Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 71

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 71

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Edward H. Moore, lawyer, Rosedale, Miss. Judge William H. and Margaret C. (Harris) Moore, natives respectively of North Carolina and the Old Dominion, were the parents of tifteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was second in order of birth. The father is now residing in Alabama and is an able lawyer. The paternal grandfather, Edward Moore, was born in North Carolina, and followed the occupation of a planter. He was the brother of Gabriel Moore, governor of Alabama. The maternal grandfather, B. D. Harris, was of old Virginia stock. He emigrated to Tennessee at an early day. Edward H. Moore was born in Alabama in 1849, and although reared in that state he received the principal part of his education at Lexington, Ky. He then began reading law in his native state with Judge Lewis, and in 1873 came to Bolivar county, Miss., where he was admitted to the bar the same year. He has been practicing in this county since and is one of the leading lawyers. He is courteous and pleasant and a gentleman highly esteemed for his many estimable qualities. In connection with his practice he also carries on agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of twelve hundred acres, with five hundred acres under cultivation, most of which he has cleared himself. The soil is rich and tillable, and everything about the place indicates the owner to be a man of good judgment and advanced ideas. In 1890 he improved, remodeled and rebuilt his residence, and has a pleasant cottage home. He has been rather active in local politics, and in 1889 was elected a member of the board of supervisors, of which he was made president. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mattie Montgomery, daughter of Colonel Montgomery (see sketch), and one child has blessed this union, Lottie Clarke. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Moore having joined that denom- ination in boyhood. He is an earnest advocate and gives his hearty support to all measures to improve Rosedale or benefit Bolivar county.

James Moore, senior member of the firm of James Moore & Co., Oakland, was born near that place October 7, 1839, a son of James and Harriet Gaston (Davidson) Moore, born near Wadesboro, N. C., July 5, 1800, and about 1808, respectively. They were married at Wadesboro, and from there moved to Dyer county, Tenn., whence they came to Yalobusha county and settled on a small improvement near where Oakland now is, where Mrs. Moore died in 1844. Mr. Moore took for a second wife Martha A. Henderson, a daughter of a Methodist minister well known throughout this part of the country. In 1850 Mr. Moore moved to Tallahatchie county and located in the valley north of Charleston, where he died in 1857, at Eolia, where he had established a postoffice and store. He was a man of good attainments and had inherited considerable property. His business qualifications were first class, and he left a considerable estate. He and his wife are prominent in the Methodist church. Mr. Moore had nine children by his first wife and three sons and two daughters by his second wife. Of his family by his first marriage Green D. died in 1888; Caroline H. became the wife of James H. Rayburn and they are both deceased; Alexander H., Sidney and Anne died young; Harriet A. married T. M. Harton, a planter of this county; James

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and John M. are living, and Lawrence died when quite young. Of the children by the second wife Marcus H., Edward M. and Adelaide died young. Henry Moore, of the firm of James Moore & Co., is a young business man well known throughout this section. Lawrence Moore, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and lived out his days in North Carolina. He served his country as a soldier during the Revolutionary war, and represented his district a number of times in both branches of the North Carolina legislature. He was active and prominent in all public matters and one of the most successful planters in his part of the state. He reared a large family of sons and daughters, some of whom have become prominent in Alabama, Louisiana and other Southern states. Many of his descendants are living in different parts of the South, all of them honored and respected wherever their lots may be cast. Mr. Moore's great-grandfather, James Moore, was also a North Carolinian planter, and died in that state. He was a man of exceptional talent, a fine classical scholar and an able lawyer and physician. He was colonel of a regiment dur- ing the Revolutionary war, and was a member of the colonial assembly of North Carolina. Mr. Moore's maternal grandfather, Green Davidson, was also a native of North Carolina, where he lived for many years, but removed to Tennessee, whence in 1836 he came to Yalobusha county, where he became a well known planter and died in 1861. He was of English descent and in every sense a prominent citizen. Our subject was reared on his father's plantation and acquired an intimate knowledge of the details of planting. He received a good English education and became a fair Latin and Greek scholar. At the age of seventeen he became a clerk in a drygoods store at Memphis, Tenn. In this position he labored for three years. In 1859 he married Emily J., daughter of Benjamin and Sarah A. Carson, who are natives of South Carolina and Mississippi, respectively, and both of whom came to Tallahatchie county about 1836, where the parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Carson died. Here Mr. and Mrs. Carson married and lived the balance of their lives. Mr. Carson died in 1848 and his wife in 1856. Mr. Carson's father, William Carson, was one of the first settlers of Tallahatchie county, and became one of its best known planters. Mrs. Car- son's father, William Lott, was an early settler where Charleston now stands. Mrs. Moore was born in Tallahatchie county and is the mother of three sons and one daughter: James B., who died in infancy; Green Harris was educated at the home school and at Oxford, and was married in February, 1891, to Zana Herron; Benjamin C. received a good common school education, and, as does his brother, Green D., finds employment at the store of James Moore & Co .; the daughter was an infant, unnamed. Soon after his marriage Mr. Moore engaged in merchandising in Charleston, which he continued up to the time of the war. He was a member of the First Mississippi cavalry regiment, furnished a substitute and was honorably discharged from service in 1862, afterward doing service in the state militia and in Mclendon's battery, to which organization he belonged until the end of the Civil war. He had been an old line whig and had strenuously opposed secession. After the war he was a planter in Tallahatchie and lived there until 1878, when he took charge of the store of his brother, Green D. Moore, at Oakland, which he managed until 1881. In the year last men- tioned he turned his attention to planting, which he gave his undivided attention to until 1886, when the firm of James Moore & Co. was organized, to succeed Green D. Moore & Sons, who had succeeded Moore & Davidson, the successors of Buntin & Moore, who had become proprietors of a business which had been established by Green D. Moore a short distance from the present town of Oakland. James Moore & Co. are one of the best known mercantile firms in northern Mississippi. They own about five thousand acres of land in different tracts, and handle about twelve hundred bales of cotton annually. Mr. Moore owns CC

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about eighteen hundred acres individually and produces about two hundred bales of cotton annually. Mr. Moore's success in life has been great, although it was interrupted by the war. Since the war period he has accumulated this fine property and placed himself at the head of this magnificant business through his own untiring effort, by the exercise of his well-known enterprise, unimpeachable honor and integrity. He has for many years been con- nected with the Masonic fraternity, and is worshipful master of Oakland lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 82. He stands high, not only in this order, but also in the Knights of Honor, being a member of Scott lodge, Knights of Honor, of Oakland. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are prominent members of the Methodist church. The former is a cousin of Senator Isom G. Harris and of Hon. J. D. Adkins, of Tennessee.

James Bright Morgan, of Hernando, was born in Lincoln county, Tenn., March 14, 1835; was brought by his parents to De Soto county, Miss., in 1840, where he has since resided; received an academic education; studied law at Hernando, under John K. Connelly, and was admitted to the bar in 1857; when not engaged in the public service, has practiced his profession; was elected judge of probate before the war; resigned, and was mustered into the Confederate states service as a private; was elected captain, and in the organization of the Twenty-ninth Mississippi infantry was elected major; was promoted lieutenant-colonel and colonel; at the close of the war was again elected judge; was a member of the state senate of Mississippi in 1876, 1877 and 1878, and was chairman of the committee on the judiciary; was appointed, in October, 1878, by the governor, chancellor of the Third chancery district, and served for four years; was elected to the XLIXth and Lth congresses, and was reelected to the LIst congress as a democrat, receiving thirteen thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight votes, against five thousand eight hundred and seventeen votes for James Reynolds Chalmers, republican, and one hundred and seven votes for James Witherspoon, independent candidate.

Hon. John M. Moore, mayor of Oakland, proprietor of the Craig hotel, planter and liv- eryman, was born near Oakland in 1841. He is the son of James Moore, a sketch of whom appears in these pages. He received a good common-school education in the schools of Oak- land and vicinity. At eighteen he became a salesman in a store, an occupation which he fol- lowed until 1862. In that year he served sixty days as a private. Later he was engaged for some years in planting and after that was for considerable time a merchant at Harrison. From 1873 to 1882 he traveled for the firm of Bishop Brothers, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and during this time, in 1877, he was elected to represent Yalobusha county in the legislature and served two years to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. During the past ten years he has been repeatedly elected mayor of Oakland. He was chairman of the county democratic central committee for some years and held this position during the perilous times of the notorious A. T. Wimberley, a period of greenbackism, and took an active part in allaying the disturbances which were then rifein that part of the country. He is a member of the Oakland lodge of the I. O. O. F. and is prominent in that order. He has held every official position in his lodge and has been district deputy grand master and several times a representative to the grand lodge. He is also a member of the Oakland lodge of the Knights of Honor and has identified himself with the Farmers' Alliance. In 1862 he was married to Mrs. P. D. Shaw, a daughter of Sampson Bridgers. She died in 1887, and in 1889 Mr. Moore married Mrs. M. J. Craig, a daughter of Dr. Preston W. and Amanda Caro- line Davis, who were natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Tennessee. The marriage occurred at Oakland, Miss. Dr. Davis was for many years engaged in the practice of his profession with marked success at Nashville, Tenn., where he died in 1878, aged about

