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Jacob MOORE, farmer and stock dealer, of Section 15, Peirce Township, Lawrence Co., Mo., was born in Jackson Township, Fayette Co., Ind., September 25, 1819, and is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the county. He is the son of Daniel MOORE, who died when Jacob was quite young, as did also his mother, whom Jacob remembers very little about. Jacob grew to manhood in his native country, and started out to prospect for himself through the Western country. In 1836 he settled in Henry County, Iowa, laid a claim on 1,000 acres in that fertile State, and made a leading place for himself in the farming and stock-raising interests of Henry County. While living in that county he married Miss Sarah COLE, daughter of Solomon COLE, of Dearborn County, Ind. To this marriage were born one son and two daughters: Jennie (wife of Dr. Samuel COOK, quite a prominent physician of Sigourney, Iowa), William A. (in the lightning-rod
business) and Ella (wife of Charles SILVERWOOD, farmer). Mr. Moore is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the
Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Moore has always taken an active interest in the Grange movement in Iowa. In 1881 he moved to Lawrence County, Mo. He has met with many financial losses by shrinkage; and following this, in 1873, he had thought of recuperating his finances by his mill on the Des Moines River, at Vernon, Iowa, but that became a total loss by ice freezing around and destroying it.
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J. T. MOORE is a member of the mining firm of MOORE & SUTTON of Aurora, Mo. He is a Bedford County Tennessean, and was born June 29, 1861, being a son of James H. and Martha A. (PHILLIPS) MOORE, who were also Tennesseans. James MOORE, the paternal grandfather, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States at an early day, locating in North Carolina, where he was married. He died in Tennessee, whither he had immigrated at an early day. He was a farmer. James H. MOORE grew to manhood in his native State, and was a prosperous merchant. He died in Marionville, Lawrence, Co., Mo. In 1883, whither he had come to make his home with his son J. T. Moore. He was a stanch Republican politically. His widow is still living. They were the parents of seven children, three now living: John T., Mary A. (wife of Thomas J. LILES), and Lewis. J. T. Moore worked in his father's mercantile establishment in his boyhood days, and received a liberal education. At the age of sixteen year he left home and went to Texas, where he was engaged in the hardware business for one year. After spending some time in New Mexico, Arizona next became the
field of his labors, and here he spent two years in mining gold, silver and copper. In 1881 he came to Lawrence County, Mo., where he has since resided. He was engaged in the mercantile and livery business for some time in Aurora, and in 1886 leased a mine which has proved to be a success, financially. He is in partnership with a Mr. SUTTON, and they employ from twenty-five to sixty men: from August 1 to January 1, they shipped 50,000 pounds of lead and 20,000 pounds of lead ore per week. Mr. Moore was married in 1883 to Henrietta ROBERTS, of Missouri, and two children, Ross and Thomas, have blessed their union. He is a member of the K. of L., and is a stanch Republican in his political views.
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John W. MOORE is of English descent, and the son of John and Elizabeth (WILLIAMS) MOORE, who were the parents of ten children: Greenville, Roadhame, Elizabeth, John W., Alfred, Ann, Gullihue, Cynthia A., Luetsey and George. John Moore was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died at the comparatively early age of forty. After his death his widow married B. B. BLACKBURN, a school-teacher, and by him had five children: Paulina, Roselva, Melvina, Xem. and Hugh. John W. Moore was born on his father's farm in East Tennessee in 1815, was reared a farmer and came to Lawrence County in 1838, at the age of twenty-three years. He rode horseback 800 miles, coming alone to Springfield, Mo. His uncle, John WILLIAMS, was the first settler on Spring or Williams River, and from him the river is probably named, he having settled here as early as 1831. Mr. Moore went directly to his uncle's house, and soon after purchased a claim, which is now his present farm. He built a log cabin, cleared the land, and in 1839
raised a crop. A year later he married Miss Harriett R. LEBOW, daughter of Jacob and Louisa (HENDERSON) LEBOW. The Lebows were from East Tennessee, and settled in Mount Vernon Township in 1838. Among the first settlers were Samuel WILLIAMS from Tennessee, Jesse DUNCAN, Jesse WILLIAMSON from North Missouri, Alfred MOORE from Arkansas, John PATTEN from Tennessee, and Boland BAW, from Virginia. The following settlers were on Spring River: James GUTHRIE from Virginia, William ORR from Ohio, formerly from Ireland. Game was abundant, and the old settlers obtained their meat the first season from this source. Here the old settlers lived in plenty and comfort. The women spun and wove the cloth and made all the clothing for the family. The old settlers were nearly all church members, and were either connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian or the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were the parents of twelve children: Xem, G.B., Jacob G., Louisa, John W., George, Tenn, Martha, Albert, Logan, Missouri and William G. Mr. Moore has always been a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Previous to the war Mr. Moore was an extensive stock breeder, and mentions an instance of
raising thirteen colts from seventeen brood mares two successive seasons. Mr. Moore also traded in cattle and horses, and at that time was about the largest stock dealer in the county, and one of the wealthiest men. During the war most of his stock was taken from him by the rebel and Union soldiers, and his house was robbed of clothing and other property by the bushwhackers. His son, G. B. Moore, now a county judge, served three years in the Union army, and another son, Jacob G., served in the Home Guards. The most of the children are settled around the old homestead. Mr. Moore has given each of his children a start in the world in the shape of land and money--about $800 each. Mr. Moore is now about seventy-four years of age, and retains his memory and mental faculties to a remarkable degree. His temperate life enables him to enjoy good health in his old age. Mrs. Moore is sixty-six years of age, and is strong in mind and body. They represent a type of life which is now rapidly passing away. Mr. Moore has never used any tobacco or whiskey, and has always been hard-working and industrious. He is a man of high character, and has been an elder in his church since 1847. Mr. and Mrs. More have nine children living, sixty
grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren--eighty-one descendants in
all. Mr. Moore's record as one of the oldest and most respected pioneers of Lawrence County will always be regarded with interest and respect by all his descendants, and his example of an upright and respected life should be emulated by all. Mr. Moore planted his first crop of corn in 1839, and has since that time used the seed from this crop. The corn is large and white, and has taken the first premium at the Agricultural Fair since the first fair held in the county. During the war Mrs. Moore placed two bee-hives in the garret to keep them from the soldiers, and one of the swarms of bees is still making honey in their garret home.
[Errors in the text above noted by Ross J Cameron include: The children of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Moore were: Granville, Rodeham, Elizabeth, John Williams, Alfred C., Cynthia Ann, Gollahugh H., Luetsey, and George W. The daughter, Ann, mentioned above has not been identified. The children of B. B. Blackburn and Elizabeth (Williams) Moore were: Paulina, Roselba May, Malvina C., Xemeria, and Hugh M. The children of John Williams and Harriet Rachel (Lebow) Moore were: Ximera Malvina, Gallahugh Blackburn, Louisa Elizabeth, Jacob Greenfield, John Williams Jr., Mary Ann Tennessee, Martha Louise, George Marion, James Logan, Albert Alcer, Missouri, and William Grant. Louisa Elizabeth and Missouri died in childhood. George died in 1885. Early settlers names should be John Patton and Archibald Bolling Baugh, two other ancestors of mine. I corrected the spelling of whisky to whiskey and charaeter to character, above.]
From Ross Cameron: Pardon my "jumping" in here with more complete names on the John Williams Moore and Gallahugh Blackburn Moore families. I will also add the John and Elizabeth (Williams) Moore children since others or their descendants also came to Lawrence County. The Association for the Descendants of Rodeham and Elizabeth (Gallahue) Moore [John's parents and John Williams Moore's grandparents] is this weekend in Mount Airy, NC, the highlight of which will be a visit to Rodeham's grave. Rodey's widow, Elizabeth died and is buried in Mooresburg, Tenn. Might as well start with Rodey, but just the direct line to Gallahugh and John Williams Moore's siblings who came to Lawrence County: