Isaac Michael VanBibber

     Isaac Michael VanBibber was born on 20 October 1771 at Botetourt County, Virginia Colony, America. He was the son of Isaac Michael VanBibber and Sarah Davis. Isaac Michael VanBibber married Elizabeth Hays, daughter of William Hays and Susannah Boone, in 1797 at Kentucky. Isaac Michael VanBibber died on 29 September 1840 at Williamsburg, Callaway County, Missouri, at age 68 years, 11 months and 9 days.
     Isaac Michael VanBibber was known as Captain professionally. He Draper Manuscripts Vol ?, Pages 90 - 92

Of the Little Fort (Fort Boone at Boonesborough, nothing is recollected by Col. N & Mrs. Boone, nor with any certainty about Mr. Susannah Hays coming out with the road-cutters (she was married in church - & there Hays taught Daniel Boone some in writing an improved hand, having kept Boone's accounts for a while) but Col. N. Boone inclines pretty strongly to the opinion that she did come out then, but always understood that Mrs. Hays' first-born (Elizabeth - married Isaac Van Bibber, whose father, Isaac, was killed at Point Pleasant battle, & the younger Isaac was cousin of Mrs. Col. N. Boone) was the first white child in Kentucky -- born in 1775 or '76; & one John Anderson, whose parents lived at Boonesborough, was the second born child in Kentucky -- possibly, Col. N. Boone says, his father & mother may have said they were the first born at Boonesborough, & Mrs. N. Boone says her remembrance of Col. Daniel Boone wife used to speak of them 'as the first born on the banks of Kentucky.' Of John Anderson nothing more is known.

Maj. Van Bibber married Elizabeth Hays in Kentucky & came to Mo. in fall of 1799 -- his wife died, perhaps about 1830 & her husband a few years later -- lived at Loutre Lick ( in Callaway or Montgomery County) where he long kept a public house. They may have two sons & four daughters living -- Isaac Van Bibber (oldest child living) lives at the old place at Loutre Lick. Ewing Van Bibber gone to California. One of the girls, Arretta probably, married a Burt -- another Susannah married a Higgason -- both living at or near Loutre Lick -- and then, Elgiva married a Davis, not known where he lives -- Matilda married an Estile who went to Carolina & died -- she living a widow about 12 miles SW of Col. N. Boone.

Nothing particularly recollected as to the time & circumstances of Col. Daniel Boone & family removing to Kentucky in 1775. Used to gather nettles, a sort of hemp towards spring when it became rotted by the wet weather, spun them, - very strong - in rich lands grows four feet high. Nettles the work & buffalo wool spun the filling - both spun. For socks, the buffalo wool alone was used -- quite soft & wears very well.

Turkey were very poor in summer, from ticks, & poor food, fatten rapidly on beech & other small nuts -- good eating in fall, winter & spring. Buffaloes are in best order in the fall, feed upon grass & buffalo clover & pea vine, & feed some upon acorns, chestnuts & beech nuts - the clover, a large white blossom kind, & lasts the growing season, but the pea-vine does not amount to much till latter part of summer & early fall. The deer was also fattest in fall - live upon same kind of food as buffalo, & elk the same. About Christmas would begin to fall away in flesh - & became very poor in latter part of winter & early spring, & in May begin to improve to flesh. Probably no wild bees & honey - as bees do not generally precede white settlements - none in the woods of Mo. till after settlements expanded.

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State Historical Society of Wisconsin, DRAPER Manuscript Collection, Draper's Notes S22

Page 206

Know no war service of Maj. Isaac Van Bibber; he was brave - a hearty laugher and great career: Honest Giving.

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State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Draper Manuscript Collection, Draper's Notes S22

page 239-241
Maj. Isaac Van Bibber & Wife

From Mrs. Erretta Burt, daughter of Maj. Isaac Van Bibber & Elizabeth Hays - who was the daughter of Capt. Wm & Susana Hays - eldest daughter of Col. D. Boone: Mrs Burt born in St. Charles Co., Mo., June 20, 1810.

