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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Matthew D. Moore, Sr., is worthy of mention as one of the enterprising and successful farmers and stockmen of Benton County, Mo., and is one of the pioneers of the same, having been a resident of his present farm since 1856. He was born in Madison County, Ill., April 14, 1825, but was reared principally in Adams County, of the same State, where he was first married in 1848. After coming to Benton County, Mo., he entered a section of prairie land and 120 acres of timber land, his farm being one of the best in the county and finely improved. His residence is commodious and substantial, and his barns and other out-buildings in excellent condition. He served in the Home Guards about six months in 1864, and then entered the regular United States service, Forty-fifth Missouri Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being a participant in the fight at Jefferson City, and was mustered out at St. Louis in the spring of 1865. After returning home he resumed farming and stock-raising for a number of years. He was married in Adams County, Ill., to Melissa E. Baley, of Virginia, who died September 12, 1881, leaving two children: M. D., Jr., who is married and resides near his father, and Dora, wife of Jacob Freund, a resident of Kansas. He married his second wife in Benton County, her name being Maggie L. Foster, a native of Tennessee. They have two children: Lou and Bernice. Mr. Moore is a member of the G. A. R., and is a Master Mason. He has always been an active Republican in politics, and has numerous times been a delegate to the county and State conventions. His father, William Moore, was born and reared in North Carolina, and was married across the line, in South Carolina, to Mary Thomas of that State. They moved to Illinois at an early day, and the father enlisted from that State in the War of 1812, serving three years, and participating in a number of engagements with the Indians’ and British. He resided in Madison County for a number of years, and then moved to Adams County in the spring of 1831, where he died two years later.

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This family biography is one of 86 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Benton County, Missouri family biographies here: Benton County, Missouri Biographies

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