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One of Daniel Boone's close friends was John Van Bibber. John distinguished himself as a courageous "Indian fighter," although an unpopular (not "politically correct") distinction in our modern world. Emerging from what would become, during the American Civil War, the state of West Virginia, John and his siblings, Isaac, Peter, and Brigetta, settled just west of what would become Winchester, WV.
In 1760 or 61 John was married to Chloe Standiford, described as "tall and fair to look upon."[1] The couple settled in modern-day Botetourt County, VA.
While exploring the vast wilderness of Mississippi and Tennessee, John became lost for months until he finally stumbled upon the cabin near what today is the Virginia-Tennessee border, northeast of what would become the town of Bristol. The event has been described in this manner:
"Just about to give up in despair, Van Bibber spotted smoke curling skyward from what could only have been a chimney. Charging through the underbrush, he found a pioneer cabin which was little more than a lean-to. Whooping & hollering, he greeted the inhabitant, who welcomed him only as a lonely, hospitable man could do. The man introduced himself as Dan Boone, who fed & boarded Van Bibber, beginning a friendship lasting for decades."[2]
Welcomed into the Boone family circle a lifelong bond of friendship was forged between Daniel Boone and John Van Bibber.The bond was strengthened in the eventual marriage of their children, Jesse Bryan Boone and Chloe Van Bibber.
Then tragedy struck the family as their sister, Brigetta, and her husband Isaac Robinson, who were living in Point Pleasant (near the Ohio River), were attacked by Indians. Their eight year old son, Isaac was fishing when he heard gunshots. He rushed to the homestead only to find his father dead and Indians killing his two year old brother. Brigetta, Isaac, and his four year old brother John where taken as prisoners. The homestead was looted then burned. John Van Bibber pursued the Indian band but was only successful in finding the body of young John Robinson lying in the road. He was forced to return home empty-handed.
Isaac Robinson was adopted into an Indian family and his mother was eventually sold to a fur trader after five years of forced servanthood. Two years after Brigetta Robinson's return a treaty was signed with the Indians. This permitted Brigetta to set out on a search for her son Isaac. After a very long search she located him, but he refused to leave his adopted family and return home with his mother. She was eventually successful in persuading him to return to Point Pleasant where, four years later, he died.
Shortly after the attack that resulted in death and capture of Brigetta and her family, John Van Bibber's nineteen year old daughter Rhoda was captured by Indians as she and her brother, Jacob, twelve, were rowing across the Ohio River to visit her father. Rhoda was killed and Jacob taken prisoner. John gave chase but was only successful in killing five Indians. Jacob was taken to Detroit where he eventually became an interpreter between the French and the Indians. Seven years after his capture the treaty with the Indians was signed. Jacob's cousin located him and brought him home to his mother. A year after his return Jacob died.
John Van Bibber's wife, Chloe Standiford, was our sixth great-grand aunt. If we go back nine generations to Mom's sixth great-grandparents, James and Martha Watkins Standiford, Mom's fifth great-grandfather Israel was the brother of Chloe Standiford who became the wife of John Van Bibber. Chloe was born on April 23, 1737 in Baltimore, Maryland. She and John had seven children. It is presumed that she died before her husband because she was not mentioned in her husband's will following his death in 1820. James Standiford and his sons, Israel (Mom's fourth great-grandfather) and Luke "were instrumental in bringing the sport of racing fine horses to America." [3]
Here is the connection:
James
(1715) & Martha Watkins Standiford
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Chloe Standiford (1737)
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Israel Standifer (1740)
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| Archibald Standifer (1795) | |
Franklin H. Standerfer (1820)
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William Standerfer (1847)
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Zacharious I. Standerfer (1871)
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Mercedes Ruth Standerfer (1892)
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Mary Jean Ethington (1928)
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[1] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Van_Bibber-65
[2] https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=112780190
[3] James Standifer find a grave; https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=113599200
* According to this website, the mystery of our Standerfer ancestors seems to be solved. Here someone has corrected a longstanding mistake in recognizing Archibald Standifer as the son of Israel, not Skelton Daniel Standifer.