Her father, Maj. Isaac Van Bibber, was born in Greenbriar Co., VA Oct 20th, 1771. His father was killed at Point Pleasant battle - and died at his son-in-law George Burt's, near Williamsburg, Calloway Co., MO, with whom he lived the last three years of his life, Sept. 29th, 1840, nearly 69 years of age. He had for many years previously resided at Loutre Lick, where his wife died in Aug 1832 -- having been born at Boonesborough, KY, June 20, 1779 -- hence a little past 53 at the time of her death. Mrs. Burt gives these dates from memory, having no record -- she thinks she cannot be mistaken that her mother died in 1832, the year of Jackson's 2nd election to the presidency, though her mother might have been a year or two older -- she claimed to have been the first white child born in Kentucky.

They were married in Kentucky, about 1793, & had two children before moving to Missouri, & 8 afterwards -- 3 only survived.

Cannot give any details of her father's services. He used to say, however sound asleep if there were Indians about, he would be sure to hear them & awaken him. Hence Mrs. Burt does not think her father was in the Cole's fight in 1810 -- as they were too careless in their encamping.

Capt. Wm. Hays ( who married Susan Boone, daughter of Col. D. Boone) was of Mich. descent, & drank freely -- forbid his son-in-law, James David from coming to his place -- David subsequently came, and Hays threatened to shoot him, where Davis fired, & Hays after several hours suffering, died.

Often saw her ancestor Col. D. Boone & often sat on his lap. He used to sing to her, & was fond of little children. No recollection of hunting trips. Saw his coffin -- he was then rubbing it with a red silk handkerchief. The first was a poor one -- & did not like it, & he had a good black walnut one made as he wished it.

Never heard anything spoken about Col. Boon's ever returning to KY after settling in Missouri.

The Jess Van Bibber who was in Missouri several years, & ??ing on War of 1812, was a cousin of Maj. Isaac Van Bibber, & returned to KY.

George Burt, husband of Mrs. Burt, adds, that he always understood that Col. D. Boone could never be lost in the woods -- even if hundreds of miles to go, so it was of Col. Nathan Boone, his son -- he was never lost, & could penetrate any wilderness.

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WILL OF ISAAC VAN BIBBER
By Gary Hawpe (hawpeg@ pendleton.usmc.mil)

The following Last Will and Testament of Isaac Van Bibber Jr., the son of Isaac Van Bibber and Sarah Davis was located in Warren County, Missouri, Deed Book C, Pages 164-166 by Van Bibber Family researcher Gary R. Hawpe of Arlington, Texas on May 1991. It should be noted that Isaac wrote his will in Montgomery County, Missouri. It should also be noted in item #6, of the Will, that he died possessed of land situated in Warren County which accounts for a copy of his Last Will and Testament being in the Warren County Deed Book. One should be aware that the county court house of Montgomery County, Missouri has burned twice and a lot of their records destroyed. This Will was not located in the records of Montgomery County.

I Isaac VAN BIBBER of the County of Montgomery and State of Missouri, being strong in body and of sound and disposing mind blessed be the Lord for the same do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament. Amen. Hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me heretofore made.

First - It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.

Second - I give and devise to my youngest son Alphonso B. VAN BIBBER all that tract or parcel of land lying East of Loutre Creek on which I have lived for upwards of twenty years, the middle of the main channel of said Loutre Creek making the western boundary line of said tract of land. The same containing upwards of three hundred acres, be the same more or less, to have and to hold the same to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

Third - I give and devise to my grandson, Thomas A. ROBERTS son of Martha ROBERTS, deceased, a tract or parcel of land lying and situated in St. Charles County and described as follows: bounded on the East by land owned by the heirs of Joshua DODSON and an old claim of land formerly owned by Samuel WATKINS, and on the West by land originally granted to Micajob CALLAWAY and on the South by land owned by the heirs of Joshua DODSON, on the North by public land or land claimed by some unknown person, the same containing one hundred and seventy eight acres, be the same more or less, the same deeded to me by Alexander McKOSTNEY and his wife comfort to have and to hold the same to the said Thomas A. ROBERTS his heirs and assigns forever.

