This last year proved fruitful in making some progress in my research on this family line. After looking for about 8 years, I found the parents of my 2nd great-grandfather, George Washington Moore, born abt. 1839. He is the son of Isaac and Rosanna (?) Moore. According to census records, both were born in either South Carolina or Tennessee. The family, including George, is found in Pike Co., Illinois on the 1830, 1840, 1850, and 1860 censuses. He had 4 brothers and 3 sisters: James J., born 7 November 1818, who married Margaret Thomas; Mary Ann, born between 1822-1823, who married Benjamin Creech, then a man with the surname Dal(e)y; John H., who married Nancy Barrow; William Andrew Jackson, born between 1826-27, who married Sarah Thomas; Eliza A., born between 1830-35, who married Joseph Ancel Petty; Elizabeth Jane, born approximately 1831; and, Martin Van Buren, born 15 March 1834, who married Susan Rude.
George married Martha A. Wright May 1858 in Cass Co., Missouri. He (age 31) and Martha (age 31) are living in Clay Twp., Lafayette Co., Missouri during the 1870 federal census with children, Jane (Mary Jane), Emerella (Emma Ella), Henry (Richard Henry, my great grandfather), Lee (Ora Lee), and Fannie (Frances Ann). George is listed as a farmer and owns land worth $1,200. The family is living in Eldora Twp., Pike Co., Illinois during the 1860 census.
In ca. 1874, Martha died in Lexington, Lafayette Co., Missouri, and, according to family stories, her remains were buried near where the family lived in Pike Co., Illinois. I have found no record of either her death or burial.
On February 14, 1880, George married Lecretia Wilkinson in Lafayette Co., Missouri. By August that year, they sold land to Zachariah Wright, Martha's brother. The 1880 census shows them living in Lafayette Co., Missouri, with George's and Martha's children, Richard Henry, Orie Lee (Ora Lee), Frances Ann, and Stella who is 8. Also shown living with them is James Wilkerson as a boarder/laborer, Lucretia's brother. George indicates his age as 40 on this census. During the past year, I've had contact with Wilkinson descendants who place George and Lecretia in New Mexico. Lecretia later appears with a Thornton Reynolds in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas, in early 1900. According to the information I have received, she and George had at least two children, both sons: Thomas Arthur and James M. Both used the last name Reynolds throughout their lives.
Circa 1882, George leaves Lecretia, with my great grandfather, Richard Henry, for Arkansas or Indian Territory. I have not located them during the 1900 census, but George (age 70) is shown living with Richard in Hickman Twp., Scott Co., Arkansas, during the 1910 census. At about the same time, a family picture was taken. George is on the far left. Richard Henry is 3rd from the left.
George is also listed with the family on the 1920 census living in Blackfork, Scott Co., Arkansas. However, George's age is listed as 71 in this census. The only information regarding George's death comes from oral history and a small article in the Kiamichi Valley News dated January 15, 1926 which states: "Mr. Moore of the mill camp died December 25 and was buried at the Fewell Cemetery." No death certificate has been located and the grave is unmarked.
Richard Henry Moore, George's eldest son and my great grandfather, was born October 14, 1861, most probably in Illinois. He married Susannah Matilda Sharp on May 6, 1893 in Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. Richard and Susannah had 10 children, six surviving to adulthood. Though I have found no records, oral history indicates that both Richard and George worked for the railroad, travelling to Colorado and New Mexico or Arizona, during the late 1800s to early 1900s, but always returning to Arkansas or Indian Territory. Susannah and the children travelled with them and she would hire on as a cook at each place where the men worked. At least three of the children died during these periods, one in Colorado and the others in New Mexico. Richard also farmed and worked the lumber camps. He died July 30, 1927 in LeFlore Co., Oklahoma.
Richard's and Susannah's eldest daughter, Lucy Moore, my grandmother and the remaining living child, passed away July 12, 2001.
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