Sound Off

NEW SUBSCRIBERS:

For the month of March we have nine new subscribers joining our ranks. Leading the way are two from the family of Nathan Boone and Olive Van Bibber. I had to unsubscribe quite a few former subscribers because their e-mail addresses are now invalid. Over the last three months, twenty two subscriber's addresses are no longer valid. I was hoping at some point they would contact me with a new address. They may still, but as of this edition they have been unsubscribed to the newsletter. We now have 578 subscribers, down from 591 of last month.

In my extra time, what little I have, I am currently working on the subscriber's address book. This will be a listing of all the subscribers and what line they descend or their connection to the Van Bibber family. I will make this available to anyone who wants it. This way you will know of your close cousins who are also working on your branch, allowing you to make contact and exchange family information. Everyone knows genealogy is a team effort and your cousin just may have the answer you are looking for. I will let you know when it is completed.

  1. Diann Spence -- [email protected] -- James Rentfroe and Esther Van Bibber
  2. Glenda Sullins -- [email protected] -- John Cox and Sarah VanBaber
  3. Martha -- [email protected] -- Herman Op den Graeff and Deborah Van Bebber
  4. Mary Smith -- [email protected] -- Nathan Boone and Olive Van Bibber
  5. Norma Slack -- [email protected] -- Nathan Boone and Olive Van Bibber
  6. Scott Shyrock -- [email protected] -- George Yoakum and Martha Van Bebber
  7. Stephen Mielke -- [email protected] -- William Bonds and Ann Van Bibber
  8. Susie Young -- [email protected] -- Richard Tillis and Elizabeth Van Bibber
  9. Van Ellis -- [email protected] -- Isaac Van Bebber and Mary Martin

ADDRESS CHANGES:

  1. Linda Impastato -- [email protected]
  2. Kirsten Robinson -- [email protected]
  3. Ronnie Van Bebber -- [email protected]
  4. Susan Reedy -- [email protected]
  5. Susan Van Bevers -- [email protected]

INVALID ADDRESSES:

Over the last three months the following twenty two subscriber's e-mail addresses have become invalid.

1. Billy Brimm -- [email protected] --
2. Connie Lewis --
[email protected] --
3. Dale & Gwen Romine --
[email protected] --
4. Darla McKenzie --
[email protected] --
5. Donna Smith --
[email protected] --
6. Elmer Smith --
[email protected] --
7. Gayle Davis --
[email protected] --
8. Georgetta Dollar --
[email protected] --
9. Harold Lowder --
[email protected] --
10. Julie Shue --
[email protected]
11. Lynn Rodgers -- [email protected] --
12. Mary Oaks --
[email protected]
13. Naomi Bacon -- [email protected] --
14. Paula Key --
[email protected] --
15. Renee Wright --
[email protected] --
16. Reynolds Young --
[email protected] --
17. Shane Allen --
[email protected] --
18. Shawntee Heller --
[email protected] --
19. Steven Van Bibber --
[email protected] --
20. Susan Snyder --
[email protected]
21. Tia Van Bibber -- [email protected] --
22. Trena Snider --
[email protected] --

CORRECTIONS:

  1. Brady Fuller's e-mail address was incorrectly listed in February's edition. The following is the correct address -- [email protected]

WAGLEY FAMILY

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   John VanBebber and Margaret Chrisman
      Isaac VanBebber and Mary Martin
         Louisa Ann VanBebber and John Wagley

John Wagley was born in Morgantown, Burke County, North Carolina in 1798. In 1850 he and another man started from North Carolina on horse back to hunt a new location. As they were riding through Georgia* they came to a farm with a well near the road where there was a young woman drawing water to carry to the house. They asked her if they could water their horses and get a drink and rest for a little while. She stayed and talked with them. This girl was Louisa Vanbebber, a thirty year old school teacher. Sometime before she had been at the well and came to the house and told the family that she had looked into the well and had seen the face of the man she was going to marry. The family treated the story lightly, thinking Louisa had a wonderful imagination. She talked a lot about this as the days went by. When she came to the house after the two men had gone on their way she told the family that one of the men was the man whose reflection she had seen in the well. Again the family paid little attention accusing her of being romantic. After a day or two John said to his companion, "I'm going back," of course the other man asked, "Where and why?" and John told him he was going back to see the girl they saw at the well; said he had fallen in love with her. When he arrived at the Vanbebber farm Louisa was delighted, but he received a cold reception from her parents. When he told them he wanted to marry Louisa they were distressed but Louisa accepted at once. He stayed a few days, in spite of not being welcome, finally Louisa's parents told them that they could not marry. She didn't know him and he was twenty years older. But when Louisa told them she was going to marry him in spite of the objections they relented and helped them get a wagon and team, a little furniture and a few house keeping things. So John and Louisa were married August 22, 1850 and started out for Arkansas.

