Joseph S. Moore

JOSEPH S. MOORE, of St. John, is known all over West Central Kansas as a leader in the Baptist Church, an active minister, for many years moderator, and it is a high testimonial to his general worth and popularity that added responsibilities were conferred upon him a few years ago by his election as county treasurer of Stafford County.

Rev. Mr. Moore was born in Edmonson County, Kentucky, October 1, 1860. His paternal ancestors came originally from Scotland and were colonial settlers in South Carolina. His grandfather was born in South Carolina in 1786 and in early manhood pioneered to Edmonson County, Kentucky, where he was a farmer and where he died in advanced age in 1870. Martin J. Moore, father of Rev. Joseph S. Moore, was born in Edmonson County, Kentucky, in 1834, grew up and married there and spent all his active life as a farmer. In 1880 he moved to Dallas County, Missouri, and in 1883 to Webster County in the same state where he died January 10, 1891. He was a democrat and a member of the Baptist Church, and, during the Civil war served a term in the ranks of the Union army. He married Martha Martin, who was born in Edmonson County, Kentucky, in 1838, and died in Webster County, Missouri, January 10, 1883. They had a large family of children, namely: John B., a farmer who died in Dallas County, Missouri, at the age of forty-two; Joseph S., second in age; Nancy Eleanor, wife of M. M. Halbert, a farmer in Dallas County, Missouri; Jane, wife of Ben Hifeld, a farmer in Dallas County; Isaac M., a Webster County, Missouri, farmer; Martha, wife of Mr. Snodgrass, a farmer in Dallas County; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Hoover, a farmer in Dallas County.

Joseph S. Moore spent his early life in Edmonson County, Kentucky, attended rural schools there, and in 1878 graduated from the high school at Bowling Green. His early efforts were largely directed to education. For one year he taught in Edmonson County, and for a period of twenty-one years was connected with the schools of Dallas and Webster counties, Missouri. In 1893 he was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church, and when not teaching he was busy with his duties as pastor of various rural churches in Southern Missouri.

Rev. Mr. Moore came to Kansas and located at St. John December 22, 1902, and continuously since that date has been pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church of the town. For several years he acted as moderator of the Dallas County, Missouri, Baptist Association, and during the greater part of his residence in Kansas has been moderator of the South Central Baptist Association of Southwest Kansas.

He was elected county treasurer in 1916, and his record since taking charge of that office has more than justified the confidence of his fellow citizens and friends in supporting him. He is a democrat, is a past master of St. John Lodge No. 254, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is past grand of St. John Lodge of Odd Fellows No. 539, a member of the Rebekahs, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors.

In June, 1884, in Webster County, Rev. Moore married Miss Laura Leonard, daughter of Joseph A. and Amanda (Dixon) Leonard, both now deceased. Her father was a farmer. Mrs. Moore died at St. John in January, 1909, the mother of six children: Alva E., who finished his education in the high school at St. John and is now cashier of the People's State Bank at Minneola; Louisa is the wife of D. H. Pound, a farmer in Yuma County, Colorado; Inez A. married F. E. Hutton, a Stafford County farmer; J. Garland has charge of a lumber yard at Dillwyn, Kansas; Virl is the wife of A. L. Pound, a farmer in Yuma County, Colorado; and Bessie, who lives at home and is employed in the telephone office at St. John.

Pages 2415-2416.