JAMES D. VAN BIBBER. This gentleman is the son of Joseph and Susan (Boone) Van Bibber, and was born May 3, 1828, in Liberty, Clay county, Missouri. In 18[42] his parents moved to Randolph county, Arkansas, where they died, leaving James D., our subject, still a child. In 1844 he came with his grandfather, Daniel Boone [actually, Nathan Boone is what they meant ccs], to Greene county, Missouri, and settled on a farm near Ash Grove. He worked upon a farm, and saved money enough to give himself a good common school education. He taught school several terms, two in 1849, and one in the winter of 1850. In May, 1850, he sold goods for Alfred St[e]aley, at Cave spring, which position he held until Mr. Stealey's death in 1853. Mrs. Stealey then gave Mr. Van Bibber entire control of the store until 1866, when he bought the stock of goods from her, and ran it on his own account until 1860. He was married February 28, 1854, to Caroline, daughter of Alfred and Lucinda (Brower) Staley. They have been blest with two children, viz.. Alfred H. and Laura B. In 1869 he removed to Walnut Grove, where he lived until 1874, when he made the race for county clerk, upon the Democratic ticket, and was elected. He served his term of four years, and was renominated and re-elected in 1878, and was again re-elected in 1882. He is held in high esteem by all political parties. He is a Mason, has been secretary of the lodge for several years, and is a gentleman in every sense.

. . . The second Joseph married Susan Boone, daughter of Nathan and Olive Van Bibber Boone. James was orphaned at age 13 and then lived with his grandparents, Nathan and Olive Van Bibber Boone. He married, in 1854, Caroline Staly, daughter of Alfred and Lucinda (Brower) Staley. They had two children, Alfred and Laura.

The (following) letter to Nathan Boone Van Bibber is almost illegible, again due to the limitations of copy making at the time I received it.

This is an attempt at deciphering it.

Nichols Mo.
January 8th 1898
N. B. Van Bibber
Charlestown W. Va.

Dear Sir:
I got what I supposed to be your address by reading a piece in the St. Louis Republican, concerning a gun which Daniel Boone gave to Matthias Tice Van Bibber, who I suppose, from statements in said paper, was your grandfather My father was born in Greenbriar County , Now W. Va., in 1797, and was a son of James Van Bibber-


My mother was a daughter of Nathan Boone and Olive Van Bibber Boone, my mother and father being first cousins.


My Grandfather Van Bibber had a brother Tice so I suppose we must be
(illegible)

My object in writing is (illegible, "learning"?) something of my ancestors in (rest of sentence illegible, possibly "Moan W. Va.")

I learned that there is a book in the (illegible word) in Va. giving a history of Daniel Boone and Van Bibbers crossing the mountains on their trip moving west-- If there is such a book or any history that will give any account of our ancestors please let me know where I can get one and what it will cost and I will send the necessary amount at once.

Will write more if I hear from you.
Respectfully,
James D. Van Bibber
Nichols, Greene County
Missouri"


From Jim Staley (jstaley@goodbuysweetprints.com)

Thank you for the email and offer. You certainly have a wealth of information on the V-B line. I am not sure on the protocol I am supposed to use so believe I will briefly state my query and relate the small amount of info I know. I would appreciate it if you, or a subscriber, could tell me the relationship (however tenuous) of James D. Van Bibber b. May 3 ,1828 d. July 30, 1909 to that of D Boone. James is buried in the cemetery NW of Willard MO (near Ash Grove). He was married to Caroline Staley b July 6, 1837 d. March 17, 19?? (cant even read my own handwriting) who is also buried there as are their two children, Alfred Hoke, b 5/17/1858, d 3/20/1950, and Laura Belle, b 1/23/1866, d 12/24/1956. Caroline was my grandfather's sister. I lived in Springfield with my grandfather and 4 of my aunts in 1943-44. My grandfather was born in 1846 and was in the Civil War. Neither Belle nor Hoke ever married and lived in a small farmhouse between Springfield and Willard when I was there. My aunts would take groceries to them and see to their well being and I would go along. These 4 old ladies and I would cruise out in this 1928 Peerless Sedan. Because this is in the Boone Township and so near Ash Grove it seems most probable that James was more closely related to Nathan Boone's wife Olive. My aunts told me Hoke and Belle were related to the Boones. There was a small barn in back of their (the Van Bibbers) house and they said there was a saddle in it that belonged to D. Boone. He was supposed to have left it when he visited the family one time. There is no way that this could be proved but when Belle died and they disposed of the property my aunts took the saddle (my sister still has it). I don't have much more but this might be of some interest to someone. Thank you again. Jim

Jim Staley462

JAMES D. VAN BIBBER. The late James D. Van Bibber, was a well-known man throughout Greene county during a past generation, having been clerk of the county court for a period of twelve years, and long a successful merchant and agriculturist in the northern end of the county. He will long be remembered in this locality as a man of public-spirit, comprehensive ideas and as a man of honest impulses and genial and sociable personality.

