IowaJones/Biographies/H. G. Moore

H. G. Moore–J. B. Morrison

Henry G. Moore
Born September 7, 1842

A veteran of the Civil war and one of the venerable and highly respected citizens of Storm Lake, Beuena Vista county, is Henry G. Moore, who, after a long, active and successful life as a farmer, is now retired and is spending the golden sunset of his life in his comfortable home in Storm Lake. Mr. Moore was born in Pennsylvania on the 7th of September, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Margaret Moore, also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1857 they moved to Iowa, first locating in Davenport, from which place they later went by team to Jones county, Iowa, where the father bought a farm. Later he sold that place and went to Linn county, where he settled on another farm and there he and his wife spent their remaining years.

Henry G. Moore attended public schools of his native state and was about fifteen years of age when the family migrated westward. He remained with his father until August 5, 1863, when he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, escaping without injury, and was mustered out at Macon, Georgia, and honorably discharged at Clinton, Iowa. He served as corporal and then as sergeant. He then returned to Jones county, where he went to work on a farm, remaining there until 1868, when he came to Buena Vista county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hayes township. During the ensuing forty years he devoted himself closely to the cultivation of this place, which he developed into one of the best farms in that locality, and in 1909 he retired from active farm work and moved into Storm Lake, where he now lives. He still owns his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Oklahoma.

On April 29, 1872, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Helen Scott, who was born in Orleans county, New York, October 8, 1853, a daughter of John and Sarah Scott, both of whom were natives of Scotland. They came to the United States in an early day, locating first in New York, but later moved to Dallas county, Iowa, where the father's death occurred, and the mother afterwards went to Miller, South Dakota, where her death occurred. Of the eleven children born to this worthy couple, Mrs. Helen Moore was the fourth in order of birth and six of them are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born six children, as follows: Ulysses W., deceased; Florence, the wife of John Henry, who died in 1910 leaving two daughters, Edith and Irene Moore, now young college students; Maude, wife of David Boyce; and Mae, the wife of E. S. Leggett. Mr. Moore and his wife have long been earnest members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Storm Lake. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the republican party and was in former years very active in local public affairs, having served as assessor and as school treasurer for fifteen years. He is a member of Baker Post, No. 80, Grand Army of the Republic. Throughout his entire life he has been as true and loyal to his country and her interests in days of peace as when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battlefields of the south.

From Northwestern Iowa, Its History and Tradition, Volume II, 1804-1926. Submitted by Debbie Gerischer.

space

John F. Moore
Born April 14, 1854

John F. Moore, whose well tilled fields are representative of the agricultural prosperity of Richland township, was born in Switzerland, April 14, 1854. His parents, Melchoir and Magdalene (Tules) Moore, were also of Swiss birth and came to the United States in 1868, locating in Jones county, Iowa, where Mr. Moore procured eighty acres of arable land. His wife died ten years after her arrival here, but he lived until 1907, in the enjoyment of the many comforts which had requited his arduous toil. Seven of the fourteen children born to the couple still survive. They are Aldine, the wife of Joseph Kipfer, now residing in Livingston county, Illinois; Adolphine, who is the wife of John Holler, of this county; Alfred and William, both residents of Jones county; Nieman, now living in Leadville, Colorado; Edward, residing in Lyon county, Iowa; and John F., who is the subject of this review. John F. Moore was about fourteen years of age when his parents emigrated to this country. In the public schools of this county he completed the education which had begun in his native land, while at home he received practical instruction for the responsibilities of life. At the age of twenty-one he left the parental roof, going forth to make his own way in the world. For six years he toiled as a farm hand, and then, having married, he engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself on land he had purchased in Wayne township. After a period of three years' residence there he sold that place and removed to Richland township, buying the farm on which he lives today. It is a tract of two hundred and twenty acres, on which he pursues a diversified farming which renders him a gratifying income for the many hours of hard labor he has expended in the cultivation of the fields. The place is well improved, as the result of his own efforts, presenting an appearance of prosperity that is indicative of the industry and good management of its owner, qualities which have made him one of the substantial men of his township.

In 1881 Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Anna Jacobs, a native of this county and a daughter of John and Matilda Jacobs. Her mother has passed away, but her father is living in California. Eleven children have been born of this union: Matilde, deceased; John L., now living in North Dakota; Matilde, who has remained at home; Anna, who has graduated from the Cedar Rapids Business College and is now in Cedar Rapids; Charles, who is at home; Martha, who is residing in Cedar Rapids; Frederick, who is at home; George, who has passed away; Laura, who is now attending high school in Monticello; Frieda, who is at home; as is George E. the youngest of the family.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore are consistent members of the German Reformed church and are not only regular in their attendance at its services, but endeavor to put to practical application in their daily lives the lessons taught by it. Politically Mr. Moore has ever given his support to the republican candidates as the choice of the party in whose principles he places the greatest confidence. As for himself, however, he has never sought any office within the gift of the people, although he has filled with credit the position of school director, and during his incumbency proved that be was deeply concerned for the advancement of his community.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 231.

