Moore

William and John Moore Families

Two early Mahaska County pioneers were brothers John and William Moore, who married sisters. They had moved to Mahaska County along with their families from their homes in Montgomery County, Indiana. They were the sons of William Moore (1782-1855) and Elizabeth Snook Moore (1793-1887) and the direct descendants of Captain Phillip Snook, a veteran of the American Revolution. Captain Snook, the father of their mother, Elizabeth, was wounded while fighting in the Battle of Monmouth. The brothers had traveled with their parents from Scioto County, Ohio to Indiana in the spring of 1822. In 1823 their parents built and operated a tavern named “The Half Way House” in Montgomery County. It was an eating place for travelers and an Indian trading post. Both of the brothers were farmers.

William Moore was born January 1, 1816 in Scioto County, Ohio and died August 22, 1886 in Mahaska County, Iowa. He married Adeline Litsey (1816-1903) on December 12, 1841 in Parke County, Indiana. It is believed he traveled with his brother, John, to Iowa in 1849 and his family is listed in Mahaska County on the 1850 Federal Census. They were the parents of 9 children. William is buried along with son Austin and daughter Margaret Moore Davenport in Old Rose Hill Cemetery. Adeline is buried near her daughter Nancy Moore Roberts in Lone Tree Cemetery in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

John Moore was born February 14, 1824 in Vigo County, Indiana and died March 5, 1887 in Rose Hill, Iowa. He married Catharine Litsey (1830-1910) on September 20, 1849 in Parke County, Indiana. He and Catharine traveled to Mahaska County in a two-horse wagon shortly thereafter. Catharine and Adeline Litsey were the daughters of Henry Litsey (1785-1867) and Nancy Carrico Litsey (1798-1874) of Parke County, Indiana. John and Catharine were the parents of 12 children. John, Catharine and daughters Louisa, Mary and Allene are all buried in Old Rose Hill Cemetery.

*It should be noted there are at least 3 different Moore lines buried in Old Rose Hill Cemetery. Information for this summary provided by Mallory Fitch and Randy Wright, Parke County, Indiana Historian.