MOORE NEWS Volume I December 11, 1996 Issue 35 SALUTATIONS Christmas Gifts That Make You Feel Good: Under the section 'Moore Miscellany, you'll find the story of Samuel Dalton Moore and a description of the Moore house in Mt. Airy NC. Merle Moore, an offline contributor who has made unique contributions to MOORE NEWS, provides this information for us. If you are looking for a meaningful way of making a Christmas contribution, if you want to know that your donation will make a difference, if you want to preserve an expression of Moore heritage for your descendants, then consider contributing to the preservation of Moore House in Mt. Airy. Contributions may be mailed to the Mt. Airy Restoration Foundation, Mt. Airy, NC 27030: Attention, Susan P. Ashby. Specify that your benevolence is directed to the William Alfred Moore house. Thanks to all of you who are helping resolve the problem of dealing with the question of back issues. Every single suggestion has been read and saved in a special file. I'll know soon how I can deal with it best and will let you know. I really appreciate your support. MOORE NEWS is coming to you now in 9 point font in an effort to provide space for more information and curb the lag between receipt of information and circulation. If the type face is too small, I suggest that you paste it to a word processing document and change the font size. NEW MEMBERS MIKE ( DCM10) *****I hope some one can help. I am from Texas and working on my family tree. The name I am working on is Franklin Wheeler Moore, born in Ga. or Al 11 Oct 1852. He moved to Texas with his family late 1800. Married Martha Elizabeth Deborah b. 1850 Sept. 22. He died 1919 April 22 in Cassin Texas, she died 1927 Feb. 22. in Cassin Texas. - - - - - - - - - - - SOLVEIG BERRY (SolveigMB) *****I was born in Sweden, but live in Arkansas. I'm researching my husband's family. His earliest Moore is Cicero A Moore, born c1808 in NC, married Sarah Leazer in 1833 in Rowan Co NC. They appear there on census records through 1860. May have moved??. There is a will in Iredell Co NC, 1879, by a Cicero MOORE that I have not seen. Children listed: Margaret C, William A (Conf. soldier), Mary, John H, Jane C, Samuel M (Conf. soldier), James K, Sarah E Caroline, Cahoun L, Julia A. I would like to find Cicero's parents. QUERIES DAVID CORNET (Dcornet) *****Looking for info on Asbery Moore b. abt 1820 in South Carolina. Married to A. Moore (I don't know if that was her maiden name or not). Daughter, Amanda Nellie Moore, was born in Alabama and later lived in Mississippi. She married Phillip Orr Stovall Sugg(s) of Calhoun Co. MS. Amanda died at Reform, Pickens Co. AL in 1927. If anyone knows anything about these people, please let me know. Thanks. - - - - - - - - - - - ELSIE (ELSAEARL) ******My James Moore married Jenny Leffew in Franklin County, Va. in 1849. I noticed a lot of Moores married Leffews and vice versa. Is there anyone else with a Leffew connection? Will appreciate your help. Thanks. - - - - - - - - - - - J.C. (Lt28ret) *****Looking for info on : JOSEPH MOORE Gibson Co. IN. m. MARIAH CURRY & dec 1861 Gibson Co. IN. Had son JOHN HENRY MOORE b. 29 nov 1863 Gibson Co, IN. m. LUCY WILLIAMS in POSEY CO. IN. Your help will be appreciated. [J.C. - check out Chuck Moore under New Members.] RESPONSES ELAINE ENGLISH (eng4@STC.Net)sends a response to JIM BOB SWAFFORD (JIMBOBTX) ******Just got my latest MOORE Newsletter and saw the information concerning Col. Armstead MOORE (brother to a Robert) and wife Tabitha Adams BOWEN. I am contacting you about these individuals because of the MOORE/BOWEN marriage. Were your Col. Armstead and wife Tabitha at any time in NC or TN? The reason I am asking is that my probable gg Grandfather Teenan MOORE married Margaret BOWEN in 1797 in Guilford Co., NC and later migrated to TN. I am curious to know if your family may have NC connections especially. It could be significant for me. Hope to hear from you when you have the time. COLONIAL MOORES