Louisa had been educated at a girls college some where in the south and had never done anything but teach school. Her family had slaves so she had not learned to work. But in spite of this she made a good pioneer and faced many hardships. They came to Stiffler Springs (now Harrison) and homesteaded a few miles up Crooked Creek.

After coming to Arkansas, Louisa never saw any of her family again with the exception of her brother Clayborne who came and stayed several months with them when he was a young man.

They either brought negroes with them or bought them later for there were several negroes on the farm place.

They were truly pioneers living off the land. They raised hogs and cattle for their own meat, had a large garden and canned and dried what they grew to put them through the winter. They sheared the sheep, carded the wool, spun the thread and wove the cloth for everything needed around the farm, clothes, rugs, ticking that covered the mattresses that they filled at the hay stack. The beds had rope springs. They used polk berry juice and other wild growing things for dye for the thread that was used in making the items needed. They shod their own horses, sharpened their own tools, even made part of them, did their own carpenter work, half soled the family shoes, cut the men and boys hair and did anything else that needed to be done around the farm.

They faced many hardships over the years, certainly during the reconstruction days when Carpetbaggers went through the country calling men to the door and shooting them. They lost many friends during this time.

John had selected good land to homestead and he was a successful farmer and stockman. At his death in 1868 he left Louisa with eight children, the youngest five. John is buried in a family cemetery on the farm.

With the help of a Negro mammy and the other Negroes on the place Louisa raised her family. Their children were: Tennessee V. married Ike Carson, James C. married Laura Spurlock, Joseph Franklin married Frances Elizabeth Holt, Frances never married, Augusta married Nicodemus Tippet, Labon S. never married, Isaac married Hulda Atchley, Ollie married Bill Edens.

After the children were married Louisa decided to divide the farm and give each child some acreage. She selected Joe to do it, he let all the children take their choice and he took what was left which was the home place and with it came Louisa, who lived with them until her death in 1892. She is buried beside John in the family cemetery.

Joe and Fannie (Frances) had six children and Louisa played a big part in their bringing up, they loved her dearly. These children were: Lawrence married Effie Jenkins, Louisa married Clarke Long, William never married, Marvin married Routh Lewis Bertha never married, Lemmer married William Wilson.

In November of 1892 a cyclone struck that part of the country and it destroyed everything on the old part of the farm; house, barn, stock and all fences; it even blew rails through big walnut trees. Joe was blown out of the house and killed. Two Eden children (Ollie and Bill’s) on an adjoining farm were killed.

Fannie went to her fathers for a few days and her brothers and neighbors came and built her a log house where they lived for many years. In about 1910 they built a two story frame house, a typical farm house, where the old house had stood above the beautiful spring surrounded by walnut trees. This spring had never been known to be dry, the branch through the pasture had supplied water year round for two of the farms. Ike and his family lived very near and were a big help to Fannie in her struggle to stage a comeback.

Fannie and William moved to Harrison in the early 1920s where Bertha and Marvin both lived. Bertha had attended a business college and was a business woman. She worked with Marvin in the Peoples Bank and later with him in the Security Bank. Later she worked until her retirement, at the State Highway Department Offices. Fannie died in 1944 and is buried in Maplewood Cemetery beside Joe, who was moved from the family cemetery.

Ike and Hulda, after their children were married moved to Harrison but later went back to the farm where he died in 1943. Hulda lived three years and died in Harrison. They are buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Harrison.

Ike and Hulda’s children are scattered, Vern was a doctor in Michigan, Van was in the Harrison Post Office for many years, Myrtle, Gertrude and Delta lived in and near Harrison, Winnie moved to Camden, Arkansas, Joe lived in Michigan.

Tennessee and Laura lived in New Mexico. They had two daughters, Maude and Velma.