Thomas Moore
Born 1822

THOMAS MOORE, farmer, Richland Twp., Sec. 20; P.O. Monticello; was born on the Isle of Alan, August, 1822. His parents, William and Ann Moore, emigrated to Canada in 1825, where they lived until about 1830, when they removed to Detroit, Mich., thence to La Porte, Ind., about 1835, and to Jones Co. in 1837. His father took a claim of the farm where Rudolph Casper now lives, which he owned till 1865, when he sold to Mr. Casper; he then purchased a farm in Castle Grove Township, where he died in January, 1875; Mr. Moore's mother died in Dubuque Co. in 1838; his father was afterward married to Elvira Neal, who is still living. Thomas Moore came to Jones Co. with his father in 1837, but, with his brother William, went to Wisconsin, about 1840; soon after, returned to Dubuque Co.; soon after, went to Platteville, Wis., where he lived till about 1846, when he returned to Jones Co, and settled on the farm where he now lives, a part of which he had entered several years previous to that time. He was married to Eliza Mulligan, whose parents came from Staten Island to Dubuque Co. about 1844; has seven children—Thomas W., Mary A., Sarah, Eliza, Jane, Clara Belle and Agnes; lost two children—William, who was killed by accident March 17, 1879, in his 24th year; Minnie died in infancy.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 690.

John Moreland
Born November 19, 1842

JOHN MORELAND, merchant dealer in groceries, Main street, Anamosa; is a native of England and was born November 19, 1842; his parents came to America in 1848; he came to Linn Co., Iowa, in 1858. After the breaking-out of the rebellion, he entered the army, enlisting in Co. F, 20th I.V.I.; he was wounded in the siege of Port Blakely, Ala.; he was in the service three years. He came to Anamosa in 1876, and was appointed one of the guards at the Penitentiary and served in that position three years, then engaged in his present business. In 1862, he married Miss Elizabeth Ross, a native of England; they have five children—Eliza, Charles, Mary, Ida and Lillie.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 569.

Erastus Morey
Born February 19, 1815

ERASTUS MOREY, farmer, Sec. 1; P.O. Anamosa; was born in Washington Co., N.Y., February 19, 1815; he grew up to manhood and lived there until 40 years of age; in the spring of 1855, he came West to Iowa and located in Jones Co., where he now lives; he bought 120 acres for $5 per acre and engaged in farming; he has lived on this farm twenty-four years; he had nothing when he began life; he has sold wheat for 30 cents per bushel and corn for 15 cents; he now owns 280 acres of good land, finely improved, all paid for; his success in life is owing to his own efforts and good management. On the 26th of April, 1845, he married Miss Electa A. Carr, a native of Washington Co., N.Y.; she was raised in Vermont; they have five children—Edwin S. (in this county), Austin H. (in this county), Eugene C. (lives in Chicago), Albert A. (lives in Chicago), Adeline I. (at home).

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 569.

John B. Morrison
Born December 25, 1845

John B. Morrison, a successful and enterprising farmer and extensive landowner and stockraiser of Jones county, whose well directed efforts are bringing him a gratifying measure of success, was born on the 25th of December, 1845. He is a son of Thomas and Katharine (McDermott) Morrison, both natives of Ireland, born in 1810. The father, who was a native of County Mayo, came to America about 1832, landing in Quebec, where for a time he lived with a Quaker family. He then came to the United States and entered the regular army as a private cavalry soldier, and during his term of enlistment did frontier service. After leaving the army, he located in Galena, Illinois, where he was engaged in burning charcoal until the time of his marriage, after which he settled in Jackson county. In 1844 or 1845, he removed to Richland township and purchased a farm, which he sold in 1849 with the intention of going to California. Later he changed his mind and invested in a quarter section of land in Washington township, Jones county, which farm is now owned by the subject of this review. Although a stalwart democrat in politics, nevertheless during the Civil war he was a strong Union man and so publicly declared himself. On the 8th of December, 1839, he was united in marriage in Galena, Illinois, to Miss Katharine McDermott, and unto this union were born two children. Mary Ann, who was born in Galena, Illinois, on the 9th of May, 1841, is now in a Catholic school in Dubuque, where she is known as Sister Margaret Mary, having devoted her life to this work since 1873,

John B. Morrison was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the common schools and at the old seminary at Cascade. The periods of vacation were devoted to assisting in the Work of the fields and he continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance until the latter's death, when he came into possession of the home farm, upon which he has since made his home. With the passing of the years he has been very successful and from time to time, as he has prospered, he has added to the home farm until his property holdings today aggregate five hundred and forty acres, constituting him one of the large landowners of the township. He has made many improvements upon the place and last season erected a new barn at a cost of thirty- three hundred dollars. He has a deep affection for the old homestead, of which he has every reason to be proud, for it is today one of the most valuable and desirable properties in the locality. He carries on general farming, raising from sixty to seventy acres of corn annually, and in connection with the tilling of the soil he engages extensively in stockraising, keeping from sixty to eighty cattle and about one hundred and fifty hogs, while he keeps from eighteen to twenty cows on hand for milking purposes. He possesses excellent business ability and his affairs have been so wisely and carefully managed that the various branches of his business are proving very remunerative and he is ranked among the leading and prominent agriculturists of the township.

On the 15th of September, 1885, Mr. Morrison was united in marriage to Miss Ellen V. O'Brien, a daughter of Mrs. Mary O'Brien, of Cascade, and unto this union have been born four children, as follows: Joseph A., born July 12, 1886; Mary J., born May 4, 1888; Theressa Mildred, whose birth occurred April 27, 1891, and John H., born on the 24th of June, 1895. All of the children have had good educational advantages, the sons acquiring their training at the Temple Hill school, while the daughters attended the Academy of the Visitation at Dubuque. All are still under the parental roof, the family circle remaining unbroken by the hand of death.

The family are communicants of the Temple Hill Catholic church, while politically Mr. Morrison gives stalwart support to the democracy. He has served efficiently as township assessor for two terms, and in both private and public life his actions have ever been actuated by the principles which govern honorable and upright manhood. Having spent his entire life within the borders of Jones county, he has gained an extensive circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, and his salient characteristics are such as have gained for him the unqualified respect, esteem and good will of his fellowmen.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 241.