MOORE, A.H., Dr. 1818-1895

MOORE, GASTON, GAREY, ROSE, NIXON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/25/2011 at 21:58:27

Dr. A. H. Moore

#1:

IN MEMORIAM

Death of Dr. A.H. Moore

He was a Pioneer in this County.

Dr. Alexander H. Moore departed this life at his home in Osage, Iowa, on June 25, 1895, surrounded by a loving family and other relatives and friends. Like other pioneer settlers, he may be said to have lived many lives.

He was born near Pittsburgh, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1818, the son of James and Ellen Gaston Moore who were the parents of nine children. Alexander graduated from Jefferson College at Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1836. After that he went to Guernsey county, Ohio, where for several years he engaged in teaching school, and many of his pupils still living in that community hold him and his instruction in grateful remembrance.

In Columbiana county he pursued a course in medicine with Dr. Saunders Hastings an eminent physician of that time. In 1844, he went to Mottville, St. Joseph county, Michigan, and commenced the practice of his profession. Soon after he entered the Indiana Medical College at La Porte, Indiana, from which he was graduated with the degree of doctor of medicine.

In 1846 he was united in marriage with miss Sarah E. Nixon, of Michigan, who after nearly hald a century of married life still survives to mourn his death. They had five children, three of whom are still living: Francis is a leading physician in Oklahoma; Mrs. Alice E. Garey, a successful artist in Chicago; and Cora L. is the wife of A.C. Rose, editor of the News in this city.

While a resident of Michigan, Dr. Moore was honored with a term in the legislature and with other positions of trust and confidence; he was also successful in business and secured a large practice.

Such a record and such a business would have satisfied most men. It was not so with Dr. Moore. It has been so with millions of other pioneer settlers. Ask them why they left good paying positions and walked away from home and friends to live in new countries and undergo the inconvenience and hardship of pioneer life and they cannot tell you. Aspiration is life's motive power and execution opens the flood gate of development. We grow by pulling ourselves up. God has done his part by giving incentives, powers and possibilies, but leaves their development to us.

I shall now speak of Dr. Moore as a judge and one of the builders of this beautiful city, rich county and magnificent state. At the first election held in this county, on the 7th day of August, 1854, at Dr. Moore's house, he was elected county judge. That office gave him much power and corresponding responsibility, as the county judge at that time possessed all the powers of our supervisors now, in addition to the others belonging to that office. It will not do to say that the men of this county in those days were inferior because it was a new country, and therefore Judge Moore had but little competition.

I have never known as many able men for the number and I shall not take credit from any one else in order to give Judge Moore undue prominence. The leading issue during his term of office was the county seat removal from Mitchell to Osage.

. . . as Sabbath school superintendent, and many years as deacon. In all of these positions he did what he could to promote the interests of the church. While intensely loyal to his own denomination, he was catholic in his views and felt a deep interest in the work of all the churches. The pastors of the church always found a hearty welcome in his home, Mr. Douglass and wife boarded with him some weeks after entering upon their work in this community.

Wheb the evening of life drew on and Dr. Moore lived much in the past, he delighted to talk about his work in the church rather than his work as a physician or public officer. To him religion was a reality and he had a bright hope for the future. His last sabbath on earth was one of quiet enjoyment. He read a good deal and talked more than usual about the past. He retired at an early hour in his usual health, apparently, but his race was finished and the end was at hand.

W.W. Gist

[From a clipping in the Osage Public Library]

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#2:

Dr. A.H. Moore passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 1895, at hald past twelve o'clock in the afternoon, aged 76 years, 7 months, and 17 days. He had been in feeble health for two or three years and at two different times quite seriously ill; and his friends were compelled to admit to themselves at least that his years were about numbered. Yet the end came so suddenly as to be a surprise even to them.

He had been down street on Friday and Saturday and was about as well as usual until Sunday evening when he was taken suddenly and fatally ill. As stated heretofore, after Monday noon he lay in an unconscious state nearly all the time, rousing up only once or twice so as to recognize members of his family about him.

He had lived to a ripe old age, had his business affairs all in order, and was ready and waiting to answer the final summons. The funeral services were held at the Congregational church on Thursday afternoon -- his pastor, Rev. W. W. Gist, D.D., preaching the sermon and Rev. E. J. Lockwood, of the Methodist church participating in the exercizes. The pall-bearers were selected from the physicians of the county, most of whom had been his long-time friends.

(Author unknown but may have been A.K. Eaton)

[From a clipping in the Osage Public Library]