Augusta and Nicodemus Tippet had three children, Donna, Cliffie and Ralph. They lived in the Boone County area.

Ollie and Bill Edens lived in Boone County and later Oklahoma. Their children were Willie, Bland and Lee.

The Wagley family has always been a respected family in Boone County. Members still living here are Marvin Wagley, Carolyn Routh Wagley Raney, Velma Wagley Wagner, Jo Frances Wagner Smith, Willard Wilson, Helen Wilson Fox, Jean Wilson Hamilton, Jack Wilson, Jay Wilson, Dan Wilson, Shirley Ann Wagley Morton, Perry Trotter, Dorothy Trotter Murray, Dennis Trotter and Hodgen Jenkins.

These Wagleys that are left revere the memory and appreciate thoroughly the struggle of John and Louisa in their pioneering of Boone County.

Pioneer Life and Pioneer Families of the Ozarks, by Earl Berry -- Pages # 327 – 330.

*Where it states John and his friend was riding through Georgia, and met Louisa, this is incorrect. Louisa was living with her parents in Claiborne County, Tennessee. John and Louisa applied for a marriage license in Claiborne County and were married there in 1850.

Submitted by Gary R. Hawpe -- [email protected]

HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY, MISSOURI

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   John VanBebber and Margaret Chrisman
      Nancy VanBebber and William Renfro
         John Renfro and Elizabeth Wilds
            Henry Renfro and Martha McCuistion

HENRY RENFRO

Henry Renfro is a native of Ray county, Missouri. He was born on the 5th day of February, 1835. His father, Mr. John Renfro, came from Kentucky in 1833, and settled on a farm about four miles north of Millville. When our subject was fifteen years old, his father sold this place, and removed upon the one he now owns, a mile or two east of the former place. Here Henry attended school in his youth, and worked on the farm until he was twenty-two years old, and then went to Chillicothe, Missouri, where he spent a year. Returning home, he took entire management of his father's place, and conducted the farm for two years. He then went to Colorado, and, after spending six months, mining for gold there, he returned home in the autumn of 1859. The following winter he was married, at the age of twenty-five years, to Miss Martha McCuistion. After his marriage he was engaged in farming until the beginning of the civil war. Leaving his young wife and infant daughter in the care of his father-in-law, Mr. Renfro joined his fortunes with the cause of the south, and enlisted for three years in the Confederate army, company C, Colonel Reeves' 3d Missouri volunteers. Before the expiration of the time for which he had entered the army he enlisted for the whole war. His experiences were interesting and varied, but the scope of this work was not admit of following him through them all. At the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, he received a wound, which necessitated the amputation of his left leg below the knee. After the surrender he was paroled, June 26, 1865, and returned home to Ray county, arriving July 19, 1865. His wife had managed to save about five hundred dollars from the wreck of his property by the war, and on this amount he again began the life of a peaceful, law-abiding citizen. During the first three years after his return from the war he farmed, and then, going to Millville, entered the drug trade with Doctor W.M. Quarles. In 1873 he bought Doctor Quarles' interest in the business and has ever since conducted the business very successfully alone. Mr. and Mrs. Renfro are the parents of nine children, seven girls and two boys, all living at home with their parents. Mr. Renfro is a worthy member of the Christian Church, at Millville.

History of Ray County, Mo., St. Louis: Missouri Historical Company, 1891. Page # 747 & 748.

--------------------

Jeremiah Campbell and Elizabeth Vanderpool
   Joseph Campbell and Julia Ann VanBebber

JEREMIAH CAMPBELL

Was born in Campbell county, Tennessee, in the year 1802. He received the advantages of such schools as his native county at that time afforded. He was married at about the age of twenty-two years, to Miss Elizabeth Vanderpool. Eight children were born to them as the result of this union, four of each sex. Five of them are still living. Jeremiah Campbell was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He removed from Tennessee to Ray county, Missouri, in the year, 1836, and settled about ten miles northeast of Richmond. Both Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were consistent members of the "old school" Baptist Church. Mr. Campbell died in July, 1875. In life he was greatly respected by all who knew him.

History of Ray County, Mo., St. Louis: Missouri Historical Company, 1891. Page # 783.

