Identification:

Isaac VanBibber and Mariah Walraven
Merritt Grant VanBibber and Mary Axtrell
Marcus VanBibber and Mary Melissa Grishaw

Part II, Biographical Section of Tipton County, Indiana History 1914, by Marvin W. Pershing, Page 258 - 709, Index compiled and typed by Marietta F. Henry, Selby Publishing & Printing, Kokomo, Indiana 46902. Pages # 559 - 561.

Marcus VAN BIBBER, the proprietor of a three-hundred-and-forty-acre farm in Liberty township, was born in Tipton County, April 13, 1853. His parents were Merritt and Mary (AXTELL) VAN BIBBER. Merritt was born in Belmont County, Ohio, August 22, 1820, and received his limited schooling in that County. Before coming to Tipton County, Indiana, in 1850, he lived in Athens County, Ohio, for some time. He was married in Ohio and upon coming to Tipton County he at once bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land which he operated for the next eleven years. He then moved into Jefferson Township, where he continued to farm until a few years before his death, when he retired from active work and made his home with his son, Marcus, the subject of this sketch. While still a young man in Ohio he was married to Mary AXTELL, the daughter of Lorenzo and Maria AXTELL, and to this union there were born fifteen children: Madison, who died May 22, 1867; Elizabeth, who married George WOOKEY, and has six children, Laura, Belle, George, Tivia, Jesse and Charles; Taylor, who married Catherine GOODNIGHT and has six children, Oliver, Allen, Walter, Carrie, Everett and one who died in infancy; Harriet, who married Samuel BROWN, and has four children, Cooper, Orin, Jesse and Pearl; Mary, who married Hardin KEENE, and has three children, Leslie, Nora and Edna; Marcus, the subject of this sketch; John, who died, unmarried, in January, 1896; Dayton, who married Charlotte HYATT, and has two living children, Roma and Lora; Lincoln died at the age of three years; a child who died in infancy; Emma, who married Solomon LYDY and has eight children, Charles, David, Lelia, Flora, Nora, Walter, Arthur, and Lawrence; Grant married Susan ROBINSON and has no children; Neossia Valley married Carrie HAYWORTH and has five children living, Leland, Gilbert, Mary, Stella, and Margaret; the last two children died in infancy.
Marcus VAN BIBBER was reared amid the rural scenes of Tipton County and,
along with his meager schooling, he early gained that practical knowledge of agriculture which was the foundation of his future success along that line. Through his entire life he has engaged in agricultural pursuits and by capable management, untiring industry and sound judgment he has gradually increased his land holdings until he now owns three hundred and forty acres of as good land as can be found in the county. As soon as he was married he bought forty acres and with his good wife started out to carve his fortune.
His wife, a most estimable lady, greatly aided him by her careful management of the household affairs and the able manner in which she reared her children.
Early in life Mr. VAN BIBBER was married to Mary M. GRISHAW, the daughter of John W. and Millie Jane GRISHAW, and their union was blessed with five children: Arthur, who married Carrie BECKER, the daughter of Fred and Rosa BECKER, has one son, Fred Edwin; Earl is still unmarried; Lora married Flora SPAULDING and has one son, Lowell W.; Cleo is still single. The subject's first wife died on August 20, 1900, and a few years later he married Eva (SIMPSON) ARBUCKLE, the daughter of James ARBUCKLE. There have been no children by the second marriage.
Mr. VAN BIBBER has always given his support to the principles and policies of the Republican party, but has never been a seeker for political preferment. He is a devoted and consistent member of the Society of Friends and has lived his life according to the teachings of his church. Such uniform regard as he receives from his friends and neighbors is a sure indication that he has always lived at peace with his fellow men and followed principles which have ever commanded respect and admiration. Mr. VAN BIBBER is widely known in this county, where his whole life has been passed, and he is well worth a deserving place in this volume.
NOTE; Marcus has been recorded on every census record up to 1920 in
Tipton County and is buried in Fairview cemetery, Tipton, Tipton County,
Indiana.

MARCUS VAN BIBBER