My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Prairie County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  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.

* * * *

Hon. William L. Moore, retired physician and surgeon, Hickory Plains, Ark. A plain untarnished statement of the facts embraced in the life of William L. Moore, a man well known to the people of Prairie County, Ark., is all that we profess to be able to give in this history of the county; and yet, upon examination of those facts, there will be found the career of one whose entire course through the world has been marked with singular honesty and fidelity of purpose, as well as sincere and efficient service to those whom he has been called upon to represent in different capacities. He was born in Wilson County, Tenn., near Lebanon, on August 29, 1814, and is the son of Robert and Ann L. (Duty) Moore, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. The parents were married in North Carolina, near the line, and the father cultivated the soil in Virginia until 1806, when he moved to Wilson County, Tenn. He was in the Creek War, was made major, and fell while leading his men at the battle of Talladega. The mother reared the family, and in 1819, was married the second time, to James L. McDonald. She then moved to Cotton Grove, Tenn., thence to Bolivar to educate her children, and there died in 1827. Dr. William L. Moore was reared in Tennessee, and at the age of fourteen years, entered a store to learn something of merchandising, spending the time alternately in the store earning funds and in attending school until twenty-one years of age. He received a fair education in the common and higher English branches, also studied Latin, and subsequently began the study of medicine under Dr. John McCall, at Rome, Smith County, which he continued a short time. He then began studying under Dr. Alexander Goode, of Fayette County, a very prominent physician, and took his first course of lectures in 1833, 1834 and 1835. He then practiced with his preceptor for twelve months, and his home being in the corner of Fayette County, he practiced in that, and Marshall, De Soto and Shelby Counties for twelve years, meeting with excellent success. In February, 1853, he moved to Arkansas, locating in Hickory Plains, Prairie County, where he has remained ever since. While living in Fayette County, Tenn., he was married on December 9, 1846, to Miss Mary C. Abington, a native of the Blue Grass State, and the daughter of William Abington. Five living children are the results of this union: Edwin, Dora (wife of Dr. Lindsay), Emma (wife of J. N. Brians), Ripley A. (an attorney at Des Arc) and Samuel A. They lost two daughters, one an infant, and the other nine years of age, and a son who died at the age of three years. After locating in Prairie County, Dr. Moore carried on farming in connection with his practice, and for ten years lived in Hickory Plains to educate his children. In 1856 he was elected to represent Prairie County in the legislature and served one term. During the late war, he was in the Confederate service about six months, and was first lieutenant of Totten Guards, Twenty-fifth Arkansas Battalion of Infantry, and was in the battle of Farmington. In reorganizing the Dr. was discharged and returned home. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for over forty years, and all matters of benefit receive his sanction and support.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 94 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Prairie County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Prairie County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Prairie County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.