--------------------

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   John VanBebber and Margaret Chrisman
      William VanBebber and Elizabeth Barbee
         Emily Elizabeth VanBebber and Richie Kincaid

RICHIE KINCAID

Was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the 15th day of March, 1839. He was educated in the common schools of his native county, and has always been, since leaving school, engaged in farming. He was married first on the 16th day of December, 1860. His wife, after becoming the mother of nine children, six boys and three girls, died August 4, 1879. Mr. Kincaid was married the second time, October 13, 1880, to Mrs. Elizabeth Wild, widow of Henry W. Wild, deceased. The present Mrs. Kincaid is a member of the Christian Church. The former wife was a Methodist. Mr. Kincaid owns a good farm of one hundred and four acres, with a neat, comfortable home, and is doing well in his business.

History of Ray County, Mo., St. Louis: Missouri Historical Company, 1891. Page # 773.

--------------------

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   John VanBebber and Margaret Chrisman
      James VanBebber and Elizabeth Betty Yoakum

JAMES VANBEBBER

This gentleman was born in East Tennessee, and spent the earlier part of his life in that state. Here he was engaged extensively in farming, and that was his lifelong occupation. When about twenty-five years of age he was married to Miss Elizabeth Yocum, daughter of Isaac Yocum, Esq., of Tennessee. Ten children, five of each sex, were born of this union. Eight of them are now living. In the year 1834, Mr. Vanbebber moved from Tennessee to Missouri, and settled in Ray county, in the river bottom near the present town of Hardin. Here he lived for about two years, and then buying and entering some two hundred acres of land thirteen miles north of Richmond, removed with his family to it, and lived there for the space of twenty-five years. He then sold his farm and removed to Caldwell county, Missouri, where he died in 1874. His widow is still living with her son in Caldwell county. The oldest son, William H. Vanbebber, is now living a short distance south of the place his father settled in Ray county. He has a good farm, a neat residence, and is doing well. He is the father of three promising boys. Himself and his excellent lady are both members of the Methodist Church at Millville.

History of Ray County, Mo., St. Louis: Missouri Historical Company, 1891. Pages # 772 & 773.

Submitted by Gary R. Hawpe -- [email protected]

LETTER FROM IRA VAN BIBBER

Peter VanBibber, Jr. and Marguery Bounds
   Mathias VanBibber and Margaret Robinson
      David Campbell Robinson VanBibber and Jane Ann Williams
         John Campbell Robinson VanBibber and Catherine Malinda Taylor
            Ira VanBibber and Eliza Jackson

Thought you might be interested in this letter which I received from Ira Van Bibber when I was nine years old. I had been persuaded to write to him by my mother. I had been very fascinated by his stories of the Yukon during a visit he made to us with his brother Peters (Pat) and their friend, Stanley Williams who might have been a relative. We went canoeing and fishing during that visit.

----------

Selkirk Y. T.

Feb 8. 1933

Dear old Buster

Well Buster We received your letter last night and oh how very glad we were to hear from you and to know you are all well. We are all well except for Helen She is in the Hospital in Dawson She hasn't been well this winter and we are very uneasy about her Jim is fine and has been very strong all winter Now Buster about that little girl Her papa doesn't know any thing about money so you had better pay for her with blankets traps beads Silk handkerchief Silver fox skins Martin skins and rabbit skins You can beg your mother to give you the blankets and get your cousin Jim to help you catch the skins and in that way she will cost you less than to pay cash You can give your cousin Jim what money you have on hand to buy himself a white girl a white girl is plenty good enough for him but you are a very good little boy You must have a nice little Indian girl and oh what pretty bead moccosins she will make for you I will help you all I can and take you out and help you shoot down some big fat moose so you will have plenty to eat. I will give you a dog team and plenty of dry fish and meat to feed them Now Buster you must let me know when you are coming so I can have a big pot of meat cooking and some nice fat moose ribs in thawing for the next feed You will be very hungry after your long trip and when it is cold we will sit around the fire and eat fat meat and tell stories until the weather turns warm oh wont we have a good time we have had some very cold weather since wrote to you 70 below we have had the coldest winter I have ever saw since I have been in the north Well Buster kiss Your grandmother father mother and Betty for me. Tell them I will come to see them some day Tell your granmother how I love her and think of her so often Be a good boy Buster until I see you Good by Buster for this time with love to all

From uncle

"Ira Van Bibber"

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This letter came to this nine year old by means of dog team, river boat, ocean liner to Seattle, and then by train to Minnesota. It took over two months. I learned a lot from his letters and even more from his subsequent visit when I was about twelve. Things like walking with my toes straight in front of me rather than the toes pointed out, like a white man. Like the things he had to do to be initiated so that he could marry his wife, a chief's daughter. And to practice thinning my lips, like what he did when he was my age and had thick lips, too. He was a fascinating man.

