John George Moore

AXE, MOORE, PEED, REINERT

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/21/2004 at 09:00:33

John G. Moore, Jr., is living retired upon his farm in Douglas township, this county. He was born in 1849, in Monroe county, New York, a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Axe) Moore, both of whom were born near Bremen, Germany, the father in 1825 and the mother in 1830. Following his marriage, in early life, John G. Moore, Sr., came to the United States, settling in Monroe county, New York. He bought land near a thriving town and devoted his life to truck gardening. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States and cast in his interests with those of his adopted country.

John G. Moore, Jr., was the second child in a family of five and acquired his education by attending the district schools of his native county. When a youth of eighteen years he left home and went to Henderson county, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand for a short time. In 1868 he removed to Madison county, Iowa, and entered the employ of Joe Graham, breaking land and doing other things as well. In 1871 he began farming for himself and has since followed that occupation, save for the years 1896 and 1897, which were spent on a horse ranch in Dallas county this state. At one time he went to Nebraska but conditions were unusually bad and he did not remain long. It was necessary, among other discouragements, to haul wood thirty-six miles. He has carried on general farming on his land in Douglas township, this county, and under his able management his eighty acres have yielded him a good annual income. In addition to cultivating the usual crops he raises a good grade of Poland China and Duroc Jersey hogs. Since 1904 he has to a large extent lived retired.

In 1871 Mr. Moore married Miss Nancy J. Peed, who was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, the eldest in a family of three children. While she was still a child her parents removed to this county and she went to school in the first schoolhouse built in Douglas township. Before that time she attended school held in the homes of the settlers. She witnessed the events of the early days in the history of the settlement of this county and has lived to see a change that is little short of miraculous. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore was born a daughter, Katie M., whose natal day was the 25th of September, 1872. She gave her hand in marriage to George H. Reinert, who was at one time editor of the Star Journal at Ainsworth, Nebraska, but who is now operating a cattle ranch in Brown county, that state. Mrs. Reinert passed away in 1899, leaving two children: Leo M., born in July, 1894, and George B., born April 15, 1899. Both have made their home with our subject and his wife since the death of Mrs. Reinert. George B. Reinert is now a high-school student at Dexter. Mrs. Moore has always taken a great interest in church work and her daily life is the expression of her religious faith.

Mr. Moore has supported the republican party since attaining his majority and has served upon the school board, doing much in that capacity for the good of the local public schools. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and during the many years that he has resided in this county he has made a host of friends, who honor him for his manly qualities of character.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”