MOORE, Robert Jr. - 1890 Bio (1819-1907)

MOORE, POWELL, MORRIS, STEWART, CHENEY, JOHNSON, DOWD, GREGG, HOGATE, WADKINS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/18/2007 at 21:05:57

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 613-614

Robert MOORE, the subject of this sketch, is a prominent pioneer settler of Round Prairie Township, dating his residence in Jefferson County from the spring of 1840. However, two years previous he had located in Van Buren County, and may therefore be called a pioneer of fifty-two years standing. His home is now located on section 17, and his post-office is Glasgow. He was once extensively engaged in farming, but has now practically retired, but we will speak more fully of his business interests later on.

Mr. MOORE was born on the northern bank of the Ohio River in Dearborn County, Ind., January 4, 1819, and is the fifth child of Robert and Elizabeth (POWELL) MOORE. His father was a native of Ireland, but when a lad of eight summers, crossed the broad Atlantic with his parents to America, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and was married. The lady of his choice was a native of Washington, Pa., and by their union were born ten children, but only three are now living, the eldest of whom is Robert, the subject of this notice; George, the second brother, is a merchant of Bentonsport, Iowa; and Rachel is now Mrs. MORRIS, of Pawnee County, Kan. As before stated, Robert MOORE, Sr., was married in Pennsylvania, but shortly afterward he became a resident of Ohio, and later made his home in Indiana. In 1838, he removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. The death of Mrs. MOORE occurred in 1860, and three years later he was laid by her side in the cemetery of Bentonsport. They were highly respected by all who knew them, and many friends mourned their loss.

Robert MOORE, Jr., reached the age of maturity soon after the family settled in Iowa, at which time he began learning the carpenter's trade. This business he followed until he was enabled to make the purchase of forty acres of unimproved land in Round Prairie Township, becoming owner of that tract in 1841. The same year he married Miss Sarah STEWART, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (CHENEY) STEWART, who were also pioneers of Round Prairie Township. With a thrifty helpmate to supplement the undaunted activity and energy characteristic of his own nature, Mr. MOORE began to lay the foundation of his home and fortune, and by hard work and economy he was enabled to make many improvements upon his farm, and add to his original purchase an additional forty acres prior to the year 1850, at which time he became infected with the gold fever, and crossed the plains to California. The trip was made with an ox-team, and one hundred and eleven days were required to make the passage from the Missouri River to Cold Springs, Cal., near where he was successfully engaged in mining about two years. Not wishing to again brave the dangers, the trials and hardships of a trip across the country, he returned to his home by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City. In 1860, he again made a trip to the fields of gold, but this time his destination was Pike's Peak, Colo., and a few months sufficed to convince him that it would be more profitable for him to devote himself to his business interests in Iowa, than to seek for gold where none was to be found. A third time, in 1862, he again traveled Westward, visiting Oregon and Idaho. His travels were not only a success when considered from a financial standpoint, but proved of a highly interesting and instructive character. By his intercourse with the different people with whom he came in contact, he gained a knowledge of the world, not given in text books, and saw many sights and encountered many interesting experiences which make his conversation regarding his travels of pleasing interest to his hearers. His pioneer experiences in this and Van Buren Counties, are also worthy of mention. The hardships and privations incident to frontier life, were not unknown to the family, neither were its peculiar pleasures and enjoyments. A people separated from friends, and with little means of communication at their command, make for themselves pleasures, and promote sociability such as is not found in any other community. At the time of his settlement in the neighborhood, Iowa did not contain as many inhabitants as are now found in some of her cities, the population was widely scattered, and the work of progress and advancement seemed scarcely begun. Mr. MOORE was present at the first land sale held in the Territory. One incident in his early life in Iowa is worthy of mention. While living in Van Buren County, he started on a trip to the mouth of the Des Moines River for some goods that had been shipped to that point. On reaching Lexington, he was asked to take charge of a box which was to be conveyed down the river. He consented and undertook the mission, but there appeared to be something mysterious connected with the affair, and in course of time it was discovered that the box contained the bones of the Indian chief, Black Hawk which had been stolen by one Dr. Turner and John Synord, who took them to St. Louis, where they expected to realize a handsome sum from them. Failing to realize on them as expected, Dr. Turner brought the bones back to Quincy, Ill., after which they were returned to the chief's family.

Mr. and Mrs. MOORE hold membership in the Free Methodist Church of Mt. Zion. They are the parents of ten children, but four have been called home: William, who married Miss Elizabeth JOHNSON, is living in Pottawatomie (sic) County, Iowa; Ellen is now deceased; Margaret A. is the wife of Alex DOWD, of Nebraska; Frances is the wife of Albert GREGG, of Republic County, Kan.; Annie wedded Judson HOGATE, of the same county; Emma J. is now Mrs. Stephen WADKINS, and her home is on the old farm; Etta J. is still with her parents; Geroge W., Robert and John W. are deceased.

In his political views, Mr. MOORE is a Republican, and is accounted one of the leading and valued citizens of the community. On his return from his third trip in the West, he settled down to active farm life, and during a few years following added many improvements, and extended the boundaries of his farm until he now owns two hundred acres. His home is a commodious and pleasant dwelling, good barns and outbuildings are provided for the care of the stock and grain, the fences are all in repair, and everything pertaining to a well arranged farm is there seen. Mr. MOORE has now laid aside many of his business interests, devoting his attention solely to keeping his farm in repair, and to the raising of fine stock. He has been especially successful in the latter branch of his business, and has raised some of the finest horses in the county, including a team of Norman mares which were probably the best ever raised in Southeastern Iowa. His property and wealth are the result of his own efforts and he not only now has a comfortable income, but has aquired sufficient capital to enable him to lay aside the more arduous duties of life, and spends his time in the enjoyment of the fruits of former toil.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.