Dave Brown -- [email protected] -- great nephew of Ira Van Bibber.

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   Martha VanBebber and George Yoakum, Sr.
      Isaac Yoakum and Mary Davis
         Moses Yoakum and Elizabeth Grimes

FAMILY OF MOSES YOAKUM

1. Moses5 Yoakum (Isaac4, George3, Valentine "Felty"2, Matthias1) was born December 21, 1807 in TN, and died October 18, 1880 in MO. He married Elizabeth Grimes December 25, 1828, daughter of George Grimes and Nancy Carlock. She was born March 16, 1810, and died March 05, 1888 in MO. Both are buried in Knoxville Cemetery, Knoxville, Ray Co., MO.

Children of Moses Yoakum and Elizabeth Grimes are:

2 i. Polly Ann6 Yoakum, born June 11, 1831 in Claiborne Co., TN; died October 05, 1835.

3 ii. John Henry Yoakum, born April 29, 1835 in Claiborne Co., TN; died Aft. 1900. He married Margaret Ann Rainwater April 03, 1859 in Livingston Co., MO; born May 02, 1840; died May 22, 1900.

4 iii. Elizabeth Rachel Yoakum, born April 28, 1836 in Ray Co., MO; died October 13, 1852 in MO. She married William L. Barbee; born July 13, 1829; died August 22, 1911.

5 iv. Sarah Margaret Yoakum, born April 01, 1838 in Ray Co., MO; died January 09, 1892. She married Alfred Jackson Craven August 26, 1855 in Ray Co., MO; born in Ray Co., MO.

6 v. Martha Jane Yoakum, born November 30, 1839 in Ray Co., MO; died November 24, 1859 in MO. She married William Wiley Kincaid January 09, 1859 in Ray Co., MO; born March 15, 1841; died November 28, 1893.

7 vi. George Washington Yoakum, born March 11, 1842 in Ray Co., MO; died March 24, 1894. He married Julia Ann Schooler September 09, 1862 in Ray Co., MO; born August 15, 1845 in MO; died August 05, 1911.

8 vii. Nancy Catherine Yoakum, born January 08, 1844 in Ray Co., MO; died April 11, 1925 in Whitter, CA. She married Horace R. Crenshaw December 31, 1862 in Ray Co., MO.

9 viii. Barbara Ellen Yoakum, born July 18, 1846 in Ray Co., MO; died April 20, 1924. She married John Warren McGaugh October 07, 1866 in Ray Co., MO; born 1848; died 1912.

10 ix. James Benton Yoakum, born January 31, 1849 in Ray Co., MO; died November 07, 1918. He married Mary Ann Shumate; born June 18, 1841; died April 20, 1906.

11 x. Prudence Juliet Yoakum, born May 01, 1852; died March 06, 1945. She married Aaron Thompson Moffitt January 23, 1870 in Ray Co., MO.

Submitted by Gary R. Hawpe -- [email protected]

1930 FEDERAL CENSUS TO BE RELEASED IN APRIL 2002!

The long awaited release of 1930 census records is finally approaching. For those of you who are new to census research or genealogy, the census records have a 72 year privacy act in place. This means we must wait 72 years after a census has been taken before it is made available to the public.

The 1930 census schedules and all soundex indexes will be available April 1, 2002. It will be housed at the National Archives Building at 700 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington DC, and also will be available at all 13 NARA regional facilities.

The good news is....the records will be available for purchase, which means they will be increasingly easy to find in genealogy libraries across the United States.

About the soundex indexes for the 1930 census. Portions of the census have been soundexed while major portions of it have not.

The 12 Soundex states are:


Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky (only counties of Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Kenton, Muhlenberg, Perry and Pike), Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia (only counties of Fayette, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, and Raleigh).

NOTE: There are not any indexes for any other states than what is listed above.

What questions were asked on the 1930 census?