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eighty-one years. He received his medical education at the Transylvania college, at Lexing- ton, Ky., and died a devout member of the Christian church. His widow survived him and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are prominent Metho- dists. They own together about one thousand acres of land and their planting .operations are very extensive. The Craig hotel is very popular among traveling people, and Mr. Moore is widely known as one of the most genial and accommodating landlords in this part of the state. He stands high as a citizen, and as a public official has acquitted himself with much ability and credit. Mrs. M. J. Craig, whom Mr. Moore married, was the widow of Capt. Blunt Craig, a large planter of Yalobusha and Tallahatchie counties, who responded to the first call for volunteers to serve in the late war, raised two companies during the war, was elected captain by acclamation and made a brave and noble officer, returning bearing the laurels of honor and respect, beloved by friends and comrades and dying at his home in Oak- land in 1869. James Craig, his father, a soldier of the War of 1812 under General Jackson, and a wealthy planter of Limestone county, Ala., moved to this state among the first settlers. While the Indians still claimed their hunting grounds and race tracks he purchased much of his land from them. He was an extensive and successful planter. Owning a large number of slaves he made generally from five hundred to one thousand bales of cotton each year. He lived in a beautiful country home near Oakland, surrounded with such comforts and luxu- ries as enabled him to act the part of a bountiful host and most pleasing entertainer, his home being known far and near for its almost lordly hospitality.

James F. Moore was born in Lauderdale county, Miss., in September, 1850, and is a son of James and Caroline (Price) Moore, natives of North Carolina and Alabama respect- ively. The father went from his native state to Alabama at the age of twenty-three years, and was married there at the age of twenty-eight years. For ten years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, his work being that of overseer. In 1845 he removed with his family to Lauderdale county, Miss., and bought land, which he immediately began to place under cultivation. His efforts in this direction were rewarded with more than ordinary success. When the war arose, he had accumulated a considerable amount of property, and owned fifteen slaves. He enlisted in the state militia, and was first lieutenant of his company. While the war was in progress he was employed by the Confederate government to tan hides, as he had a large tannery on his farm; much of the leather he had manufactured into boots and shoes, the tanyard, ginhouse, and thirty bales of cotton were burned by Sherman's army in 1864. After the war he passed through the trials experienced by the whole Southern population in regaining a foothold in the business world. Mrs. Moore died in June, 1878, on the home plantation. She was a consistent member of the Baptist church. Mr. Moore is living in the seventy-eighth year of his age, and is strong and active, and in full possession of his mental faculties. He has been a deacon in the Baptist church for thirty years. They reared a family of ten children: William H. died in 1872; Thomas J. died in the army in 1861; Sallie, the wife of A. J. Cansler is deceased; Susan, wife of M. G. Terry, is not living; James F. is the next in order of birth; Martha died at the age of twenty-one years; Elizabeth died in infancy; Cornelius D. is unmarried; Margaret is the wife of C. W. Jones; Georgia is the wife of John T. Ethridge. James remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and then took charge of his father's farm on his own account. He was married at the age of thirty years to Mary E. Miller, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Pippin) Miller. Her mother was a native of Alabama, and her father was born in Pennsylvania. They had five children born to them: Daniel I., Caroline, Thomas M., Virginia, Jane E. Mr. Moore owns one hundred and ten acres of land, three miles from Meridian, and devotes his time to

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truck gardening and fruit culture. He also owns residence property in Meridian. He is public weigher of Meridian, his duties being to weigh and reweigh cotton. He is the land inspector of the British American Loan company, and is considered one of the most pro- gressive and energetic young business men in the county. He is well known throughout the surrounding country, and the family name is honored and respected wherever it is heard. Mr. Moore was employed as a clerk by A. Threefoot & Son one year, but he prefers outdoor work, and so stays on his farm in the summer, and spends the winter season in Meridian. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, and he belongs to the Knights of Honor. His brother Cornelius and he are associated in business, and both are members of the Farmers' Alliance.

