Biographies | 1896 Bios
George Henry Moore
Mr. Moore is a native of Fauquier county, Virginia, born June 12, 1827. His father, Presley Moore, a native of the Old Dominion, of English descent, and a soldier in the war of 1812, was married in 1824 to Miss Christina Mann, a native of Virginia and a daughter of George Mann, who was of German descent. Presley Moore's useful career was cut short when he was in the prime of life, meeting death through an accident when he was thirty-eight years of age. He left a widow and four children, namely: Angeline McKay, a resident of Greene county, Ohio; George H., whose name appears at the head of this article; Eliza Mann, who resides at Baxter Springs, Kansas; and James F., a Union soldier, who died July 20, 1889. The mother died in Greene county, Ohio, in 1849, a member of the Presbyterian Church.
At the time of his father's death George H. Moore was a small boy. He went to school in a log school-house and had very few early educational advantages. March 13, 1851, he was married in Clinton county, Ohio, to Miss Hannah J. Peterson, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Stuckey) Peterson, both natives of Virginia, and her father of German descent. Mr. Peterson and his family were among the early settlers of Ohio, their journey from Virginia to that State being made on horseback, the mother carrying her babe in her arms. Their family consisted of nine children, six sons and three daughters.
After his marriage Mr. Moore continued to reside on the home farm and carry on its operations until 1856, when he moved from Greene to Clinton county, Ohio, remaining at the latter place two years. From 1858 until 1865 his home was in Logan county, Ohio, and in 1865 he came to Iowa. His journey to this State was made by rail to the terminus of the Northwestern Railroad, which at that time was Nevada, Iowa, and from there he came by stage to Des Moines. In Cass township, Guthrie county, he purchased 160 acres of land on section 18. To this he added by subsequent purchase until he had 640 acres in Cass township, besides a tract of 800 acres which he bought as early as 1856, thus becoming an extensive land-owner. For some years he was largely engaged in raising wheat and live stock, and continued to reside on his farm until he moved into Panora, where for ten years he was engaged in merchandising. He was connected at different times in his business operations with E. J. Reynolds, P. S. Hamilton, and his son, H. L. Moore. In 1874 he was one of the organizers of the Guthrie County National Bank, and from that time until 1884 was a member of its board of directors. Since 1884 he has officiated as president of the bank. Mr. Moore owns an elegant and commodious residence in Panora, which was erected at a cost of $2,300, and in which he and his family are surrounded with all the comforts of life.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore have a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Marcellus F., Denver, Colorado; Horace L., a leading merchant of Panora; Willis G., a resident of Stuart, Iowa; Ada C., wife of H. C. Fitz. a prominent grocer of Panora; Clara A., wife of M. M. Reynolds, cashier of the bank of which her father is president; Flora B., a musician of much ability and an excellent teacher; and Artie G., who is deceased. All have had excellent educational advantages, take an interest in church work, and some are prominent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Panora.
During the thirty years of his residence in Iowa, Mr. Moore has made a wide acquaintance, and his life has been such as to gain and maintain for him the high esteem of all with whom he has had dealings.
A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company 1896, pg. 245.