Biographical Sketch of William H. Moore, Franklin County, Missouri >From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888. ********************************************************************** William H. Moore, the son of James and Mary A. (Ludwig) Moore, was born in Northumberland County, Penn., May 24, 1838. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born October 15, 1807 and was a farmer the early part of his life. He lived many years of his life in the vic- inity of Lewisburg, Penn., where is located Bucknell University (formerly called University at Lewisburg), of which he was one of the founders and trustees, from its beginning to the time of his death, with a few years exception, while living in Missouri. Many years of his life were spent building railroads and bridges, in company with John Ott Rockafellow, of Pennsylvania, his cousin. They built part of the Old Catawissa Railroad, in Pennsylvania, the Harlem Railroad, in New York State; also a portion of the New York & Erie Railroad, to Erie, and the Buffalo & New York City Railroad, ninety-one miles in length, from Buffalo to Hornellsville, now part of the New York & Erie Railroad, on which they constructed one of the highest bridges in the world, if not the highest, built on piers. It is 234 feet high, and is over the Genesee River, at Portage, N. Y., a few feet above the upper falls on that river. He was president of the last named road a short time after its completion. His last railroad building was in Pennsylvania, for the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, on one of its branches, the Lewisburg Center & Spruce Creek Railroad. He and his sons, Samuel and Charles, built some twelve or fifteen miles of this road, and then laid the track on twenty-five miles of it. He came West in 1858, and located at Old Mines, Washington Co., Mo. In the spring of 1861 he came to Franklin County, and took charge of the Virginia Lead Mines, and operated them for three years. Feb- ruary 14, 1861 he took for his second wife Elizabeth M. Hayes, who is still living. At the end of the time mentioned Mr. Moore purchased a farm, which he tilled until 1870. During this time, or in 1864, he was elected judge of the county; also served on the State Board of Agriculture. He died in Pennsylvania, July 4, 1886. He was married to the mother of our subject January 31, 1831. She was born October 24, 1812 in Berks County, Penn., and died at Old Mines, Mo., October 1, 1858. To them were born nine children, who are named as follows: Edward W., Annie E., James A., William H., Joseph R., Samuel L., John O., Jared R. and Charles L. Those deceased are Edward W., John O. and Jared R. William H. received a liberal education at Bucknell University. He came with his father to Missouri in 1858, and to Franklin County in 1861, where he has since resided. During the late war he served as orderly sergeant of Company C, Fifty-fourth Pro- visional State Militia. In 1866 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for ten years. He, like his father, is something of a contractor, and built the bridge across the Meramec River, now called the Mount Hope Bridge. He also constructed the road leading to the bridge. He is now engaged in farming. December 12, 1867, he married Harriet Kennedy, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Samuel Kennedy. She died in Franklin County, Mo., March 26, 1875. To their marriage were born five children, two now living: Anna M. and Grace D. Those deceased are Edward L., Charles L. and Harriet K. September 20, 1876, Mr. Moore took for his second wife Rebecca H. Kennedy, of Hancock County, Ill., born September 20, 1845, in West- moreland County, Penn., and the daughter of William Kennedy. Six children were the result of this union, five of whom are now living: William R., Harry J., Lizzie H., James R. and Rebecca Gertrude. Margery is deceased. Mr. Moore is a Republican, and he and his wife and two daughters are members of the Baptist Church, of Indian Prairie, Mo. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================