MOORE, Robert (1819-1907)

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

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 3/16/2004 at 18:14:14

From Portrait and Biographical Album, Jefferson & Van Buren Counties, Pub. 1890, page 613.

ROBERT MOORE…..is a prominent pioneer settler of Round Prairie Township, dating his residence in Jefferson County from the spring of 1840. Two years previous he had located in Van Buren County. His home is now located on Sec. 17, and his post-office is Glasgow. Mr. Moore was born on the northern bank of the Ohio River in Dearborn County, Indiana, Jan. 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 City, Kansas. 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 Co., 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.

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. In 1841 he purchased 40 A. of unimproved land in Round Prairie Township. The same year he married Miss Sarah Stewart, dau. of Richard and Elizabeth (Cheney) Stewart, also pioneers of Round Prairie Township…..In 1850, he became infected with the gold fever, and crossed the plains to California. The trip was made with an ox-team, and 111 days were required to make the passage from the Missouri River to Cold Springs, Calif., 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…..

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 Pottawattomie 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, Kansas; 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’ George W., Robert, and John W. are deceased…..