Johann Christian Bible was born Jan. 7, 1752 in Pennsylvania. The birth date is recorded in the New Hanover Lutheran Church record book of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. This record also indicates he was baptised February 9, 1752, sponsored by Christian Kurtz and Elizabeth Borchart and his parents are listed as Adam and Eva Margaretha Biebel. Hans Adam Bieble emigrated from Goersdorf, Alsace, Germany aboard the ship Sandwich landing in Pennsylvania Nov. 30, 1750.
Christian married Catharine Folman in Shenandoah, Va. in 1775.
1782-1784 Christian was living in Hampshire County, Virginia (Virginia State Census). In 1782 there were 6 white souls in Christian's household and in 1784 there were 7. However, according to The Coffelt History Notebook, the 1784 census shows Christian with 7 people, 1 dwelling and 3 slaves.
In 1786, Christian was apparently in Hardy Co., VA as the Land tax list shows him with 103 acres. He also appears on the tax lists for Hardy Co. in 1787 and 1788.
Christian and Catharine had 6 children in Virginia. Catharine Bible died in 1787 and Christian married Margareth (Peggy) Spaegle. They moved their family to Greene Co., TN in the early 1790's. A Conestoga wagon that maybe similar to what they used during this migration is now on display at the DAVY CROCKET TAVERN, in Morristown, TN.
In 1791 and 1792 Christian was living in Greene Co., TN in Captain Walker's Company and owned 100 acres of land (Greene Co., TN tax list). Christian and Margareth had 6 children the first 3 were born in Virginia and the last 3 in Tennessee.
On August 15, 1795 Christian was ordered to serve with others to lay off a road running from Warrens Mill on Little Chuckey to Greenville via John Biggs plantation. On November 16, 1796 Christian purchased 152 acres of land located on Little Chuckey Creek from John Wilson. This deed indicated that Christian was already a resident of Greene County.
Christian built this covered bridge in the 1800's. It is still standing although it needs repair. (See sign for Bridge)
His homestead was located across the Little Chuckey River from the covered bridge linking the Warrensburg Hwy. with Denver Bible's Farm. (See a Train Depot at Chuckey, TN) Denver apparently owns part of Christian's old homestead(1986).
Christian wrote his will on July 13, 1824 and it probated in Greene County, Tennessee on October 22, 1833. The inventory of his estate was recorded on January 28, 1833. Christian and Margareth are buried in the Gum Springs cemetery located down the Warrensburg Highway from Christian's homestead.
Compiled by Angie Collier July 2, 2002
Sources included: Pennsylvania German Church Records, Vol. II, Page 157, Genealogical Publishing Co., Virginia State Census, Greene County, Tennessee Genealogical Society, "Pioneer," Volume 5, Number 1, Page 8, February 1989, http://www.angelfire.com/biz6/dciris/jacbible.html, World Connect at Rootsweb.com, and https://sites.rootsweb.com/~bible/.
