Grandchildren
Margaret Frances Moore was born on June 9, 1839. Her parents were Thirsa Muller, who was born in 1824, and Houston Moore, born in 1819. Thirsa's story is similar to the story of Enoch Arden, only more exciting because it happened in real life. Thirsa Muller and Houston Moore were married September 14, 1838 in Keytesville, Chariton County, Missouri. The following is her marriage ceremony, documented by a Charles Finley, Justice of the Peace.
Marriage of Houston and Thirsa:
Keytesville, Chariton County, Missouri, Sept. 14, 1838.
" I hereby certify that I joined in bonds of matrimony on the 13th instant, Houston Moore and Thirsa Ann Miller.
Given under my hand on the date above written."
Charles Finley
Justice of the Peace
After their marriage, Margaret Frances, their first child was born June 9, 1839, and two years later another little girl, Mary Elizabeth, was born in 1841. Mary Elizabeth died when she was two years old in 1843. In two more years a little boy, Manford, was born in 1845.
When the Mexican War of 1846 broke out Houston left his wife, Thirsa, and little daughter Margaret, just seven years old, and his baby boy, Manford, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to go to fight for his country. He enrolled August 3, 1846 at Keytesville, Missouri, and was mustered into service August 9, 1846 at Fort Leavenworth as a private, 2nd Regiment, MTD Rifleman.
He was honorably discharged on September 25, 1847, at Fort Leavenworth, but no more is known. Transportation was slow and communication was poor. Evidently he was unable to come home to St. Joseph for some time.
Chariton County, proud of the men who went to serve printed this in their newspaper:
"Chariton county sent to the Mexican War, seventy-five as good and true men as ever unsheathed their swords upon the field of battle. They suffered much from the hardships and privations which they were compelled to undergo in that distant, barren and inhospitable country. Fatigue, disease and death had made such fearful ravages upon the company that only about half of the men lived to return to their homes."
Perhaps Houston was so sick and injured that he was not able to get home to St. Joseph for a long time. Although Houston was released from the Army on September 25, l847, Thirsa didn't know it. Thirsa said she thought he was dead. She married another, Elisha Brown, on October 15, 1847. No one knows exactly how long it was until Houston came back to St. Joseph to find her married, or about to be married. But when he arrived and found it out, he disappeared, and was never heard of again.
Marriage of Elisha Brown and Thirsa Ann Moore:
State of Missouri, County of Nodaway
"I, C. W. Hughes, Justice of the Peace, in Jackson Township, do certify that I solemnized a marriage between Elisha Brown and Thirsa Ann Moore in Nodaway County on this 15th day of October, 1847"
Thirsa and Elisha Brown then had a baby named Louisa. During the gold rush of 1849, Thirsa left her mother and father Muller in Missouri, and went to California with her husband, Elisha Brown. By this time Margaret was ten years old. Out on the plains before they got to California, Thirsa and little Manford, four years old, both died with cholera.