George E. Moore

MOORE, BAGBY, LILLARD

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/4/2011 at 20:19:43

George E. Moore, actively engaged in general farming and stock raising on section 1, High Lake township, Emmet county, is a native of Schuyler county, Illinois. He was born May 24, 1866, of the marriage of William and Frances (Bagby) Moore, who were natives of Ohio and Kentucky respectively, the latter being a descendant of Daniel Boone. William Moore became a resident of Illinois when a lad of but twelve years and took up his abode upon a farm in Schuyler county, where his remaining days were passed. There he was for many years actively connected with agricultural pursuits. His widow survives and is now living in Estherville at the age of seventy-six years.

In their family were three children: George E.; Homer O., now a resident of Schuyler county, Illinois; and Maggie M., the wife of J. A. Dunham. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Ireland, for it was in that country that the grandfather of George E. Moore was born in 1800. He came to America in 1819, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel which was six weeks in making the trip. He afterward took up his abode upon a farm in Carroll county, Ohio, and subsequently removed to Schuyler county, Illinois, where he built a log cabin covered with a clapboard roof, while at one end of the building was a mud and stick chimney, the floor being of earth. He lived in that primitive home for about twenty ears, but as he prospered in his undertaking added modern improvements to his farm, erecting good buildings and become one of the substantial agriculturists of his district. He died in the year 1882 and his wife also passed away in Schuyler county.

George E. Moore was reared and educated in Illinois, attending the common schools. During the summer months he worked in the fields and remained upon his father's farm until his marriage, which was celebrated in 1888, Miss Josephine Lillard becoming his wife. She was born in Christina county, Illinois, a daughter of Perry and Nancy J. (Finley) Lillard, who were also native of that state. The father in now a resident of Kansas, but the mother passed away in 1896. In their family were five children of whom four are yet living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Moore has been blessed with two children: Raymond M., who is a graduate of Dubuque College at Dubuque, Iowa; and Ruby A., who is now attending college in Aurora, Illinois.

It was in the spring of 1892 that Mr. Moore came with his family to Iowa, settling in Emmet county. He took up his abode upon the farm on which he now resides, in High Lake township. He is today one the extensive landowners of the county, having seven hundred and seventy acres of highly improved and valuable land, which he has converted into a very productive farm. He makes a specialty of dairying, having a fine herd of Holstein cattle, and he is also extensively engaged in the raising of Hampshire hogs, having over four hundred head upon his place at the present time. He is an excellent judge of stock, seldom, if ever at fault in estimating the value of an animal, and his livestock interests have long constituted an important branch of his business, adding much to his prosperity. He is a most progressive, energetic man, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He is now president of the Wallingford Creamery Company and also president of the Farmers Telephone Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and guide their live according to its teachings. His political support is given to the democratic party and he is a stalwart advocated of its principles but is not an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, which have been capably and wisely directed, making him one of the most substantial and prosperous farmers of Emmet county.

Contributed by: Dan Dunham, great-nephew of George Moore. Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917, V. 2, pages 443-444.