The Moore Families of Guthrie County, Iowa

WILLIAM FRANKLIN MOORE.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Moore, who came from Ohio to Iowa in the spring of 1850, settling in Dallas county, where he remained for a year. He then came to Guthrie county and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 27, Jackson township. It was just as it came from the hand of nature, being entirely destitute of improvements or evidence of civilization. Jesse Moore began the development and cultivation of the farm, which he transformed into a productive property, making his home thereon until about a year prior to his death, when he sold out to his son John.

William B. Moore, father of our subject, was born while his parents were living in Dallas county and now makes his home in Jackson township, Guthrie county, at the age of fifty-six years. He was reared to the occupation of farming and has always followed that pursuit as a life work. In addition to tilling the soil he raises horses and cattle and is a successful man, alert and enterprising in business and carrying forward to a successful termination whatever he undertakes. He lives in a handsome farm residence, which is typical of his spirit and energy and which is a monument to his well-directed labor. His political support is given the republican party and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. He married Wealthy Jane Ellis, who is now fifty years of age. Her parents were Hiram and Mahala Ellis, pioneer settlers of Guthrie county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore were born ten children, of whom two have passed away, while those still living are: William Franklin; Llewellyn, who is a merchant of Guthrie; Perry E., who is a fruit-grower in Colorado; John K., who follows farming in this county; Grace, who is the wife of Frank Short, a farmer living west of Stuart; Vernie, at home, and Jesse and Lulu, who are still under the parental roof.

William Franklin Mo(ire was reared on the old homestead farm. He began his education in the district schools and continued

W. F. MOORE his studies in the Guthrie county high school, from which he was graduated in the class of 1895. He taught school in the county for two years and then entered the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, in 1897. He pursued a successful course and was graduated in 1901 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. At the same time he pursued his law studies in that institution and won the degree of Bachelor of Law in the same spring. He was admitted to the bar, after which he spent one year in travel, and in 1903 came to Guthrie Center, where he entered into partnership with W. D. Milligan, This is one of the strongest law finns of the county with a very large and important clientage. Aside from the practice of his chosen profession, Mr. Moore is interested in land in several localities, owning much valuable property. He also has a fancy for fine stock and owns some Herefords that have taken prizes. He is now secretary and treasurer of the Nesselroad Land Company, operating in Canadian land, and is secretary of the Guthrie Center Electric Light Company, of which he was one of the organizers and is the heaviest stockholder. His business interests are thus extensive and important and in their control he has displayed an aptitude for successful management.

On the 21st of November, 1906, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Leone Dewey, who was born in Guthrie Center in 1883, daughter of H. K. and R. E. Dewey, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore are much esteemed in the community and their own home is the center of a cultured society circle. Mr. Moore belongs to the Presbyterian church and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks, Masons and Odd Fellows, while in the path of his profession he is a member of the State Bar and American Associations. In politics he is a republican and in the fall of 1904 was elected county attorney, to which position he has been re-elected, now serving his second term. He has been quite successful as a young practitioner of law and as a prosperous business man, being recognized as a valued citizen, whose labors have contributed to public progress as well as to individual prosperity.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

W. E. MOORE.

W\ E.:\Ioore, whose home is pleasantly situated on section 11, Highland township, was born in Louisa county, Iowa, November 23, 1866. His father. D. W. Moore, was born in Tennessee in 1843 and was brought to Iowa when nine years of age, setting in Louisa county, where he was reared to the occupation of farming, which he later followed on his own account in that county until 1883, when he came to Guthrie county. Here he settled upon section 11, Highland township, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for live years, after which he retired from active life and removed to Indianola, where he still makes his home. He wedded Xancy Baird, a native of Ohio, and they became the parents of three sons and two daughters.

E. Moore is the only representative of the family in Guthrie county. He was educated in the graded schools of Columbus Junction, Iowa, and afterward pursued a course in Eastern Iowa Normal School. He is a graduate of the Iowa Business College at Des Moines of the class of 1886 and, remaining in Des Moines, he served for two years as deputy auditor of Polk county. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 11, Highland township, a part of which was his father's old farm, to which he recently added eighty acres, now owning altogether two hundred and forty acres. Here he has since successfully carried on the cultivation of the fields and the raising of stock, making a specialty of Black Angus cattle and Poland China hogs. Both branches of his business are proving profitable and in his active management of his farming interests he is meeting with a success which numbers him among the substantial and enterprising agriculturists of the community. He brings to bear upon his work clear judgment, keen discrimination and laudable ambition and these qualities are always desirable elements in a successful business career.

On the 7th of October, 1887, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Bridson, a resident of Highland township, although a native of the Isle of Man. They became the parents of three children but lost their first born in infancy. The others are: Mable

Lucile, born September 7, 1896; and Mildred Florence, bom September 7, 1901 — just five years after the birth of her sister. In politics Mr. Moore is a republican and both he and his wife are active and earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee and steward. He is well known in the county where he has long resided, having come to this section of the state when seventeen years of age, and the strong and salient characteristics of his manhood are such as have gained for him uniform good will and confidence.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Among those who have come from foreign lands to take their place among the well-known agriculturists and stock-raisers of this county is George Moore, who was born in Kent, England, May 20, 1835, his parents being Thomas and Mercy (Spice) Moore, also natives of Kent, England.

It was in the common schools of his native land that Mr. Moore acquired his early education. In 1857, at the age of twenty-two, he left England for the United States, hopingto benefit his financial condition thereby. This hope of success has been amply fulfilled and his life demonstrates what can be accomplished by industry and talent in a land where the individual is unhampered by case or class. His success in all his undertakings has been so marked that it cannot but be of interest to the agricultural world.

His first home in the new world was in Peoria county, Illinois, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, following the.same for some time, but agricultural pursuits were more attractive to Mr. Moore, and in May, 1875, he came to Dodge township, Guthrie county, Iowa, there he at first bought forty acres. So successfully did he manage his little farm and so frugally did he live that in 1876 he added eighty acres to his land, which he bought of Charles Hill, and a little later purchased eighty acres more of Dewey & Rogers on section 6, Dodge township. It was on the latter piece of land that he built a small home and began to break up the ground — a task which took energy, time and patience. He has set out all the shade trees around the place and has also planted two and a half acres with apple and other fruit trees. Step by step Mr. Moore added to his little fortune until he was able to erect a twelve-room house, a large barn and all of the necessary sheds and buildings. From a boy his interest in farming and stock-raising made this pursuit a delight to him. He has the reputation at present of raising the best Poland China hogs shipped from this section of the country.

At Elm wood, Peoria county, August 16, 1863, occurred the marriage of George Moore and Josephine Horine, a daughter of Samuel T. and Rebecca (Palmer) Horine and a sister of George Horine, of Bagley, whose sketch appears in another part of this volume. There were five daughters born to this union: Luella, the wife of E. B. Smith; Mary, the wife of William Corsant; Nora, who married George Corsant, and Maud, who is Mrs. J. N. Dobson, all of Dodge township, and Bernice. who is living at home. Mr. and ]Mrs. Moore are the grandparents of ten children, of whom they are extremely proud.

Political honors and offices have never attracted Mr. Moore, although he has often had them offered to him. He gives his support to the republican party and is willing to help in all of its campaigns, but his chief interest centers in his family and his home. He has a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres which speaks well for the industry and enterprise of its owner. Coming to this country with absolutely nothing but his own willing hands and indomitable courage, he has made his way to success and prosperity. He has. gained it all by upright, 'honorable methods, which have won him the warm regard of an extensive circle of friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.