Josiah Pugh Wilbarger was born in Rockingham County, Virginia on 10 January 1801.  He came to Texas in 1827 and joined Stephen F. Austin’s second colony.  His grant of land was on the Colorado River between Austin and Bastrop.  There he built a fort for the safety of his family and the settlers around.  In times of expected attack from the Indians, the settlers all came to the fort for safety and protection.

Josiah married Margaret Baker on the 9 August 1827.  She was born in Missouri abut 1810 and died in 1899 in Bastrop, Texas.  Josiah was scalped at the hands of the Indians at the early age of 33 years while serving in the capacity of a surveyor.  He lived until he was 44.  He died on the 11 April 1845 in Bastrop, Texas.  He was an influential, useful citizen of Stephen F. Austin’s second colony.  His oldest son, John Lemm Wilbarger, was killed by the Indians in Nueces County in 1847 while serving as a Ranger.

Marianne Muse Beard, Descendant