RUBY ELROD (RElrod5535) [Note from Joyce: Ruby submitted this information formatted to adapt to email constraints. It was not necessary for me to rework garbled information due to format failure during transmittal. When she indents, she precedes by using the space bar or a series of dots instead of tabbing to the point of indentation. One further word, MOORE NEWS is formatted on a page designed to print onto an 8-1/2 X ll" sheet of paper with 1" margins. Readers should extend the message form to full width, to maintain line endings. Hope this helps those who experience receipt problems.] *****First of all, I want to say hello to new found cousin JENNIFER (jenohn@mail.coos.or.us) who asked about the Moore family in Owsley and Clay Cos. Ky, as that is also my line, and I wanted to give her, and anyone else, who is interested a little information. The first Moore I have is James Moore who died about 1835 in Owsley Co., Ky. He was married to Eleander Hamilton who was born in PA and d/o William Hamilton and Margaret Walkup. She died in 1835 in Clay Co., KY. Their children were: 1. John Moore bn ca 1780 in PA and married Judy Bowman 2. Mary "Polly" Moore bn ca 1782 and married Thomas Bowman, Sr. 3. William Moore, Sr. bn 22 Sept 1785 in PA married 13 Feb. 1806 in Madison Co., KY to Debra Bowman. He died in April 1864 in Owsley Co., KY 4. Elizabeth Moore bn 1786 married Cornelius Bowman 5. James Moore, Jr. bn ca 1788 married Elizabeth Morris 6. Elias Moore bn 1790 m Celia Reynolds 7. Ester Moore bn 11 Jan 1792 married Robert Rose 8. Isabella Moore bn 1799 m Nicholas Bowman Deborah Bowman who married William Moore, Sr. was born 2 Feb. 1790 in Butler Co., TN. She was the d/o Cornelius Bowman and Suzannah "Betsy" Abbott. Debra died 1 March 1883 in Owsley Co., Ky Their children: 1. James Wise Moore (my gr gr grandfather) bn abt 1808 in Madison Co., KY, married first to Lucinda Evans who died about 1850. Their children were: .........a. Zachariah Moore bn 1830 m Mary Ann Brandstetter .........b. Margaret Moore bn 1831 .........c. Justine Moore bn 1832 m. Joseph Ponder .........d. Susan Moore bn abt 1836 .........e. Lucinda Moore bn abt 1838 m Sylvester Evans .........f. Sarah Moore bn ca 1840 .......g. Mary Moore bn 1843 .......h. Tabetha Moore bn 1846 .........i. James Moore bn 1849 James Wise Moore married his second wife Elizabeth Ponder bn abt 1823 in Yancey Co., NC and she died in Menifee Co., KY. She was d/o John and Winnie Holcombe Ponder. Their children: .........j. Winnie Jane Patrick Moore bn Sept 1852 in Owsley Co., KY, m 5 Sept 1872 to Turner Spencer. They both died in 1931 in Menifee Co., KY ........k. Lourena F. Moore bn 1 May 1854 ........l. Nancy J.Moore bn 15 Oct.1855 m. Riley Ingram 13 Nov 1873 in Menifee Co. ......m. John D. Moore bn 25 Sept.1857 ......n. Elizabeth Moore bn 1861 ..........o. Melvina Moore bn 1865 .........p. Axey J. Moore bn 1866 ..........q. Joseph Moore bn 1869 2. Cornelius Moore bn 1813 m Justine Evans 3. Elias Moore bn 1814 m Sallie Morris 4. Susannah Moore bn 1824, married 23 June 1838 to John Bowman. Died aft 1870 5. John Moore bn 1825 m. Polly Wilson 6. Isabella Moore bn 1826 7. Deborah Moore bn 1827 married Alfred Wilson 8. Henry Moore bn 1828 m. Artimessa Strong 9. William J. Moore, Jr. bn 1830 married (1) Isabella Strong and (2) Eva Baker 10. Margaret Moore bn 1831 married (1) Oliver C. Cole and (2) B. H. Brandenburg MOORE MISCELLANY SAMUEL DALTON MOORE By Merle C. Moore, Winchester, Virginia Samuel Dalton Moore, son of William and Jane Dalton Hanby Moore, was born 12 May 1804 in the White House, in White House Bottom southwest of Ararat, VA [Patrick Co]. He married Matilda Franklin on 29 October 1827. He soon became established in Mt. Airy, NC. Matilda Caroline Franklin, 1803-1835, was the daughter of governor Jesse Franklin. She presented her husband a son, Jesse Franklin Moore, on 18 August 1829 (he died 15 August 1891), followed by another son, William Alfred Moore, 1830-1909. After the death