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Nancy Boyd ~ James Moore*

Washington Co., PA

William S. Moore, an enterprising and successful farmer of Independence township, is a son of James Moore, whose father was born near Dublin, Ireland, and when a young man immigrated to America. The latter located in Washington county, Penn., becoming one of the early settlers, and there passed his whole life, enduring all the usual dangers and hardships incident of pioneer life. He married and reared the following children: John, James, Joseph, Samuel, Michie (wife of James Wilson), Maria (Mrs. David Waugh), Eliza (wife of Richard Waugh) and Jane (married to William Mayhall), all of whom lived to an adult age. Mr. Moore died at a ripe old age, and his widow afterward died in Brooke county, W. Va.

*James Moore was born in Washington county, Penn., on his father's farm, and received a preliminary education at the primitive schools of the day. He intended to prepare for the ministry, but the death of his father changed his plans, making it impossible for him to finish the course which had been mapped out. However, he attended the West Liberty (W. Va.) Academy, and being an apt and intelligent student, acquired a considerable amount of information during the short time he remained in the school. After abandoning his former hopes he learned the trade of a millwright, under R. Mayhall, assisting in building the old "Waugh Mill" of Brooke county, W. Va. On April 12, 1827, he was united in marriage with Nancy Boyd, who was born February 12, 1806, daughter of James Boyd, of Independence township, and the following children were born to their union: John, born February 13, 1828, died March 16, 1889, in Indian Territory, and was buried at Coffeyville, Kans.; James, born Aug 6, 1829, died in infancy, and was buried in Lower Buffalo cemetery; David (a farmer of Putnam county, Ill.), born February 7, 1831; Marshall, born January 6, 1833 (living in Independence township); Samuel, born December 28, 1834 (residing in Independence, Penn.); Mary J., born November 7, 1836 (formerly widow of G. M. L. Plummer, now Mrs. Stephen Smith, of Florence, Penn.); Joseph (farming in Knox county, Ohio), born July 26, 1838; Margaret, born December 8, 1839 (living in Independence township, Penn.); William S.; Robert, born June 6, 1845 (residing in Canonsburg, Penn.); and Richard (deceased in youth). For some time after his marriage, Mr. Moore lived in Brooke county, W. Va., at the home of Richard Waugh, where he superintended a "fulling-mill,. In the spring of 1828 he purchased the "John Thom farm" in Independence township, this county, upon which he removed, and divided his time between farming and performing the work of a civil engineer, being very skillful and efficient in the latter vocation. He was naturally of a mechanical turn of mind, and was also a good financier and business manager. He was fond of reading, and was well informed on general topics. Politically he was a Democrat. His death occurred November 28, 1848, and in the fall of 1892 his remains, with those of his son Richard, were removed from the old cemetery to the new one at Independence, where a monument is erected to their memory in the center of the four lots owned by William S. Moore. The widow of James Moore passed the most of her remaining years with her son William. She died December 16, 1890, and was buried in the new cemetery.

William S. Moore was born September 8, 1841, on the farm which is yet his home. His boyhood was passed in attending to the usual farm duties, and in obtaining a common-school education, and he partially learned the carpenter's trade, but never followed it continuously. On August 30, 1876, he was married to Martha Ann Murchland, who was born March 28, 1851, daughter of John Murchland, of Jefferson township. To Mr. And Mrs. Moore have been born children as follows: Lydia W., Joseph L., Artie L., and Nancy V., all of whom are living with their parents. For several years previous to his marriage, Mr. Moore lived with his mother and sister on the farm which has always been his home. In connection with his other work, he raises first-class stock, being very successful in both vocations. He was one of the promoters and founders of the beautiful new Independence cemetery, which is a credit to the community, much taste having been exercised in its arrangement and construction, the grounds being arranged with exquisite care and neatness. Politically, Mr. Moore favors the Democratic party, but votes according to the dictates of his own judgment, believing that more attention should be given to the character and ability of the man than to his political views. On February 12, 1892, Mrs. Moore passed from earth, and was laid to rest in the new cemetery at Independence. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, with which denomination Mr. Moore is also united.

Source: Commemorative biographical record of Washington County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families; Chicago : J. H. Beers, 1893. FHL Film 1000575

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secondary source. When you find the name of an ancestor
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