Andrew Jackson MOORE, , was born on 13 December 1848 in DeKalb, Kemper County, MS. He was the son of Sovereighn R. MOORE and Sarah MATHIS, daughter of David Mathis and granddaughter of Joseph Mathis, Revolutionary of South Carolina.

He married Daratha MELTON, daughter of Hackett Webb MELTON and Mary HULSEY, on 26 Dec 1870 in Van Zandt Co, Texas. They settled on a 145 acre farm which he had bought on 22 December1870 just prior to their marriage. This tract was a part of the Eason Gee League located about one mile east of Troup; it became the birthplace of the six Moore sons and the family homestead for over fifty year; it remains in possession of one of the descendants today.

Andrew Jackson Moore and wife, Daratha, were known to friends and relatives as "Uncle Jack" and "Aunt Dary"; they were highly respected in Troup and Smith County. He was a "born leader" and as the family prospered, he found time to participatge in local and county affairs as church leader, director of a local bank and county commissioner. He was frequently appointed by the Smith County Judge as guardian and administrator of estates for orphan families.

"Although A. J. and Daratha Moore seldom if ever demonstrated their love for their sons and families, it was always evident that they were justly proud of them and pleased to see them occupy places of high estgeem and responsibility in their respective communities. I'm sure this feeling was mutual on the part of their children and the grandchildren who were lucky enough to have lived near them. I was one of these and each succeeding year I grow more aware of and grateful for the splendid heritage our grandparents left us." Dr. Alma M. Freeland

Children of Andrew Jackson Moore and Daratha Melton were as follows:

1. John R. MOORE, born 18 Aug 1886 at Troup, Smith Co, Texas; died 8 Apr 1971, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas; buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas; married 1. Lola Ann HILL; 2. Mabel FERRELL.
2. Charles M. MOORE
3. Lee MOORE, born 14 Jul 1875; died 22 Dec 1951; buried at Union Grove Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas; married Mattie (--?--)
4. SLADE G.
5. JACK
6. Sam MOORE; born 13 Sep 1890; died 8 Mar 1968; buried at Union Grove, Smith Co, Texas.

Andrew died on 19 Sep 1919 at Troup, Smith Co, Texas, at age 70. Daratha died Wednesday, December 5, 1923 in Troup, Texas. They are buried at the Union Grove Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas.

Dr. Freeland has told the story of her Moore grandparents in the article she submitted to the ETGS. It was published in the East Texas Family Records and can now be found in the Smith County TXGenWeb Archives. Pictures

John R. MOORE, was born on 18 Aug 1886 at Troup, Smith Co, Texas. He married Lola Ann Hill, daughter of Thomas Meadow HILL and Eugenia Alabama TINDEL, on 31 May 1903 at Troup, Smith Co, Texas. Lola was born 8 January 1887 in Bullard, Texas.

J. R. was affectionately call "Professor Moore", a name given to him by his pastor, Dr. Porter M. Bailes. He was Deacon at the First Baptist Church, Tyler, from 1919 until his death. For many of those years he served as Chairman of the Deacon Body and Superintendant of the Sunday School.

He served as principle of Roberts Junior High School for many years. Moore Middle School was named in his honor.

Children of John Moore and Lola Ann Hill were as follows:

1. Alma Leta MOORE, born 4 June 1904, Troup, Smith Co, Texas; died 4 January 1991, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas; married 1 June 1937, New York, NY, Dr. George Earl FREELAND, died 25 June 1944, Sacramento, CA.
2. Anna Mae MOORE, born 10 March 1906, Starrville, Smith Co, Texas; died 3 May 2000 at Tyler, Smith Co, Texas; married 28 May 1939, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas, James R. Campbell, born 14 November 1903; died 15 March 2002, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas.
3. Reagan Travis MOORE, born 18 February 1912; married 1. June 1930, Mary E. BUTLER, daughter of Thaddeus Lee BUTLER & Mattie HENRY, born 3 November 1905, Troup, Smith Co, Texas; died 5 December 1982, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas; buried Memorial Park Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas; 2. Geneva SEALE, daughter of Finis SEALE & Harriet M.
4. Bruce Hill MOORE, born 10 December 1910, Whitehouse, Smith Co, Texas; married 8 March 1936, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas; Evelyn BROWN, born 9 October 1918

Lola died 8 March 1984 in Tyler, Texas. She is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Smith Co, Texas, Section D.

In 1935 he married Mabel FERRELL, daughter of (--?--) Ferrell. Mabel was born 15 Nov 1892.

J. R. died on 8 Apr 1971 at Tyler, Smith Co, Texas, at the age of 84. Mabel died 8 Jul 1973. They are both buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Section F.

Much more can be learned about this family in the excellent article written by Dr. Freeland, Papa Rang the Bell, and the other articles listed below by Dr. Freeland and Mae Campbell. Pictures

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