After several years, I've come across a few papers with a bit more information.
Juan's original name was apparenly Oudah Murah. He and other young boys were conscripted to fight the Turks. After some period, they were sent home, then conscripted again. They rebeled and ran. Several stayed on a friendly farm for some time, returned home and then, fearing another conscription, caught a ship. Believing it was easier to enter Mexico or Central America, most went there. Juan Moras and Frank Ayoub came to USA, settled in Toledo, Ohio. Both lived their lives here, raised families, and died here, Juan in 1969 and Frank in 1977.
According to the papers, Juan's brothers Anton and Mikhail are mentioned, as are cousins Jawdah and Mekhayer in Honduras. Other papers I've seen but no longer have show a business in Torreon, Mexico, apparently owned by a brother/cousin. Several letters to Juan came from there.
Juan's Social Security application shows Belen, Palestine, as his birthplace, in 1890, though we were told it was Bethlehem. His father is listed as Jacob Moras, his mother as Hannah Negme. I have a poem written by Juan's mother, but unsigned, detailing her longing for a lost son.
Any further information will be most appreciated.