D.W. Moore
SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998
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CRAWFORD COUNTY
page 1176
D. W. Moore. Among the early settlers of Crawford County, Ark., should be
mentioned the Moore family. Grandfather Benjamin Moore, a native of Virginia,
came here with his family at an early day, and settled on the Sebastian County
side of the Arkansas River, at what is known as Moore's Rock. His son, Benjamin
L., was also born in Virginia, and came to this State with his parents. Upon
arriving at man's estate he married Mary Walker, sister of [p.1176] Judge C. W.
Walker, and soon after settled in Crawford County, where he farmed for a time,
and merchandised in Van Buren. The mother was a Methodist, and died when her
only child. David W., was an infant. The father afterward married Emily H.
Erwin, who became the mother of Benjamin L. Moore. The father was a Whig in
politics. His death occurred when our subject was ten years old. David W. was
born October 2, 1839. at Fayetteville, where his mother was visiting. He
received as good an education as the times afforded during his younger days,
his first teacher being Rev. Townsend, an Episcopal clergyman of culture, and
his second the Rev. C. K. Marshall, a Presbyterian minister who taught in Van
Buren. After his father's death he went to live with the family of Judge David
Walker, of Fayetteville, remaining with them for ten years. At the age of
sixteen, having nearly completed the course of the Arkansas College, he entered
Princeton College, New Jersey, but left in eighteen months on account of ill
health, returning to Fayetteville and living upon his uncle's farm. In May,
1861, he enlisted in Capt. Brown's company of Van Buren Frontier Guards for
three months, and was appointed sergeant-major of Col. Gratiot's regiment. He
was present during the fight at Wilson's Creek, and at the expiration of his
service re-enlisted in Company G, of King's regiment of infantry, Confederate
army, remaining until the close of the war. He participated in the engagement
at Helena, and several others of minor importance. In 1863 he was adjutant of
Stirman's battation four months. He also served as quartermaster-sergeant. His
command was disbanded at Marshall, Tex., and he then went to Little Rock from
Shreveport on horseback. Arriving there he was made clerk of the
quartermaster's office for nine months, and then for eight months held the
clerkship on the steamer Argus, under Capt. Ed Noland. Then for a number of
years he farmed in Crawford County, and subsequently secured an interest in the
business of D. C. Williams, for whom he had kept books two years. Later the
business was conducted by H. H. Shibley, George Wood and himself, under the
firm name of Shibley, Moore & Co. Ill health, however, caused his return to
farm life, which has since been his chief occupation. He is a stanch Democrat,
and in 1872 was the Democratic nominee for representative of Franklin,
Crawford and Sebastian Counties. May 27, 1875, he married Emma T. Johnson, a
native of this county, and the mother of four children: David W., Thomas J.,
Benjamin L. and Mary W. Mrs. Moore is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr.
Moore owns 1.000 acres of land, and is a director of the Crawford County Bank.