of his first wife, Matilda Caroline Franklin, Samuel Dalton Moore married Rachel Ann Moore-Moore. She birthed him Matilda C. Moore, born 1835 in Surry County, NC. Matilda Caroline Moore married Samuel L. Gilmer on 3 July 1855. They had ten children. [Note from Joyce: Merle received the information about the date of death of Matilda Caroline Moore from someone else. It is incorrect. Matilda Caroline Franklin Moore was the mother of Matilda Caroline Moore, b 1835.] Samuel Dalton Moore was the son of William Moore and Jane Dalton Hanby, not the son of Matthew Moore as reported. Matthew Moore was of the "Fancy Moores" who migrated to the area from Albemarle County, VA, and also lived in the vicinity of the Sauratown Mountains in Stokes County NC. Samuel Dalton Moore was not the brother of Gallahue Moore either, as commonly reported. Gallahue Moore was his uncle, brother of his father William Moore. Gallahue Moore was listed as his 'Guardian,' as decided by the Court upon the death of William Moore. Samuel Dalton Moore was in the care of his uncle Gallahue Moore until a settlement was reached on 1 January 1824. He then became increasingly a force of note in the Mt. Airy NC community. He was a merchant in Mt. Airy following in the footsteps of his uncle Hugh G. Moore in Hawkins County, TN. Later in his Uncle Hugh's career, the two business operations became simultaneous; the one in TN, the other in NC. By what means, Samuel Dalton Moore became the owner of 'Flat Rock,' family tradition does not state. Stories were told of how he discovered the vast Granite Batholoth by plowing in the area, the near surface rock often breaking plow shares and cultivating equipment. The Granite Batholith trends eastward beyond the open face granite mine of today, for some distance. It also trends westward under the city of Mt. Airy some miles before plunging deep underground. It resembles a loaf of dough, shaped and rounded on the top as the dough would look before it was baked. Mt. Airy is on very solid rock. On the east of the William Alfred Moore house, in the yard, granite comes to the surface; a trough to water chickens has been chisled out of the 'living stone.' [Note from Joyce: As a child in Danbury, Stokes County, NC, I lived a rocky mass similar to that described by Merle. Across the street from our house were many outcroppings of stone. One fondly remembered summer treat was when my friend, Eddie Taylor, would appear with fresh picked tomatoes - from whose garden he never said. I would get a salt shaker from the house, and off we'd go, climbing the hill across the street to the top of the highest boulder, warmed by a summer sun, and munch on our salty summer tomatoes.] Jesse Franklin Moore was the firstborn of Samuel Dalton and Matilda Franklin Moore. He married Ann R. Banner. William Alfred Moore was born two years later to Samuel and Matilda Moore. He married Rachel Martin, reportedly his cousin, when he was about 30 years old. To this union was born Matthew Dalton Moore, born in December 1861 and died in 1938. He was both born and died in Surry County NC. I have no record of marriage or issue. The second child was Mary Matilda Moore, born 23 December 1863 in Surry County, and died there on 25 November 1892. She maried Dr. John F. Hollingsworth and had the following children: Paul Hollingsworth was born 4 April 1884 in Surry County and died there 17 September 1915. Cleon Hollingsworth was born April 1887 in Surry County. Lettie Hollingsworth was born in November 1888 in Surry County. She lived in the William Alfred Moore house most of her life and is now living in a rest home in Mt. Airy. She is 106 years old. She is blind, but her 'Head' is still very clear. She has been a brilliant conversationalist with many stories and traditions through the years. She is the oldest female descendant of Rodeham Moore this author has known, or has know record of. The "Moore Scourge" has not gotten her. She must have done everything right. Lettie Hollingsworth