JAMES H. MOORE

From the 1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 590-591

James H. Moore

(Farmer, Section 5, Post-office, Nevada).

   As one of the early settlers of Vernon county, and a man of established worth and prominence, Mr. Moore is accorded honorable mention in this volume.  He came here in a pioneer day of the county’s history, has taken part in its advancement and growth, and has seen its rise from veritable wilderness to one of the best counties in the State.  During the war he was a participant in many of the troubles which surrounded the people on every hand in this locality, and in another portion of the present work reference is made at length of some of these incidents.  Mr. Moore was born in Jefferson county, Va., October 30, 1819.  James Moore, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, but after moving to Virginia he married Miss Barbara Skyles, of the same State as himself, and they subsequently reared a large family of children, six in number.  In 1835 he came to Missouri, settling in Callaway county first, but later in St. Charles county, from whence they moved to this (Vernon) county in 1835.  Here the father died May 4, 1857, leaving seven children living:  Mary Ann, Evaline, John, James H., Hezekiah, Sarah J. and Joseph, and two whose deaths had occurred sometime previous, Samuel and Ann Eliza.  Mrs. Moore also died in Virginia.  James H. passed his early life upon a farm in Callaway county, subsequently being located in St. Charles county.  His residence in Vernon dates from the year 1853 (sic).  In 1849 he went overland to California, worked in the mines with good success, and in August, 1853, returned to the States, finally entering the land where he now lives.  His estate embraces 270 acres of valuable land adjacent to Nevada and 360 acres of bottom land.  April 5, 1855, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Esther Ann Caton, whose father, Noah Caton, a native of South Carolina, was reared in Kentucky, and married a lady of that State, Miss Frances McDermitt.  Their family numbered 13 children:  Hugh M., Susannah, widow of Thomas Myers; Caroline, widow of John Wray; and Mrs. Moore are the only surviving members.  Mr. Caton died in March, 1863, and his wife in 1878.  Mrs. Moore was the first white child born south of the Marmaton river in Vernon county, her natal day being June 9, 1839.  She has borne her husband three children:  Francisco, Noah and Mary, now Mrs. Frank Ridgeway.

[Transcribed by Julia Brown ]