Robert Murray Moore

BARR, BUCHANAN, MOORE, WATSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/13/2005 at 21:21:59

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

Among the up-to-date and energetic agriculturists of Penn township is R. Murray Moore, who is a native of Illinois, born November 26, 1857. His parents, Joseph W. and Hannah A. (Buchanan) Moore, were both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and became residents of Illinois at an early day in the history of that state. The father farmed there until 1866, when he removed with his family to Boone county, Iowa, Nine years later he left that county and came to Madison county, where he purchased land in Jackson township. He operated that place until 1892, when the property came into the possession of our subject and the father moved to Penn township, where he farmed for a few years. At the end of that time he and his wife retired and resided at Dexter, Dallas county, until the latter's demise, which occurred on the 15th of September, 1907. Since that time the father has made his home among his children.

R. Murray Moore was reared in Boone and Madison counties and there attended the public schools, supplementing his education so acquired by study in a business college at Des Moines. When twenty-three years of age he rented land which he operated for a number of years. He then purchased a quarter section in Adair county, Iowa, which he cultivated in partnership with his brother-in-law for four years. During that time, however, he bought seventy acres more just across the line in Madison county and at the end of the four years he sold out and purchased the homestead in Jackson township, this county, which he farmed for seven years. Upon selling that property he went to Adair county again and there purchased an eighty acre tract of land. A year later he traded for one hundred and twenty acres in the same county, which he operated for four years. He next sold that farm and returned to Jackson township, Madison county, buying the old Niblo place, comprising a quarter section. Four years later he sold out and purchased two hundred and twenty-five acres in Penn and Madison townships. Some time later he disposed of the twenty-five acres lying in Madison township but still owns and operates the two hundred acres on section 13, Penn township. He has one of the finest places in the county and has taken advantage of all of the inventions which promise to make the work of thefarmer more efficient and his life richer and fuller. His residence is thoroughly modern and supplied with conveniences that are often associated only with city life. His energy and progressive spirit are salient factors in the success which has rewarded his labor and his example is one that might well be followed by others.

In December, 1893, Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Barr, a daughter of Joseph and Eliza A. (Watson) Barr, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. The father farmed in the Buckeye state until 1875, when he removed to this county. He continued to devote his time to agricultural pursuits after his removal here and was so engaged until his demise, which occurred in February, 1884. His widow passed away on the 16th of December, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have two children: Joseph Ross, a youth of eighteen, who is attending Earlham Academy; and James Guy, fifteen years of age, also a student in that institution.
Mr. Moore is a republican but has no political aspirations, his private interests demanding his entire time. He is much interested in the work of the Presbyterian church, to which he belongs, and contributes to its support. In addition to the cultivation of the soil he raises and feeds quite a number of cattle annually and finds that phase of his business profitable. He has contributed not a little to the agricultural development of his community and has at the same time gained gratifying material prosperity for himself.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen