William Kibbe was born June
3, 1813, in Minehead, Vermont and moved with his parents to the Bayou Teche area in Louisiana.
In 1834 he went to Texas and served with Capt. William M. Logan's company, participating
in the battle of San Jacinto in 1836. In this battle he had a horse shot from under him. He was
pinned by the fallen horse, and discovered by advancing Mexican troops. After deliberating
for a few minutes, the Mexican soldiers decided not to kill him due to what they thought was
his old age. In fact William was 23, and was spared because his long white hair and beard
fooled the soliers into thinking he was older. In recognition of his service he was granted about
a thousand acres of Texas lands near Conroe in 1838. He married Louisa Salana Campell in Vermillion
parish, Louisiana in September of 1837. She was born December 31, 1817 and died January 8, 1844. Her
grave is in the old community, Rice Cove, near Abbeville, La. Soon after the death of Louisa, William
married her sister, Keziah Campbell. William became a judge in Louisiana, and was called "Judge Kibbe"
for the rest of his life. He died in Iberville Parish in 1874, and is buried in Abbeville, La.
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