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Edwin O. Moore

The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical review has long enjoyed distinctive precedence as one of Fayette county's most enterprising and successful agriculturists and stock raisers, who is at present managing a popular and well patronized creamery in West Union, and, besides enjoying the reputation of one of the county's representative men of affairs, he has at the same time won a reputation for honesty and square dealing in all the relations of life.

Edwin O. Moore was born in Rock County, Wisconsin, February 16, 1853, and is the son of Rev. William and Catherine (Robbins) Moore, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Vermont. William Moore's birth occurred in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1813, and his death was recorded on April 27, 1873; he was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His wife, who was born in Rochester, Addison county, Vermont, November 20, 1817, died September 17, 1907, having reached the advanced age of ninety years. William Moore devoted his life to farming and he came to Fayette county, Iowa, when Edwin O., of this review, was about two years old, the family having emigrated from Ashland county, Ohio, where they had lived twelve years, to Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1852, their arrival in Illyria township, Fayette county, Iowa, taking place in 1854. The family of Mr. and Mrs. William Moore constituted the following children: Rev.

 Samuel Wallace, who was born in Pennsylvania, June 18, 1838, received a common school education and when seventeen years old joined the church of which his father was minister, the United Brethren denomination, and at the age of twenty began preaching, receiving license from the general conference in 1860: he preached in Linn Co. Iowa one year, and on July 3, 1861, married Mary Dresser, and one child was born to them, but died in infancy. On August 13, 1862, Rev. Moore enlisted in Company D, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, with the rank of sergeant, and he proved to be a gallant soldier, and was fatally wounded May 18. 1863, at Black River Bridge, Mississippi, dying almost instantly, and his body was buried on the field, thus cutting short a very promising career. Mrs. Mary J. Dye, next in order of birth, was born April 23, 1840, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and she has for many years lived in Windsor township, Fayette county, Iowa; she first married, on March 18, 1860, Josiah W. Hardy, a teacher of superior attainments, who enlisted in Company D, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, on August 13, 1862, and died in St. Louis, May 25, 1863; their only child, Clara S., who was born July 6, 1861, married N. A. Shaw and they live on a farm in Fayette County. On June 2, 1864, Mrs. Mary J. Hardy married Andrew Dye a widower having two children, and this union resulted in the birth of eight children, Vernie E., Addie E., Edwin H., Minnie A., Bertie, Henry S., Melvia E. and Sophia Beulah. Mr. Dye's death occurred on January 21, 1890. Vesta A. Moore, was the third child in order of birth, her birth having occurred on April 19, 1842. She married Thomas J. Rice, in 1861; she married Daniel Shaffer, of Tama City, Iowa, in 1882; three children were born of her first union, Samuel Wallace, William O. and Katie; the two former are married. Samantha R. married Peter McKellar and she died October 31, 1894; Roxie A., born December 18, 1845, became the wife of George W. Fitch, of West Union. Minerva R., wife of Austin R. Moats, of Cedar Rapids, was born June 19, 1847, and is the mother of eight children. Robert Clark, born September 4, 1850, married Elizabeth Moats, and resides in Longwood, Custer County, Nebraska; they have six children, four living. Edwin Osborn Moore, the immediate subject of this review. Jasper Smith Moore was born May 20, 1854, married Mary Crane, and upon the homestead in Illyria township they are living with their five children. Francis Kirkwood Moore was born September 20, 1857, and died January 25, 1893; he married Nettie Clements and had one child.

William Moore was for many years one of the best known and most influential men of Fayette county, a man whom everybody respected and admired for his many sterling virtues. He was always very active in church work. He was steward of the poor farm in Fayette county for two years.

Edwin O. Moore, of this review received his early education in the country schools of Fayette county. He has devoted his life to farming, having started for himself when about twenty-two years of age. He was married in 1875 to Mary Waltenbaugh, who was born in Clayton County, Iowa, November 1, 1858, and she was the daughter of James Waltenbaugh and wife, natives of Pennsylvania.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin O. Moore, namely: Cynthia, who was born June 14, 1877, married William J. Myers, a farmer of Volga City, Iowa, and they have one child, Merrill; Susie, born September 3, 1880, married J. R. Jones, of Iowa Falls, this state, and has one son, Paul E.; James, who was born May 16, 1885, is living at home; Guy's birth occurred on June 1, 1894, and he is also living with his parents.

Edwin O. Moore located in Clayton county, near Volga City, where he farmed a few years, then came to Fayette county in 1901, buying the old Gilson farm, on which he lived for eight years, when he sold it and purchased his present fine home in section 18, just one mile west of West Union on the Hawkeye road, his home being attractively located and everything about it showing thrift and good management.

Mr. Moore has never been an office seeker, always a home man. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, holding their membership in Clayton county. His farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres of good land, well improved. Mr. Moore recently bought and is now operating the Farmers' Creamery in West Union, and moved his family to town, having rented his farm. This is the only creamery in West Union, and it has become a well established business industry. Mr. Moore also operates a produce market, where he handles poultry, cream, etc. Himself and his son James conduct the business at each place."