Biography of James M. Moose - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 87

James M. Moose, a retired and prominent citizen of Morrilton, was born
in Tennessee in 1827; he was the oldest in a family of five children
born to John L. and Sarah (Beavers) Moose; parents natives of North
Carolina and Alabama respectively. Pat, grandfather Anthony, was an
exile from Poland; came to America and settled in North Carolina; he
and a brother who accompanied him, were the founders of this name in
the United States. His maternal ancestors, the Beavers, were of Irish
and Welsh descent. Father followed farming in Tennessee till 1837; in
1838 came to Arkansas and settled near the present site of Morrilton,
Conway County; here after a short time of two years, he moved to
Pulaski County, where he lived till 1844, when he removed to Union
County. In the spring of 1849, he, with his son, our subject, went to
California; made the trip overland, and were among the first to reach
that State; then they soon engaged in mining, and though our subject
returned East. Mr. Moose, Sr., remained in California for nearly
twenty years, returning in 1869, and resided with his son till his
death, January 2, 1888, at the age of 84 years; mother had died in
1845 in Union County. In the frontier home of our subject, there were
no educational advantages, and he secured his education by his own
endeavor; lived with father at his various homes, and accompanied him
to California in 1849; returned in the fall of 1852, purchased a
drove of cattle, and drove them back the next spring; he followed the
course of the Arkansas River, and one night camped on the exact site
of the present City of Denver, where he shot a deer. This trip
occupied about six months' time; he came back in the spring of 1854,
and has made this place his home since. He married March 21, 1853,
Miss Sophia E. Stockton, a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth Stockton,
natives of North Carolina, and early pioneers to Tennessee, and to
Arkansas in 1837. They resided here till their death, and were
substantial and valued citizens. Our subject now bought a tract of 320
acres on which he began farming; he also began a life of active
speculation in land and stock. In 1859 he bought 160 acres in township
6 north, section 19, range 16 west, on which most of the Town of
Morrilton is now built. In 1863 our subject enlisted in Captain
Sleeper's Company, Third Arkansas Regiment, Mounted Infantry; was in
ill health, and participated in no campaigns; was detailed to work in
the laboratory at Marshall, Texas, at the time of the surrender. Prior
to his enlisting, he served as guide for Gen. Marmaduke, and was in
the engagements at Springfield and Hartsville, Mo. In about 1869 Mr.
Moose erected his present residence, one of the finest and most tasty
in Morrilton. Mr. Moose now owns about 800 acres, 300 of which is
under a high state of cultivation. This land lies in the bottoms of
the Arkansas River, and for productiveness and fertility are
unexcelled. Such land ranks among the best cotton land in the United
States, and a bale to the acre is the average yield. To the union of
Mr. Moose and his estimable wife were born ten children, three of whom
are dead. Mary, wife of John Fletcher, a lawyer at Little Rock, of the
firm of Fletcher & Ratcliff. Edwin C. died at the age of 20 years; had
just finished his education, and died as he stood on the threshold of
life, where success and fortune seemed to smile and beckon; Wm. L.
married to Linnie Bright, of Tennessee; he is a lawyer of Morrilton;
Annie Laura died in infancy; Laura died in infancy; Alice Urilda, wife
of J. C. Halcombe, a merchant in Morrilton; Eugenia, wife of C. C.
Burrow, a merchant; John Menifee, married, and resides at home; Annie,
wife of J. O. Blakeney, editor and proprietor of the Headlight; James
Sayle. Every member of this family are members of the M. E. Church,
South. Mr. Moose is a Mason; joined this fraternity in California in
1852-Madison Lodge, No. 23, in Nevada County; is now a member of
Lewisburg Lodge, No. 105, at Morrilton, in which he has held every
office from Deacon to Master; is also a member of the Chapter. The
Town of Morrilton has grown up on much of what was formerly the
property of Mr. Moose; his pleasant residence in the eastern end is
the old farm house remodeled and rebuilt, which surrounded with
flowers and shrubbery, presents a most pleasing picture of peace,
contentment and prosperity to the visitor.