David Campbell Robinson VanBibber

     David Campbell Robinson VanBibber was born on 16 November 1799 at Kanawha County, Virginia. He was the son of Matthias VanBibber and Margaret Robinson. David Campbell Robinson VanBibber married, at age 24, Jane Ann Williams, daughter of Hugh Williams and Jane Ann Bell, on Thursday, 2 September 1824 at Nicholas County, Virginia. David Campbell Robinson VanBibber died on 1 March 1889 at Nicholas County, West Virginia, at age 89 years, 3 months and 13 days. Possible date of death could be 8 Mar 1889.
     From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Walter Bailey, comp., 'Calvin Van Bibber,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 4 No. 3 (January 2001), p. 21.

In the 1850 Census for the Western District of Nicholas County, the VanBibber family is listed on lines 21 thru 30, David, age 50; Jane, age 45; Moses, age 21; James, age 19; Donally, age 17; Felicity, age 14; Nathan, age 12; John, age 9; Major, age 9; and Davis, age 6. He owned real estate valued at $2,000.

David VanBibber's obituary as it appeared in the Nicholas County Chronicle in March 1889: 'David C. R. VanBibber was born, in Nicholas county, then Kanawha, November 16th, 1799, died March 1st, 1889, aged 89 years, 3 months and 15 days. In his death Nicholas county has lost a man and citizen of sterling worth. Mr. Vanbibber was an intelligent gentleman, pleasant and agreeable in his manners, a true friend, a good neighbor a kind father and while he was not a member of any church, we have reason to believe that he was a Christian, one 'not lost but gone before.'

His mind well stored with useful information, acquired in a long lifetime of association with his fellow men, and from reading, was vigorous to the last. One of the oldest citizens of this section, it was a treat to listen to his narration of incidents in the early days, but he is gone and thus link by link is broken the chain that connects the past to the present.

He leaves seven sons, three of whom, Moses, James and N. D. are in the West, Mathias, Andrew D., Nathan B. and John C. live in this county. Two daughters, Mrs. Margaret Nebergall, who lives in Nebraska and Mrs. Felicity Nebergall, who lives in Iowa. While he had been in declining health for several years, his last sickness was of only nine days duration and he passed away 'like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.'

We all miss him as a neighbor, friend, citizen, father; but we have the hope that our loss is his gain. - Requescat in peace!'