Fourth - I give and devise to my eldest daughter, now living, Susannah HICKERSON, one negro girl named MARIAH during her natural life and at her death to the heirs of her body.

Fifth - I give and devise to my youngest daughter, now living, Aretta BERT, one negro girl name MARY, during her natural live and at her death the heirs of her body.

Sixth - I give and further devise all the rest and residue of my property real personal and mixed (after my funeral expenses and just debts are paid out of it) consisting of fifty-five acres and a small fraction over, lying and situated in St. Charles County, bounded on the East by Missouri River, on the Northwest and South by land belonging originally to the heirs of William HAYS Sr., deceased, and an undivided half of between three hundred and fifty or sixty acres lying in Warren County which said land is now occupied by Thomas TALBOT and Hale TALBOT which said land was purchased by myself and Doct John JONES at Sheriff sale and for which we have the Sheriff's deed and if said land is lost each of the heirs whom it is willed will of course lose their respective shares and all the personal property of which I may die possessed. In my own right, I devise in the following manner: first

one-ninth part to my grandson Thomas A. ROBERTS
one-ninth part to my eldest daughter Susannah HICKERSON
one-ninth part to the five infant children of Fanny COX they being my grandchildren named Van COX, James COX, Ewing COX, Missouri COX, and Alponso COX, it being the share of the mother,
one-ninth part to my daughter Matilda ESTILL,
one-ninth part to my daughter Elgiva DAVIS,
one-ninth part to my daughter Areta BURT,
one-ninth part to my eldest son Isaac VAN BIBBER,
one-ninth part to my second son Ewing A. VAN BIBBER,
one-ninth part to my youngest son Alphonso B. VAN BIBBER.

The above named fifty-five acres and a fraction and the undivided half of the above named land should I ultimately succeed in getting title to the same, and all the above named personal property of which I die possessed to be sold by my son Eing A. VAN BIBBER executor, the proceed to be divided as specified in said Will above.

And lastly - I hereby constitute and appoint my son Ewing A. VAN BIBBER to be the executor of this my Last Will and Testament revoking and annulling all former Wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. And I give to my son Ewing A. VANBIBBER the sum of five hundred dollars for his trouble as executor with said amount of money he now has in his hands. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of June A.D.,1840. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above names Isaac VAN BIBBER, Sr. as and for his Last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request have signed as witnesses to the same.
/s/ Isaac Van Bibber

Owen SMITH
John BAKER
Charles J. DRURY
State of Missouri, Montgomery County:

I, Jacob T. SHARP, Clerk of the County Court, certify that on the 4th day of the present month and year, the County Court then sitting in and for the County aforesaid, approved for probate of the foregoing Will taken in vacation and at the same time ordered said Will to be recorded. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office in the town of Danville, this 4th. day of November in the year of our Lord 1840.

/s/ Jacob T. Sharp, Clerk
State of Missouri, Montgomery County:

I, Jacob T. SHARP, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County aforesaid, certify that Charles J. DRURY and Owen SMITH this day came before me and subscribed the affidavit below on this page and was/were duly sworn to the truth thereof. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal at office in the town of Danville, the 7th. day of October in the year of our Lord 1840.

/s/ Joseph T. Sharp, Clerk
State of Missouri, Montgomery County:

Charles J. DRURY and Owen SMITH, two of the subscribing
witnesses to the written Will, being duly sworn upon their oath say the Isaac VAN BIBBER, whose name is subscribed to the said Will, signed and published the same as his last Will and testament and that the said testator at the time of signing and published in the same was of sound and disposing mind and that they were requested by the same testator to subscribe the said Will as witnesses and that they did subscribe the same in the presence of said testator and in the presence of each other and in the presence of John BAKER the other subscribing witness.

/s/ Charles J. Drury
/s/ Owen Smith
Filed for record March 11th., A.D., 1841

/s/ Joseph B. Wells, Clerk.