Source: HISTORY OF THE PAN-HANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA 1879
Page 358

     JOSEPH COLBEN This gentleman settled on King's Creek, Brooke county, VA. About the year 1776. He and his wife started one day to visit a neighbor, she on horse-back, carrying a child in her arms, he on foot. On their way they were fired on by a party of Indians. Mrs. Colben received a ball through her arm above the elbow, which passed through the child's clothes and through the mother's wrist. Both mother and child fell from the horse, and Mr. Colben, supposing them dead, mounted the horse and fled, the Indians endeavoring to seize him as he started. He soon reached a party of settlers who went in pursuit of the Indians, without overtaking them. Returning to the scene of the tragedy, they found Mrs. Colben scalped but still breathing. She soon expired. The child had been dashed against a tree, and was dead. Peace being made some years after, the Indians frequently made friendly visits among the whites. One day a party of them called on Mr. Colben, who still lived on Kings Creek, for a dinner, which he gave them. Before leaving, one of the Indians told Mr. Colben that he was the one who shot and killed and scalped his wife. Mr. Colben's feelings can be better imagined then described, but being alone and helpless, he had of course to let the villains go unpunished.