Mr. Van Bibber was born on May 3, 1828, at Liberty, Clay county, Missouri. He sprang from old Colonial stock of Holland Dutch ancestry--three brothers, sea captains--coming to America from Holland in the early part of the seventeenth century, and located in New York and Virginia, and were among the early founders of the country. Joseph Van Bibber, grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia from which state he moved to Missouri in 1800 with his family and settled in Callaway county, in the wilderness. He married a Miss Irwin, of Irish stock. He owned a large tract of land and passed the remainder of his days in Callaway county. He was the father of seven children, namely: Lucinda, Minerva, Melissa, Joseph, Irwin, Frank and Daniel. Joseph Van Bibber, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Greenbriar county, Virginia, in 1797 and was but three years old when brought by his parents to Callaway county, Missouri, and was, therefore, reared in this state, received a common education and was a gunsmith by trade and employed by the United States government at Liberty, Missouri, when there was an Indian agency at that point. He married in St. Charles county, Missouri, Susan Boone, a daughter of Nathan and Olive (Van Bibber) Boone. Nathan Boone was the son of the most famous of all pioneers--Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. It will be remembered that this noted hunter and Indian fighter moved to Missouri about 1795 and settled in St. Charles county, having been preceded by his son, Daniel. Morgan Boone came a few years previously. Nathan, who came in 1800, was born in Kentucky in 1781 and married there before he was twenty-one years of age, and he and his wife became the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to be married men and women, namely, James, Jeremiah, Delinda, Susan, Olive, Nancy, Benjamin H., John C., Levica, Melcena, Mary, Sarah and Mahala. Mr. Boone resided on his farm in St. Charles county until 1834. He was a captain in the Dragoon service of the United States army and stationed at Fort Leavenworth many years. He was engaged in the early Indian troubles, and resigned when he became an aged man, being lieutenant-colonel at the time. In 1834 he moved to Greene county and settled on land near Ash Grove which he purchased from the government, several hundred acres, and here he passed the remainder of his days, an honored citizen, and reached the age of seventy-five years.

After his marriage Joseph Van Bibber lived at Liberty until 1832, when he went to Arkansas and settled in Randolph county, in the wilderness, and was one of the first settlers in that county, and was one of the surveyors who laid out the town of Pocahontas, the county-seat of that county, and there he died at the age of forty-two years, and his wife died a few years previously. They were the parents of four children who lived to grow up, namely: Letitia, James D., Sarah and Emulus C.

27James D. Van Bibber, subject of this memoir, was left an orphan when he was thirteen years of age, after which he lived with his grandfather Col. Nathan Boone, at Ash Grove, until between fifteen and sixteen years of age, when he began to work out for himself. He worked and paid his tuition at a subscription school, and attended school at Springfield two terms and thus gained a common education and began life, in an industrial way as a clerk at Cave Spring, Greene county, later engaging in the mercantile business there for himself in which he built up a good trade and continued in this line of endeavor until the breaking out of the Civil war. He then exchanged his stock of goods for land near Cave Spring, and continued purchasing until he owned about seven hundred acres, and lived on this land until 1862 when he came to Springfield and engaged in the mercantile business until the close of the war. In 1874 he was elected clerk of the county court, and held this office twelve years, being elected three times. He discharged the duties of the same in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He owned a good farm just north of the city limits of, Springfield which he sold in 1887 and bought two hundred and forty-three acres upon which he built a large residence. He spent the rest of his life engaged successfully in general agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Van Bibber was married in 1854 at the age of twenty-six years, to Caroline Staley, daughter of Alfred and Lucinda (Brower) Staley. Alfred Staley was born in North Carolina where he spent his earlier years and from that state he emigrated to Missouri in 1846 and settled in Greene county. In 1848 he went into the mercantile business at Cave Spring, where he was a prominent merchant until his death in 1853.
To Mr. and Mrs. Van Bibber two children were born, namely: Alfred H., a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume; and Laura Belle, who has remained unmarried and is living on the old homestead with her mother, the latter being now advanced in years.
Politically, Mr. Van Bibber was a Democrat, and fraternally he belonged to the Masonic Order, being a member of O'Sullivan Lodge No. 7, of Walnut Grove, and held the office of secretary for three years. He was a man of high Christian character and when his death occurred in 1909, sincere regret was expressed in the community in which he lived.