James S. Moore is a prosperous farmer and stockman of Tate county, Miss., but was born in Marshall county of this state on the 24th of December, 1840, a son of Robert J. and Elva (Clementine) Moore, both natives of South Carolina. Here they were reared and married, but in 1834 removed to Marshall county, Miss., which was before the Indians had been removed from the state. They continued to reside in Marshall county until 1850, then came to Tate county, Mr. Moore purchasing an unimproved tract of government land. He also speculated in land to some extent, and at his death, which occurred in 1859, he was in good circumstances. His wife survived him until February, 1890, when she passed away at the age of seventy-five years. They reared a family of eight children, six of whom are still living: Jane C., widow of William Embry; Mary, wife of William T. Meeks of this county; James S., Eliza P., living with her brother John; Margaret A., wife of W. J. Veazey, Jr., of this county, and John A., a planter on the old homestead. James S. Moore spent his school days in this county, and in the spring of 1862 he entered the Confederate service. He became a member of company B, Forty second Mississippi infantry, which was commanded by Capt. L. G. Woollard, Hill's army corps, army of northern Virginia, and was in all the battles from the seven days' fight near Richmond until the surrender. He was wounded at Falling Water, and in the battle of Wilderness. He served until the 2d of April, 1865, when he was captured, and on the 2d of July he was paroled from Point Lookout, Md., after which he returned home. From that time until 1870 he farmed on the old homestead, then purchased the plantation on which he is now residing, having rented it two years previous to making the purchase. This place amounted to three hundred and twenty acres, to which he has added from time to time until he now has sixteen hundred and thirty acres in three bodies, of which some eight hundred acres are under cultivation. He had to practice the closest economy and the most untiring industry upon first starting out for himself, and in this he was aided largely by his faithful and estimable wife, who assisted him in ginning cotton and in other outdoor work. Their efforts have been rewarded, and they now have a comfortable fortune and a pleasant and commodious home, which they enjoy to the utmost. Although their prudence has gathered around them an excellent amount of worldly goods, they have been the friends of the poor and needy, and have always been interested in the upbuilding of schools, churches and all worthy enterprises, and have given liberally in their support. In 1870 he was married to Miss Laura E., daughter of William J. and E. J. Veazey, who were among the early settlers of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore five children are living of seven born: Laura E., James V., Robert S., Mary A. and Jessie L. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he is a steward. He has always taken an active interest in politics, and has affiliated with the democrat party for many years.

James W. Moore, who is not only a successful planter of the county, but a business man

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of considerable experience, was originally from the Palmetto state, his birth occurring in Lawrence county. His father, George M. Moore, was also a native of South Carolina, and was married in that state to Miss Elsie M. Crook, who owed her nativity to that state also. After the birth of their son, James W., they removed to Chattooga county, Ga., and resided there six or seven years, the father engaged in farming. From there he removed to Marshall county, Miss., settled near Red Banks, purchased land, and became one of the prosperous planters of the county. He died in 1873, at his home near Red Bank, in the sixty-third year of his life. Mrs. Moore is still living, and although seventy-four years of age, is still hale and hearty. Of the six children born to this union, of whom our subject was the eldest, only three sisters and James W. are now living: Mary, the widow of James Hardy; Sallie, wife of P. L. Gray, of Memphis, and Eliza. James W. Moore began life for himself by enlisting in the Confederate army, Seventeenth Mississippi infantry, under Colonel Feather- stone, in the spring of 1862. He was in the army of Virginia, and was in the battles of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville, and others. He served through it all without being wounded or captured, and surrendered with General Lee at Appomattox. He then returned to his home and resumed farming. He was married in 1869 to Miss Jane McFadyen, who bore him five children: George P., Thomas A., Mary P., Edna C. and Elsie C. Mr. Moore owns two thousand acres of land, eight hundred acres under cultiva- tion, and is one of the prominent men of the county. He is also engaged in merchandising at Red Banks, under the firm name of Moore & Crook, and is doing well. The Moore family was among the first settlers of the county, and was highly respected. Mr. Moore was deputy sheriff for eight years, and at the present time is deputy United States marshal and has held the position two years.

