Bibb Family of Albemarle County
Bibb Family of Albemarle County
The Bibb family were prominent residents of Charlottesville and Albemarle County in the 19th century, contributing to the town’s commercial, civic, and banking sectors. Originating from Louisa County, the Bibbs intermarried with other leading families such as the Bramhams and Strothers.
William A. Bibb (d. 1865)
William A. Bibb settled in Charlottesville in the early 19th century. In 1821, he entered the mercantile business in partnership with his father-in-law, Nimrod Bramham. He was appointed a county magistrate in 1832.
Bibb became the first Cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Virginia – Charlottesville Branch, a position he held with distinction until banking operations were interrupted by the Civil War. In 1836, he purchased the square previously occupied by the Female Seminary—later the site of the Leterman Mansion—and lived there until his death in 1865.
He married Sarah Bramham. Their children were:
- Henry Bibb
- Angeline Bibb – married Edward J. Timberlake
- Dr. William E. Bibb
- Horace Bibb
- Cornelia Bibb – married George W. Thornhill
- Emma Bibb – married Professor H. H. Harris
- James T. Bibb
- Sarah Bibb – married Robert Williams
- F. Gillett Bibb – married George Willingham of South Carolina
John H. Bibb (1814–1888)
John H. Bibb, nephew of William A. Bibb, began his career as a clerk for the firm Valentine, Fry & Co. before launching his own successful business. He became the first Cashier of the Charlottesville Savings Bank and served on the Charlottesville Town Council.
John H. Bibb built the Bibb–Wolfe House, a brick residence on Ridge Street, around 1850. He later lived at "Branchland" (a property later owned by Major Bolton), and eventually acquired the large brick home on Jefferson Street formerly owned by John R. Jones.
He married Harriet Strother, daughter of French Strother of Culpeper County. Their children were:
- Helen Bibb – married William P. Louthan
- A. Pendleton Bibb
- Catharine Bibb – married Dr. William Du Bose, U.S. Navy
John H. Bibb died in 1888 and is buried in Maplewood Cemetery.
Bibb–Wolfe House
The Bibb–Wolfe House, located on Ridge Street, was built around 1850 by John H. Bibb. It is a contributing structure in the Ridge Street Historic District and remains a notable example of antebellum residential architecture in Charlottesville.
Legacy
The Bibbs were closely tied to Charlottesville’s early development—financially, commercially, and politically. Their roles in establishing early banks, serving on local government bodies, and shaping neighborhoods like Ridge Street marked them as an influential local family.
See also
- Farmers' Bank of Virginia
- Charlottesville Savings Bank
- Charlottesville Town Council
- Maplewood Cemetery
- Ridge Street Historic District
- Jefferson Street