Walter Owen VanBibber Sr.
Walter was born on June
19, 1919 in Vanderburgh County, the Son of, Elza Curtis VanBibber and Helen Ethel Luttrell. Walter died Feb. 10, 1981 and is buried in St. Joseph cemetery, Evansville, IN.

Elza Curtis VanBibber (14 Dec 1874 - 12 Oct 1942) Elza was the son of Ratliff Boone VanBibber and Rachel Marquis. married Helen Ethel Luttrell (25 Sep 1883 - 12 Jan 1960) on January 8, 1900 in Alexandria, Virginia. Helen was the daughter of William Luttrell and Ida Ferguson. Both are buried in Park Lawn cemetery, Evansville, IN.

Ratliff Boone Van Bibber was born in 1848, the Son of, Jonathan and Nancy VanBibber. Ratliff married Rachel on May 6, 1867 in Warrick Co. IN. Ratliff Boone Van Bibber, served in the 143rd Regiment of Indiana Volunteers during the Civil War as follows: Volunteer Enlistment, February 1, 1865, at Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, for period of three years(muster records list one year enlistment), as a private: Ratliff B. Vanbibber, born Vanderburgh County, Indiana, 18 years old, farmer. He was listed on Company Muster Rolls as present in Company I, 143 Regiment Indiana Infantry, from that date until he was listed as having deserted from Ft Donaldson on 9/13/65, along with a U.S. Springfield rifle and accoutrements valued at $23.32. The Descriptive Roll identified him physically as gray eyes, light hair, fair complexion and 5 ft, 5 inches in height. Ratliff died on Jan. 5, 1900 and is buried in James cemetery in Vanderburg Co. with no tombstone to mark his burial site. If family history is accurate, Ratliff was a man of personal courage. Perhaps at only 5 foot five inches in height he had to assert himself. His last job was carrying large sacks of potatoes over his shoulder from the fields around Evansville. From this he contracted cancer in his arm and as it progressed they performed multiple amputations, starting with his hand. When they amputated the hand it was clinched. They buried it. Later he complained of pain in that hand and insisted that they dig it up and open the clenched fist. They did and the pain stopped.

Jonathan married Nancy Criswell (Chriswell) on December 9, 1844 in Vand. Co. I have failed to locate Jonathan and Nancy on the 1860 census and believe they are both desceased as of this date. I say this because Ratliff - 12, is living with Isaac VanBibber and his wife Missouri Ann Sutton on this census. Isaac was the younger brother of Jonathan therefore he was an uncle to Ratliff. Also living in the same home is Jacob VanBibber age 77 years. This
is Jacob which appears to be the father of both Jonathan and his brother Isaac. Louisa VB the sister of Ratliff married Thomas B. Alexander on March 12, 1865 in Warrick Co. Ratliff's brother Isaac married (1st) Eliza Hensholder on October 4, 1873 in Vand. Co. and they were divorced on June 13, 1881. On the same day his divorce was final, Isaac married (2nd) Marie
(Mollie) Shaefer also in Vand. Co. Jonathan married Polly Phillips on January 23, 1834 in Warrick Co. The parents of Jonathan have not been prove. I feel sure that his Father was Jacob Van Bibber but who did Jacob marry? I also believe this is the same Jacob mentioned in the estate settlement of Peter VanBibber who died there in Vand Co. in 1838. He is listed as the only living heir of the above Peter. Peter VanBibber III (above) married Sarah Yoakum and was the son of Peter VanBibber Jr. and Marguery Bounds with Jr. being the son of Peter VanBibber and his wife Anna.

Van Bibber Family