Name.
Address.
Relationship to head of household.
If home was owned or rented.
Value of real estate or monthly rental.
Own a radio set?
Whether or not a farm.
Sex, race, age.
Marital status, age at first marriage.
Attends school?, can read and write?
Birth place.
Birth place of parents.
If foreign born, language spoken before coming to the U.S.
If immigrant, year of immigration.
If immigrant, are you naturalized, can you speak English.
Occupation, industry or business and class.
If at work on the last previous working day.
Whether a Veteran, which war?
If Indian, full blood?, mixed blood?, tribal affiliation.

OBITUARIES:

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   Peter VanBebber and Ellinor VanBibber
      Peter VanBibber and Catherine Ridenour
         Olive VanBibber and Thomas Ives Fulfer
            Newton Fulfer and Cordelia Martin Davis
               Burton Fulfer and Dove McInroe
                  Elvis T. Fulfer

ELVIS T. FULFER

CLEBURNE - Elvis T. Fulfer, 87, a retired farmer and rancher, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, in Keene.

Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday at Stephenville Funeral Home. Burial: Hannibal Cemetery.

Elvis Fulfer was born May 23, 1909, in Stephenville. He was a member of the Methodist church. He lived in Cleburne for four years and was previously of De Leon.

Survivors: Brothers, Elmo Fulfer of Cleburne and Henry Fulfer of Jal, N.M.; and sisters, Bernice Stewart and Mildred Moring, both of Stephenville, Barbara Kay of Fritch, Inez Gordon of Midlothian and Edna Kuykendall of Los Angeles, Calif.

Stephenville Funeral Home Stephenville, (817) 965-3161 Beulah Graham.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas -- February 27, 1997.

Submitted by Vanessa DeShazer -- [email protected]

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Ann Mary VanBibber and William Dudley Bonds
   William Meredith Bonds and Nancy Caroline Harris
      Martha Margaret Bonds and Owen Anderson
         Lois Owen Anderson and Fletcher Lewis Willis

LOIS OWEN WILLIS

Lois Owen Willis, 93, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, in a local hospital. Services will be 2 P.M.

Saturday at Community Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gayle Martin officiating. Burial will follow in Midway Cemetery, directed by Community Memorial Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd St.

Mrs. Willis was born in Hodges. She married Fletcher "F.L." Willis in Abilene. He preceded her in death. She was a homemaker, and worked at the Abilene State School. She was a Charter Member of Grace United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her two sons, Owen Willis of Abilene and George Willis of San Antonio; two daughters, Martha Mielke and Sandra Mason both of Ft. Worth; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Grace United Methodist Church, 1402 Grape St, Abilene, TX, 79601; or the Benevolent Fund at Sears Methodist Center, 3202 S. Willis, Abilene, TX, 79605.

Abilene Reporter News, Abilene, Texas - February 3, 2001.

Submitted by Stephen Mielke -- [email protected]

RECENT DEATHS:

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   Martha VanBebber and George Yoakum, Sr.
      Isaac Yoakum and Mary Davis
        Marcellus Yoakum and Sarah N. Cawood
            Louisa Love Yoakum and William Harvey Moyers
               Susan B. Moyers and Joseph Bascus Brewer
                  Ollie Belle Brewer and Roy Lee Shiflet
                      Iris Lorene Shiflet and William Edgar "Ed" Guy
                         Lona Sue Guy and Bobby Roston Smith