has a distant cousin, Frank Williams Moore, (who is conversant with this writer) who lives in Mooresburg, Hawkins County, TN. He is four ways descended from Rodeham Moore, a unique descent. Frank is still a kid (according to Miss Lettie's attainment). He is most of 94 years of age. No other male Moore has attained this advanced age in my memory. Three score and ten years are allotted to man. "By reason of strength," additional years are attained (Bible). Matt M. Hollingsworth, born 13 March 1890 in Surry County, died there on 24 January 1910. SOMETHING ABOUT THE WILLIAM ALFRED MOORE HOUSE Located at 202 Moore Avenue in Mt. Airy, NC, this house is a rich piece of history. The history of Mt. Airy and some of the descendants of Rodeham and Elizabeth Gallahue Moore are found here. I passed the structure for some years noticing its layout and commanding view of downtown Mt. Airy. I was always impressed, but my research and reclaim mission commanded all of my time. Enter Sharon April Moore, my daughter, who married Gary Holliday(holliday@visuallink.com), and Mary Moore Lewis Hughes (wife of Dr. George Hughes of Birmingham, AL) who, probably through collusion, insisted I take them to the Moore house. I readily agreed, as by this time I was in a state of mind to do some video research notes of the house. Also in accompaniment was my wife, Grace, and a family of Moore kin and friend from Plano, TX, who was Beverly Delaney and her mother Betth Jackson Blanke. All were eager for a tour. After making arrangements with Susan Ashby, we proceeded to the front porch of the Moore house and the tour started. What a surprise: it is fully furnished with all the appointments of a 19th home, plus the necessary appointments of modern living. The house looked "lived in," and in fact it is lived in by Walter Mason who married into the familiy. The collection of books read by William A. Moore lined the walls in some rooms in tiers or shelves. He certainly was a well-read man. Pictures of William A. Moore and his wife hang over the bookshelves in what I would call the Study. There is an enclosed sun porch that looks out on the grounds in three directions, a type of study that is most delightlful. The well-furnished parlor would be a pleasurable place for a visit. The large dining room at the end of the entrance hall and the adjoining kitchen helps point out the necessities of pleasant living. The ascending staircase from the front door area leads to a number of fully furnished upstairs bedrooms and other rooms. Antique furniture greets one on every turn. A closed in back porch with windows replacing walls, runs across the entire back of the house. The vista of hundreds of Boxwoods and a manicured lawn with stately Oak, Maple, Tulip Poplar and other trees is amazing. I am much impressed. A half hour tour turned into a three hour tour with much talk, visiting and questions about our people, the Moore's, and the Moore house. Right down a researcher's alley. The grounds are profusely appointed with stately trees, front, back and side. Some oaks are massive. In the front yard, which incidentally once ran to Main Street in the distance, there is a gazebo, sometimes called a 'Summer House.' What is so unique about the structure is that it is appointed with root wood from Mountain Laurel. The walls, as well as the intereior seats and table, have felt the Mountain Laurel appointment. It has a wood shingle roof, and I dare say, there is not another structure like this anywhere. According to information gleaned while on the grounds, William Alfred Moore built the house just before the start of the Civil War. This would be 1860 to 1862. It is in an excellent state of repair for 130 years of continuous occupancy. (To differentuate between the two prominent Moores in Patrick County VA and the ones from Albemarle Co VA who lived just across the line in Stokes County NC, I have decided upon the following nomenclature: The Stokes County NC descendants of John Moore of