The Vandiver/Vandevier name often gets spelled in various ways, however this is believed to be the correct spelling, if there is such a thing as a correct spelling. The name is pronounced Van Diver, Van Dever, Van De Ver, and probably some other ways.
Enoch Vandiver was born ca. 1892 in S.C. His father is believed to have been William.
He married Nancy Bates, who was bron ca. 1805 in S.C. Her parents were Stephen and Sarah (Cox) Bates.
Their Children were: Sanford, Levi, Sarah, Martha M., Elizabeth, Margaret, George, Rhoda, William S., Elenor "Linnie", Malinda.
Sandford Vandiver was born March 30 1821, in S.C. He married Julyan Dobbs on Oct. 12, 1843 in Cherokee Co. GA. He died Oct. 19, 1907 in Garland Co., AR. He is buried at Peak Cemetery, Garland Co., AR.
Julyan Dobbs (also seen as Juliann, Julia Ann) Her parents are unknown at this time. She was born around 1820, and died after 1880 and is probably buried in Montgomery County, Arkansas.
Children of Sanford & Julyan were:
Wm. Stephen
Sarah "Sally" Caroline
Nancy
Enoch Mormon
George Washington
George Washington Vandevier was the son of Sanford and Elizabeth (Liles) Vandevier. He was born somewhere in Georgia on January 5, 1859. He was in Polk County, Arkansas by 1878, when on Sept. 4, he married his first wife, Martha Jane George Ann Nancy Elizabeth Liles. (One has to think this family was afraid of making some grandparent mad by not naming the child after her, as they gave her enough names to last a few lifetimes. ) The couple were married in Montgomery County, and their license is on file there in Bk A Pg 453. She was 16 and he 18. (Note another source has the marriage date as 12 Sept. 1878, so one should look at the actual record to be certain. Someone may have picked up the date it was obtained, or filed for record, rather than the actual marriage date.)
Georgeanna, as she was called, was the daughter of George and Salina (Whisenant) Liles. She was born February 18, 1861 or 1862, and died in 1914. She is buried in the Barnes Cemetery, Abbott, AR. She died in Sebastian Co.
Children of George & Georgeanna Vandevier were:
Nancy Julia (b. 8/15/1880 Big Fork, Polk Co., AR) married Felix Z. Davis Dec. 18, 1898, Polk Co., AR. She died Dec. 18, 1949
Fannie (b. 4/3/1883 in Arkansas) married George Lewis,
Millie (b. ca 1885 in Arkansas) married Andy Lewis May 4, 1906, Polk Co., AR
Lydia (b. ? in Arkansas) married John Thomas Davis, Aug. 6, 1905, Polk Co., AR, She died August 1921
Mathew (b. 12/3/1892 Ark) never married, and died in 1947 and most likely buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Big Fork, AR
Mark (nothing much known of Mark)
Dovie (b. ca 1894 Arkansas) married at Sims, Montgomery Co., AR to Frank Baker July 11, 1918 Bk G, Pg 143
Mae (she died young and is buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Big Fork)
Josie (not much known about Josie)
Oma (b. 8/25/1903 Polk Co. Ar) married Fred Philpot
This story of the Georgia Caravan is told in The Mena Star, Aug. 14, 1930, by Mrs. B.F. Barron, the daughter of Rhoda Vandiver, who married James Henry Van Horn
MOTHER RELATES STORY OF ARKANSAS CARAVAN
Mrs. B.F. Barron, whose mother was Rhoda Vandiver, and a little girl of five when the Bates, Abernathys, Vandivers, Edwards, Etc. came from George to Polk County in 1842 (I think this should be 1852), lives at the new bridge over he Ouachita, at Acorn. According to Mrs. Barron, whose mother told her of the great caravan, there were more than 60 families when they were at thier largest. It seems that on the start families were picked up along the way and after arriving in the state different ones stopped along the way as they were impressed with the country as a suitable place for a home. A great many had stopped before they reached Mt. Ida. They brought their preachers, doctors, teachers, pigs, cows, chickens, in fact, evrything needful in a new country.
Her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Vanhorn, lived at Sulphur Springs, between Alf and Big Fork. They had seven children, all still living. Mrs. Barron was born in 1868, and married in in 1887. Mr. Barron died a year ago. They have seven children. One of her sons is at Magnolia A & M and has made a name for himself as a debater.
When the caravan arrived at Mt. Ida they had an all-night celebration, shooting anvils and employing other means of demonstration. He mother often told bedtime stories of those times to her children. She also told many Bible stories, and Mrs. Barron is now telling them to a class of Sunday school children at Acorn. In the old day they sold butter, hams, etc. at Hot Springs and had plenty of money. And they lived at home on the fat of the land.