LONA SUE GUY SMITH

SHAWANEE, Tenn. — Lona Sue Guy Smith, 52, passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at Pathfork, Ky. She was born July 25, 1949 in Kentucky, the daughter of the late William Edgar "Ed" Guy and Iris Lorene Shiflet Guy. She believed in the Holiness Faith and attended Mountain Assembly Church of God.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by brothers: Paul Wayne, Harley Eugene, and William Leroy Guy. Survivors include her husband, Bobby Roston Smith Sr., Tazewell, Tenn.; children, Cookie Sue and Delano "Del" Ervin Harrogate, Tenn., Bobby Roston Smith Jr., New Tazewell, Tenn.; grandchildren, Stephen Delano, Jody Aaron, and Austin Chace Ervin, Chadwick Olen Austin "Chad" Smith, Bobby Roston "Ross" Hoskins; brothers, Tracy and Inga Guy, Chicago, Ill., Lacy and Cleda Guy Chicago, Wilburn and Vickie Guy, Middlesboro, Donnie Guy, Middlesboro; sisters, Edna and Dickie Evans, Goshen, Ind.; Charlene Heck, Middlesboro; brothers-in-law, James and Beulah Smith, Harrogate, Bruce Heck, Middlesboro, Ira Smith, Middlesboro, Curt Smith, Somerset, Ky., Odell and Pat Smith, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; sisters-in-Law, Donna Guy, Berwin, Ill., Margaret Guy Anniston, Ala., Velma Guy, Chicago, LulaMae Givens of Middlesboro and son Lantz Smith of Harrogate, Claiasee and Tom Rolls, Clairliff, Ky., Mildred Berry Somerset, Jewell and Rodney Ashley, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; special friends, Glenda Duffield, Mona Sue Nokes, Eurlene Simpson, and numerous other friends and relatives.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Creech Funeral Home with the Revs. Mike Padgett and Woodrow Gilbert presiding. Music will be provided by Heavenly Aires Singers. Burial will be in the Scott Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her nephews. Visitation is from 6-9 p.m. today at Creech Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

The Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, Bell County, Kentucky - March 29, 2002.

Submitted by Gary R. Hawpe -- [email protected]

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Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
   Martha VanBebber and George Yoakum, Sr.
      Isaac Yoakum and Mary Davis
         Marcellus Yoakum and Sarah N. Cawood
            Sallie Ann Yoakum and Benjamin Bolinger
               Cora Bell Bolinger and Emerson Etheridge Fortner
                  Benjamin E. Fortner and Maucie Cleo Hopper

MAUCIE CLEO HOPPER FORTNER

SPEEDWELL, Tenn. — Maucie Cleo Hopper Fortner, 92, passed away Monday, March 25, 2002, at Tri-State Manor Health Care. Born in Claiborne County, Tenn., she was a daughter of the late Arthur and Josephine Bostic Hopper. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church, and she loved reading and helping the elderly.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Fortner; brothers, Otto, Leo, Ulyse Hopper; sisters, Eunice, Juanita, Rachel, Waletta and Pawnee. Survivors include her sons, Ferndee Fortner and wife, Virginia, Speedwell, Paris M. Fortner and wife, Dollie, Erie, Mich.; grandchildren, Colleen Drager, Darrell Fortner, both of Erie, Mich., Kimberly Weil, Jacksonville, Fla., Garvin Fortner and Kelvin Fortner, both of Speedwell; great-grandchildren, Zachary, Erin, Alexis, Caleb, Benjamin, Robert and Blake.

Funeral services were conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Reece Valley Chapel with the Rev. Larry Collins presiding. Music was provided by the Glory Road Boys. Graveside services were conducted at 11 a.m. today at Carr Cemetery. Pallbearers were her grandsons, Darrell Fortner, Kelvin Fortner, Garvin Fortner, Zachary Drager, Caleb Fortner, and Benjamin Weil.

Arrangements by Reece Funeral Home and Valley Chapel, 869-3651, 869-8811, or 626-4249.

The Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, Bell County, Kentucky - March 28, 2002.

Submitted by Gary R. Hawpe -- [email protected]
   

BIRTHDAYS:

James VanBibber and Sarah Margaret Bradburn
   Harvey Westly Van and Ida Florence Lewis
      Audrey Eliza Van and John Edward Miron
         John Van Miron and Kathryn Kaye Davis
            John Davis Miron and Laura Emily Tonk
               Joseph Frank Miron

--and--

James VanBibber and Sarah Margaret Bradburn
   John W. VanBibber and Pollie Jane Roe
      Carl Luther VanBibber and Goldie May Thompson
         Norma Jean VanBibber and Norman Lynn Murphy

I would like to wish a "Happy Birthday" to two very special people who celebrated their birthdays on the 2nd of this month. One is my grandson, Joseph Frank Miron, and the other is Norma "Jean" Van Bibber Murphy, a second cousin to my husband.

Submitted by Kathy Miron -- [email protected]

REUNIONS:

"OREGON OR BUST" News Alert...
Portland, Oregon is named the best big city to live in by MONEY MAGAZINE

Well..........Guess what? The Alphonso (Daniel's grandson) Boone family figured that out 153 years ago!!  Why not journey west from July 31 - August 4, 2002 to experience the 4thbiennial Boone Society, Inc. Reunion in the beautiful Pacific Northwest?  (Non-members are welcome too)

In slightly more than one hour from downtown Portland, you will experience being high on a majestic mountain top, in the barren desert, at the rugged Pacific Ocean beaches or in the middle of a dense forest. Exciting tours are planned to enable you to "see it all" in just four days,  plus enrich your Boone history with informative narrators along the way.

