James Moorman

As printed in 1882

JAMES MOORMAN. The subject of this sketch is the youngest son of Thomas and Susannah (Crew) Moorman. His parents both emigrated from the James River country, in Virginia, to Richmond County, N. C, prior to the Revolutionary war, and grew to maturity and were married in the latter county. There were born to them five sons and two daughters, Tarleton Moorman, formerly of Randolph County, being the eldest. James, the youngest son, was lion near Rockingham, Richmond Co., N. C, on the east side of the Big I'ecdee River, on the 26th day of June, 1795. His father died on the 27tii day of the eleventh month, 1801, and the subject of this sketch, from the time he was six years of age, was reared without the care end protection of a father. In 1822, the mother emigrated with her family from North Carolina to Wayne County, Ind., where Thomas, a brother, had located at an earlier date. They located at what is known as Kenworthy's mill, on Green's Fork, in Wayne County, Ind., where the mother died on the fifth day of the tenth month, 1836. While living in Wayne County, he was known to have been, perhaps, the first to introduce fine cattle into that county. James Moorman is, perhaps, as widely known as any resident of the county. Personally, he is a man of about six feet in stature, and stands erect, with a high, broad forehead, large brain in front, with a well-balanced head of the finest type. He has a pleasant, open countenance, and though not talkative, he has a pleasant word for all, and is familiarly called by everybody Uncle.Jimmy. He generally keeps his own counsel, and seldom asks advice; and what lie docs he does quietly, and is willing to risk his judgment on all matters of importance. He inherited little wealth from his parents, not over $100 or $200, perhaps, but he inherited what was far better, a strong, athletic frame, a hardy, robust constitution, temperate habits, with an economical disposition, exacting all that was his dues, and always giving the same, with a willingness to labor at anything honorable. In true pioneer style, he took his ax and went into the forest and cleared % farm. When he had accumulated a few dollars, he did not cease to labor, and spend his money in pleasure or high living, but loaned it out safely at interest, and labored on for more; and thus day by day he added to his store, until, in 1860, he was known as one of the wealthiest men in Eastern Indiana. In that year, he located at Winchester and started what was known as the Winchester Bank. Since that time, by careful and judicious investments, and a constant personal attention to his business, his prosperity h.is been such that Ids wealth has more than doubled. His motto as a financier has always been: Pay as you go, and make each day more than you spend. He was never of % speculative turn of mind, and never attempted to make money by speculation, preferring the sewer and sure way to success, and by his good judgment he met with but few losses in his investments. He is a man of sound judgment and great will-power, and when his mind is made up, his decision is final. His " Little rather not" is understood by those who know him to be a very emphatic No 1 While he has not been extravagant in his liberality, he seldom turns his back upon a good cause, and has contributed olieerfuUy to all moral and religions enterprises that have sought public encouragement, and no doubt before his life closes he will employ at least a portion of his great wealth in such a manner as will bless mankind, tn his religious relations, he is a friend of the orthodox branch, having had a birth-right in the church. In his later years, he has taken great interest in the church at Winchester, and has been very faithful in his attendance, being seldom absent from his seat. Politically, he is a Republican, and has been identified with this party over since its organization. Prior to that, he was anti-slavery in his political sentiments, as were all the Friends in this county at that time. Though his church was opposed to the war, he took a lively interest in the results of the conflict, the freedom and enfranchisement of the slaves; and no one paid his income-tax more cheerfully than he. He still has in his heart a warm place for the soldiers who periled their lives in the cause of freedom and the defense of the Union. He is now eighty-seven years of age, and, though growing feeble, he still retains the free and full use of all his fine mental faculties, and with his temperate and regular habits may live to see an extreme old age. He has retired from the drudgery of active business life, and has placed the affairs of his bank largely in the hands of Capt. Joseph R. Jackson, of Union City, who, with his excellent business ability, has taken the burden from his shoulders to a great extent, while he awaits, quietly and patiently, the end of a long and successful business life. His career demonstrates the possibilities attainable by industry and determination, and illustrates the fact that the sure road to wealth is through honest toil and frugality.

As printed in History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.