Serepta Jane Lamb

     Serepta Jane Lamb was born on 3 April 1834.¹ She married, at age 31, George Marshall VanBebber, age 29, son of Peter VanBebber and Sarah Grimes, on Thursday, 1 March 1866.¹ Serepta Jane Lamb died on 16 March 1913 at age 78 years, 11 months and 13 days.¹ She was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, located in Missouri.¹
     She and George Marshall VanBebber appeared on the census of 1 June 1900 at Lincoln Township, Caldwell County, Missouri. From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Earl W. Quintrell, comp., 'Mrs. G. M. VanBebber Attemps Suicide,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 4 No. 5 (March 2001), pp. 11 - 12.

MRS. G. M. VANBEBBER ATTEMPS SUICIDE

Mrs. Serepta (Lamb) Vanbebber, aged 66 years, wife of G.M. Vanbebber, gashed her throat horribly with a butcher knife in an attempt to commit suicide, at her home on Route 8, about 8 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

Her husband, 'Marsh' Vanbebber, started to William Lile's early Sunday morning, and soon after his departure Mrs. VanBebber telephoned to Sam Thomson and wife, who live one-half mile south, stating that she had cut her throat. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson and Mrs. J. G. Mohn hurried to her assistance, and Dr. I. N. Parrish of Cowgill, on arriving at the house, found that she had inflicted three deep cuts in her throat, one of which penetrated the windpipe or trachea, but fortunately had not severed a carotid artery or jugular vein, the opening of either of which would probably have let out her life in a few minutes. One or two small arteries were taken up and tied, and the wounds, then closed with stitches and dressed. At this writing the cuts are healing nicely, the patient taking nourishment, and prospects are good for her recovery. Three of her daughters, Meads, Griffing, and Dustin, and Miss Anna VanBebber, have been with her constantly.

Mrs. Vanbebber has lived at her present home for more than 40 years, a most excellent and faithful wife, mother, neighbor and friend. Devotedly attached to the children, the death of her son Walter, some 25 years since, was a sad blow, and the recent despondency which caused her rash act was probably due to the tragic death of her remaining son, Clayt, who was killed by a train near Boulder, Colorado, last fall. We understand that she had prepared a rope and noose, in her smokehouse, with which to hang herself, but for some reason decided to use the knife.

From a Ray County, Missouri newspaper - 1912.