Among the prominent business enterprises of a town and county that of merchandising takes a leading part. Mr. John R. Moore, who is a merchant of Booneville, has been a resi- dent of Prentiss county, Miss., since 1847, and is thoroughly identified with the business interests of the same. He was originally from Bedford county, Tenn., born June 23, 1834, and his parents, Thomas and Nancy (Allen) Moore were natives of Wake county, N. C., and Warren county, Tenn., respectively. The father was born on March 17, 1804, and was the son of Randolph Moore, a native of Virginia and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The latter came to Bedford county, Tenn., in 1830, bringing his family in a wagon, and there his death occurred three years later. He was the father of the following children: Elizabeth, Stansill, Nathan, John, James, Thomas, Zilpha, Rebecca, Celia and Piety, all of whom lived to be grown except Elizabeth, and all to a ripe old age except the father of our subject, the latter dying at the age of fifty five years. Celia lived to be over eighty years of age, and died in Lincoln county, Tenn. The paternal grandmother of our subject, Eliza- beth (Stansill) Moore, died in Bedford county, Tenn., in 1843 or 1844. Thomas Moore, father of subject, was reared in Bedford county, Tenn. and in 1847 came to Mississippi. His death occurred in 1859. In 1833, while a resident of Bedford county, Tenn., he married Miss Allen, and after coming to Mississippi he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. He opened up a small farm three miles west of Rienzi. He and his wife, who was born in 1812, were members of the Methodist church. Her father, John Allen, was a native of Mecklenburg county, N. C., and an early settler of Tennessee. Mr. Allen's wife, Nancy (Carr) Allen, was born in the same county in North Carolina. Her father, Joseph Carr, was a native of Ireland, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He and wife were residing at Mecklenburg Courthouse at the time of the signing of the declaration of independence. Mrs. Moore, mother of the subject of this sketch, was one of the follow-

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ing children: William, Joseph, Mary, Margaret, Nancy, John, James, Newton and Abigail. Of these James and Newton are still living-Newton at Shelbyville, Tenn., James in this county. To Thomas and Nancy (Allen) Moore were born seven children, three of whom are yet living: John R., Newton and George, all residents of Prentiss county. Those deceased were Violet, Margaret, Milton M. and Thomas. Milton was killed at Peach Tree creek, on July 22, 1863; Thomas died in Texas in 1873; Violet was the wife of George Anderson, and died in this county, leaving seven children, and Margaret, who was the wife of M. B. Armor, died at Rienzi, Miss., in 1881. John R. Moore, the eldest child liv- ing, was reared within six miles of his present place of residence, and since 1867 has been engaged in business in the county. He secured an ordinary education in the common schools of the county, and followed farming until the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in company A, Thirty-second Mississippi infantry as a private, and served as orderly sergeant, then first lieutenant, and held that position until the surrender. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Springhill and Franklin. He surrendered at Greensboro, N. C., after which he returned to Prentiss county. Miss Sarah Anderson, who became his wife in 1856, was born in Bedford county, Tenn., in 1839, and died in 1868, leaving four children: Virginia Ann, now the wife of Thomas L. Bettersworth, who is the editor of the Prentiss Plaindealer, Booneville, Miss. ; S. Thomas, William P. and John R., Jr. S. Thomas is in a bank at Union city, Tenn. ; William P. is engaged in photography at Aberdeen, and John R., Jr., is in a railroad office at Artesia, Miss. Mr. Moore was married a second time in 1872, to Mies Sallie Marshall, a native of Virginia, and the daughter of Dr. R. T. Marshall, also of the Old Diminion. She was the eldest of six children, two besides herself now living: Robert and Hamilton. To Mr. Moore's second union were born two children: Elizabeth M. and Mary H. Mr. Moore was elected a member of the board of police of Tishomingo county in 1865, and was also appointed a member of the board of supervisors of Prentiss county, holding that position until relieved by Governor Ames. He was appointed to the latter position by Governor Alcorn upon the organization of Prentiss county. In politics he is strictly democratic. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Booneville lodge No. 305; was the first one to join that lodge; and was secretary for several years. He is a member of the mercantile firm of John R. Moore & Co., which firm does an annual business of about $18,000.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 71

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314