MOORE, Joshua W. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Joshua W. Moore, druggist, Newtown, was born April 22, 1839 in Fleming

County, Kentucky and was partly raised in Bourbon County. His father,

Jacob died in 1849 of cholera in 1854 his mother, Rebecca (Barton) moved

her family to Montgomery County, Indiana and settled near Waveland. On

March 21, 1861, he married Miss Mary E, daughter of Washington Rice of

Montgomery County. She was born Oct 21, 1844. They have 5 children

living and one dead: Jonathan L, born Jan 11, 1862; Stephen A, Nov 12,

1863; Jacob W Dec 16, 1865; Charles T Jan 9, 1868 d. Aug 16, 1878;

Martha A May 7, 1870 and Mary E March 30, 1874. In 1864 Mr. M. moved his

family to Warren County where he lived two years and farmed. He then

returned to Montgomery County, and in 1867 moved to Missouri, settling

near Buffalo, county seat of Dallas County. It was while living here

that his son Jonathan had his left hand torn off in a cane mill. Mr.

Moore had been a school teacher in Indiana, and on emigrating to

Missouri found a field of usefulness in that connection awaiting him

there. He taught more or less during his residence in that state and for

2 years was county superintendent of schools. A part of the time he was

occupied in farming, and was also considerably employed on different

occasions with public and probate matters. He gradually grew to be

considered an indispensable man in his community. His judgment was

generally solicited and his opinions always respected. Several times he

was favorable spoken of for office and when in 1874 he moved back to

Indiana his departure was the signal for the expression of a very

general regret on the part of a wide circle of friends & acquired In the

spring of 1875 he opened a drug store at Portland Mills, Parke Co, and

in the summer of 77 removed to Newtown, where he now carries on the same

business. In Aug 1878 a melancholy accident occurred by which his

youngest son, Charles lost his life. He and two other lads went out with

a double barreled gun, lightly loaded to kill a hawk. It was discharged

without effect and the report was so low that a dispute arose as to

whether it was only the bursting of the cap. While the others were

gazing up into the tree at the bird, one of them holding the fowling

piece with the butt resting on the ground, neither of them observed the

movements of little Charley; it is supposed he placed his mouth to the

muzzle with the design of blowing into the barrel while he should throw

back the hammer with his foot, which caught the other also; this

slipped, discharging the loaded barrel, the contents entering the right

corner of his mouth, passing along the base of the skull, and lodging

under the skin at the back of his head. He breathed but once or twice

after assistance came, which was near at hand. Mr. Moore and his wife

are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is a Mason; an Odd

Fellow, a member of the encampment and in politics a Democrat.