Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 534-537.

JOSEPH B. MOORE.

The man who has accumulated most in the way of worldly wealth is not always the man who has accomplished most in life. While wealth is desirable, there are other things much more so, because of being more conducive to happiness. A moral, intelligent, well educated and thrifty family is far more desirable than great wealth. The combination of both, like most other happy combinations, is to be most desired. The subject of this sketch, Joseph B. Moore, is one whose life has been blessed in this regard. He was born in Hamilton county, near Strawtown, Indiana, September 11, 1838, and here his childhood, youth and early manhood were spent. During the 'forties there were few schools in Indiana, but most neighborhoods hoods had a subscription school a number of months each year, and it was in these schools that the subject received his education. It was not what would be considered liberal, but was thorough as to the common branches.

The parents of Joseph B. Moore were Cornelius and Elizabeth (Lash) Moore. The latter was a native of New Jersey and emigrated, when quite young, with her parents, to eastern Ohio where the family resided for some time, then moved to Athens, Ohio, where she met and married Cornelius Moore. After marriage they settled down to farming near Athens, where they continued until 1834, when they moved to Hamilton county, Indiana. There they entered a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of government land, erected a humble home and proceeded to carve a farm out of the wilderness. When they had been away from their relatives and friends in Ohio a number of years, and when Joseph B. Moore was an infant of only a few months, they decided to make a visit to their old Ohio home. They traveled by wagon, taking with them their bedding, and stopping at night at farm houses on the way, when they would lay their bedding on the floor and repose comfortably through the night. One morning one of the men of the house where they stopped, desiring to help them get ready for their journey, picked up the bedding and dumped it into the wagon. Later Mrs. Moore missed her baby, which was nowhere to be found. The child was too young to even crawl away, hence what had become of him was a mystery. Diligent search finally disclosed the little fellow almost smothered to death under the pile of bedding that had been dumped into the wagon, and he made several gasps before he succeeded in regaining his breath.

Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Moore were the parents of nine children, viz: Isaac married Sarah A. Kelley and is now a resident of Kansas; Morilla died in early womanhood; Eli died in infancy; Joseph; Mary is the widow of James Coster and resides on the old Moore homestead in Hamilton county; George married Rebecca Nance and lives in Hamilton county; Cornelius married Catherine White and lives in Madison county, Indiana; William resides in Hamilton county, on the old homestead; Anthony married Sarah Cuillip and also resides in Hamilton county. The father of this family continued to reside upon and cultivate the farm entered by him, until his death, which occurred many years ago. The mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, died in 1899, at the age of eighty-five years.

Joseph B. Moore worked for his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. Starting out in life to work for himself, he made a trip to Illinois and worked there at farming six months. Returning to Indiana, he worked for a number of years by the day or month for those who had work to do until November 15, 1867, when he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kelly, born in Carroll county, Ohio, April 7, 1847. She was a daughter of Aaron and Susan (Stern) Kelly, who were natives of Ohio, but who had moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, in 1849, when their daughter, Elizabeth, was only two years old. It is said that Mrs. Kelly and her two children, with all their household goods, were conveyed from Ohio on the back of one horse, Mr. Kelly making the journey on foot. During the first few years of their life in Hamilton county they lived on rented farm. When Mr. Kelly had accumulated sufficient money he purchased a tract of eighty acres, land being then not nearly as expensive as it has since become. This he improved and built a home upon it, adding occasionally to the dimensions of his farm, by purchase, until at the time of his death he was the owner of two hundred and seventy acres, splendidly improved and thoroughly cultivated. He was born January 30, 1820, died February 22, 1873; his wife, born July 4, 1823, died February 10, 1901. They were parents of twelve children, viz: Sarah N., wife of Isaac Moore, a resident of Kansas; Elizabeth; Catherine, deceased; Anthony married Sina Awker, and resides in Hamilton county; William, who married Emma Brooks, resides in Hamilton county; John, deceased; Charlotte, deceased; Douglass married Mina Awker and resides in Hamilton county; Caroline, the wife of Fletcher Summers, is now dead; Mary J. is the wife of David Musselman and resides in Liberty township; Delilah is the widow of William Cenders, residing at Strawtown, and Aaron, deceased.

The possessions of Joseph B. Moore at the time of his marriage consisted of one horse, an interest in some cattle and an interest in the growing crop on the home place. The first two years he cultivated the farm of his father-in-law and then rented another place for two years more, when he moved to Wells County, Indiana, where he purchased eighty acres of land for eighteen hundred dollars. As part payment he turned over a team of horses, valued at three hundred dollars, and gave three notes of five hundred dollars each, payable in one, two and three years. As these notes became due he did not have money to meet them, but borrowed it paying ten per cent interest. It was more than twelve years before the last of this indebtedness was liquidated. When he took possession of this land it was practically unimproved, but it is now well ditched, fenced and upwards of seventy acres are cleared. In 1884 he built a large barn and has recently completed a fine residence. He is a farmer of the progressive type, raising lots of cattle, horses and hogs and plenty of grain, hay, straw, fodder and vegetables to feed them. He has a number of very fine brood mares and always has several promising colts on the place. He attends strictly to his own business and therefore makes it remunerative and profitable.

To Mr. and Mrs. Moore five children and many grandchildren have been born, viz: Celia is the wife of Edward Harris, and they are the parents of seven children, William, Charles, Otis, Henry, Evert, Rosie and Edna; Cora is the wife of George Sheets and they are the parents of three children, Elizabeth, Lloyd and Raymond; Aaron, who married Gertie Jones, resides in Liberty township, and they are the parents of three children, Loretta, Lela and Belle; Susan and Elizabeth Ann were twins, both dying in infancy. Mrs. Moore is a member of the church of the Disciples, being a liberal contributor to its support and a regular attendant upon its Services. Mr. Moore is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Liberty Center, has passed the chairs twice and twice been representative in grand lodge. In politics he has always been a Democrat and rather active, particularly during campaigns, having represented his township and county in state and congressional conventions a number of times. Because of his courteous manners, genial disposition and genuine worth, Mr. Moore has won and retains the regard and esteem of all who know him.