Albemarle County VA, I call 'The Fancy Moores.' The Surry County NC descendants of Rodeham Moore of Patrick County VA, I call 'The Good Looking Moores.' This detracts from neither tribe and is probably a compliment to both. CURRENT STATUS OF THE WILLIAM ALFRED MOORE HOUSE, MT. AIRY, NC The Moore house and four-plus acres of grounds were purchased by the Mt. Airy Restoration Foundation. The structure is tens of thousands of dollars in debt. A large part of the purchase price was made initially; the rest,hopefully, is being paid for by an endowment, contributions, fees from tours, weddings and other functions. To quote Susan Ashby, who is very active in the Foundatin, and the equivalent of docent for the Moore house: "It is hard, very hard, to manage the remaining debt." This is a very worthy cause. The home is one of the pitifully few remaining structures of ancestral pioneer Moore dynasty which may be visited and viewed readily. Let's keep this precious piece of our heritage functional and alive. Contributions may be mailed to the Mt. Airy Resotration Foundation,Mt. Airy, NC 27030: Attention - Susan P. Ashby. specify that your benevolence be directed to the William Alfred Moore house. You may also contact Susan at (919) 786-2244, or at her address: 302 Cherry Street, Mt. Airy, NC 27030. [Note from Joyce: When Merle handed me a packet a few weeks ago, I had no idea he was handing me my heritage, encased in a brown envelope. It's hard to say how grateful you are when someone gives you a chunk of yourself that you hardly knew you had less than a year ago. I first heard of Merle after MOORE NEWS was launched (CAPT C 'introduced' us). Now I've met him and his wife, Grace. After a failed attempt this fall, Merle and Grace, Capt C and his wife Audrey, and I plan to take a trip down to Surry County NC and Patrick County VA where Merle will guide us through Mt. Airy-abelia. Plans include a visit to the William Alfred Moore house and the graveyard that Merle and Grace have resurrected in 'White House Bottom' in Patrick County. Merle also promisies us a ride in Sheriff Andy Taylor's car, still running and in good repair after years of use in Andy Griffin's 'Mayberry.' [As we discussed our plans, Merle described the William Alfred Moore house to me and it began to dawn on me that he was telling me about a house I knew. When we visited my father's family in Mt. Airy when I was a child, we went to this house; if there were funerals, we went to this house; if there were other family occasions, we went to this house. It was Merle's descriptions of the Boxwoods that glinted on my brain like a spark. Boxwoods -- I remember huge fluffy Boxwoods in Mt. Airy. On visits fifty years ago (55?), the first thing I did while the grownups carried on their conversations was seek out my favorite Boxwood behind the 'Summer House' and climb up into its protective cover. It was huge, at least ten feet tall. The aroma of Boxwood would literally envelope me and the branches would wrap around me - a safe and secure haven. Eventually, they would discover that I was missing and Aunt Lettie (daughter of William Alfred Moore and my 1st cousin once removed, I think) would come to find me -- "The bush is very old and fragile, my dear, we don't want the branches broken." The last time I visited the house was about fifteen years ago. Yet again, they reminded me of my propensity for Boxwood trees. Mary Margaret and Walt Mason were still living there then. And Aunt Lettie lived with them at the old William Alfred Moore home, fragile and old she was, almost as ancient as the Boxwoods she protected all those years from llittle tomboy cousins, but bright and active, as the Boxwoods were still bright and supple. Merle's article was written several years ago. Aunt Lettie celebrated her 110th birthday on 10 November 1996. __________________________________________________ MOORE NEWS: Compiled from email and other sources Distributed by Joyce Browning cJBrown7169@AOL.com 11 December 1996