All meals and 3 bus tours, and 5 entertainment programs will be included in the registration fee. Lodging at Holiday Inn Select 25425 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville,OR. 97070.

For more information, go to -- http://www.boonesociety.org/projects.htm -- or to answer questions contact Arlene Buschert -- [email protected]

MILITARY NEWS:

Isaac VanBibber and Mariah Walraven
   Loyal VanBibber and Sarah Elizabeth Robinson

The below General Affidavit was submitted by Sarah Robinson Van Bibber, the widow of Loyal Van Bibber. Loyal died on May 4, 1864 and left Sarah to support six children by herself. She had a son, Robinson Van Bibber, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was killed at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee on November 25, 1863. Sarah applied for a pension through her son's military services which she received up to her death in 1904.

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

State of Ohio County of Vinton SS.

In the matter of Pension Claim No. 283688 of Sarah E. Vanbiber.

On this 20 day of April A.D. 1883; personally appeared before me a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths Sarah E. Vanbiber, aged 58 years, a resident of Knox Twp in the county of Vinton and State of Ohio well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows:

My Residence in 1863 was Migs Co Ohio Post office Mount Blanes Meigs Co Ohio Since 1865 I have lived in Vinton Co Ohio in 1865 my Post office was Moonvill Vinton Co. O and since that time it has been Bolen Mills Vinton Co Ohio in 1863 I had a husban five sons and two daughters my husband age 41 years died May 4, 1864 Robinson Vanbiber Son age 17 years killed in the Sirvis of the US in 1863 Hamilton Vanbiber Son 16 Albert Vanbiber Son age 15 Osker Vanbiber Son age 13 Susan Vanbiber daughter Age 11 Marrian Vanbiber daughter age seven years Cook Vanbiber Son 2 years Since the death of my husban in 1864 thare has been kno one bound to support me and my family and I have done it from my own hands I have not married since

Sarah E. Vanbibber

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PENSIONER DROPPED

United States Pension Agency

Columbus, Ohio

June 17, 1904

Certificate No. 207010

Class - Mother
Pensioner - Sarah E. Vanbibber
Soldier - Robinson Vanbibber
Service - Pr A92 O.V.I. (Private, Company A, 92nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry)
The Commissioner of Pensions.

SIR: I have the honor to report that the above-named pensioner who was last paid at $12, to 4 Mch, 1904 has been dropped because of information that pensioner died 26 Mch 1904.

General Law.
Very respectfully,
JW Jones
United States Pension Agent.

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Submitted by Earl W. Quintrell -- Winchester, Tennessee

QUERIES:

I am looking for the burial location of Robinson Van Bibber, son of Loyal Van Bibber and Sarah Robinson. Robinson was born in 1846 and served in the Civil War with Company A, 92nd Ohio Infantry. He was killed at the Battle of Missionary Ridge in Tennessee on November 25, 1863.

I was just in Tennessee and went to the National Cemetery, and their computer said he was not buried there. I was under the impression he was, especially since it is within sight of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Any ideas?

Jim Van Bibber -- [email protected] -- Columbus, Ohio

--------------------

I am looking for information on a Sarah Van Baber (b) 1850's Arkansas and married to a John Cox. They lived around Mena, Polk County, Arkansas. This Van Baber is a gggrandparent of mine. Thanks.

Glenda Sullins -- [email protected]

SOUND OFF:

From: [email protected] (Barbara Mills)
To:
[email protected] (Gary Hawpe)

Gary,

I think that I forgot to tell you how much I loved that wonderful article about a Van Bebber cousin who took a gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics. It was beautifully written. Thank you for sharing it with us. The whole newsletter was as great as always! Barbara

Van Bibber Website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blogan/

The editor reserves the right to edit contributions to the newsletter.

Editor of the Van Bibber Pioneers Electronic Newsletter:
Gary R. Hawpe --
[email protected]

Owner of the Van Bibber FTM database -- 43,003 names