J. V. MOSS
                        LAKE CHARLES, LA


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Source: Southwest Louisiana Historical and Biographical by William Henry Perrin
published in 1891; page 176.
Typed by Margaret Rentrop Moore


J. V. MOSS, LAKE CHARLES.-J. V. MOSS, is a representative of one the oldest
families of this place. He was born on the Calcasieu river, this parish (then
St. Landry), September 13, 1825, and is the son of Henry and Anna
(Ryan) Moss, natives of Georgia and Louisiana, respectively. Henry Moss came to
Louisiana at the age of sixteen years with his father, Nathaniel Moss, who was a
native of Virginia, and removed to Georgia when a young  man. He and his wife
died in Lafayette parish, Louisiana. Our subject's father was a soldier in the
war Of 1812 but did not participate in the battle of New Orleans. He with others
were stationed as a guard at tile mouth of Vermilion Bayou during the latter
part of the war. He died in January 1875, at the age of seventy-nine years,
having accumulated a moderate fortune before his death, much of which was lost
by emancipation. He was a man of some prominence, and, though urged to do so, he
never held an office of importance. He was one of the first white settlers of
this section of Louisiana his place of residence was ten miles west of Lake
Charles. A portion of the land is now the property of one of his heirs. Our
subject's mother was a daughter of Jacob Ryan, Sr., whose son, Jacob Ryan, is
now a prominent citizen of Calcasieu parish.
The subject of this sketch is the oldest living member of a family of ten
children, who grew to maturity. He spent his school days in Calcasieu parish and
in eastern Texas, receiving a fair common school education. After leaving school
he engaged with his father on his plantation, where he remained until  
1845, and was for a period subseqnent to this engaged in school teaching Ile was
afterward appointed clerk of district court in 1851.  In 1853 he was elected to
this position and was the incumbent of it until after tile war. His total
term of service aggregated fifteen years. He was deprived of the office because
lie refused to take the " Ironclad oath." In 1867 he was again elected clerk.
and served one year until the reconstruction period set in. Since that
time he has given his full attention to the operation of his little farm, being
the owner of considerable land within the corporation of the city. Mr. Moss was
married in 1845 to Miss Jane Coward, a daughter of Richard Coward. She
died in 1854, at the age of twenty-seven years. As a result of this union four
children were born, three of whom are living, viz: Eleanor L., wife of David 11.
Lyons ; Ametia J., Joseph V. Jr., who resides near Sulphur City. Richard
C. died when quite young. Mr. Moss married in 1856 Miss Amelia Cormier, a native
of St. Martin parish. She died in 1874, having become the mother of nine
children.