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

463JAMES D. VAN BIBBER, Springfield, Mo., is one of the retired farmers of Greene County and one of the first county officials. He springs from old colonial stock of Holland Dutch ancestry--three brothers--sea captains- coming from Holland in the early part of the seventeenth century, to New York and Virginia, and were among the early founders of the country. Joseph Van Bibber, grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia and moved to Missouri in 1800 with his family and settled in Callaway County, in the wilderness. He married a Miss Irwin, of Irish stock. He owned a large tract of land and passed all the remainder of his days in Callaway County. He was the father of seven children: Lucinda, Minerva, Melissa, Joseph, Irwin, Frank and Daniel. Joseph Van Bibber, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Greenbrier County, Va., in 1797 and was but three years of age when brought by his parents to Callaway County, Mo., and was, therefore, reared in this State, received a common education and was a gunsmith by trade and employed by the United States Government at Liberty, Clay County, Mo., when there was an Indian agency. He married in St. Charles County, Mo., Susan, daughter of Nathan and Olive (Van Bibber) Boone. Nathan Boone was the son of the famous pioneer, hunter and Indian fighter-Daniel Boone, of Kentucky-and who moved to Missouri in 1795-97 and settled in St. Charles County, having been preceded by his son, Daniel. Morgan Boone came a few years previously. Nathan came in 1800, was born in Kentucky in 1781 and married there before be was twenty-one years of age, and himself and wife became the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to be married men and women: James, Jeremiah, Delinda, Susan, Olive, Nancy, Benjamin H., John C., Levica, Melcena, Mary, Sarah and Mahala. Mr. Boone resided on his farm in St. Charles County until 1834. He was a captain in the Dragoon service of the United States Army and stationed at Ft. Leavenworth for many years. He was engaged in the early Indian troubles, and resigned when he became an aged man, being lieutenant colonel at the time. In 1834 he moved to Greene County and settled on land near Ash Grove which he purchased of the Government, several hundred acres, and here he passed the remainder of his days, an honored citizen, and reached the age of seventy-five years. After marriage Joseph Van Bibber lived at Liberty. until 1832, when he went to Arkansas and settled in Randolph County, in the wilderness, and was one of the first settlers in that county, and was one of the surveyors who laid out the town of Pocahontas, the county seat of that county, and here he died at the age of forty-two years, and his wife died a few years previously. They were the parents of four children who lived to grow up: Letitia, James D., Sarah and Emulus C. James D., son of above and our subject, was born May 3rd, 1828, at Liberty, Clay County, Mo., and was left an orphan at about thirteen years of age, after which he lived with his grandfather, Col. Nathan Boone, at Ash Grove, until between fifteen and sixteen years of age, when he began to work out for himself. He worked and paid his tuition at a subscription school, and attended school at Springfield two terms and thus gained a common education and began life as a clerk at Cave Springs. He married in 1854, at twenty-six years of age.

He engaged in the mercantile business at Cave Springs, Mo., in which be continued until the Civil War broke out. He then exchanged his stock of goods for land near Cave Springs, and continued purchasing until he owned about 700 acres, and lived on this land until 1862 when he came to Springfield and engaged in the mercantile business and continued in this business until the close of the war. In 1874 he was elected clerk of the county court and held this office twelve years with general satisfaction, being elected three times. Politically he is a Democrat. He owned a farm north of Springfield adjoining the city limits and sold it in 1887 and bought 243 acres upon which he built a commodious residence He married Caroline Staley, daughter of Alfred and Lucinda (Brown) Staley. Alfred Staley was from North Carolina and settled in Missouri in 1846 in Greene County. In 1848 he went into the mercantile business at Cave Springs, where he was a prominent merchant until his death in 1853. To Mr. And Mrs. Van Bibber were born two children: Alfred H. and Laura B. Socially, Mr. Van Bibber is a Mason, member of the O'Sullivan Lodge, No. 7, of Walnut Grove, and held the office of secretary three years. He is a male of high Christian and moral character as his long services as a county official attests his honesty of character and its general appreciation by the people.

Caroline Staley Van Bibber

Birth: Jul. 6, 1837
Death: Mar. 17, 1934
 
Family links: 
 Spouse:
  James D. Van Bibber (1828 - 1909)*
 
 Children:
  Alfred Hoke Van Bibber (1858 - 1950)*
 
*Calculated relationship
 Burial:
Wesley Cemetery
Willard
Greene County
Missouri, USA 
Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?] 
Created by: Cara
Record added: Aug 16, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 40736829