THE FAMILY OF DAVID MOORE & LOUISA ELIZA CHANDLER
They probably married in 1858 or 1859, although I haven't located a marriage record. Louisa, who was listed as age 17 and born in Alabama, was the daughter of Rev. Wilson N. Chandler and Margaret Tidmore. The Chandler family had moved to Cherokee Co by 1840 from Perry Co, AL where Louisa was probably born.
David and Louisa were members of Liberty Baptist Church, located now in Hokes Bluff, Etowah Co, AL. It is now known as First Baptist Church of Hokes Bluff. Louisa's family had been some of the original founders of the church.
By the time of the 1860 census, the family of David and Louisa had grown to include six children. The family was enumerated again in Cherokee Co, AL. David was listed as being 33 years old with $3000 in real estate and $1455 in personal property. No occupation was listed for anyone in the household.
In addition to their children, there are two other people living in the household. They were listed as:
Eliza Moore, age 20, b. AL
William Moore, age 18, b. AL
Could these be siblings of David? Maybe, but I have not been able to find any trace of them beyond this record.
At the beginning of the Civil War, David Moore joined the Confederate Army, serving with the 8th Alabama Calvary. Land records indicate that he sold at least some of his property after he'd enlisted. In one transaction, he sold land in Hokes Bluff to John Wisdom, who became known as the "Paul Revere of the South."
David was captured at least twice by Union forces, but he was released each time.
When the South surrendered in 1865, David did not return to his family. According to the story passed down through the family, his family assumed he'd been killed.
This was not a correct assumption on their part. David had married Sophronia Northern Ray 17 Feb 1863 in Gattman, Monroe Co, MS and they had at least one child together before the end of the war.
Louisa and all but one of her children were enumerated in household of Allison Thornburg who had married David & Louisa's daughter, Martha. The family is shown living in the New Market area of Madison Co, AL.
David's bigamy, again according to the story that was passed down through the family, was discovered when his oldest son, Sidney, was driving cattle threw Lamar Co, AL. When he'd stopped to water the animals, he met a young boy who turned out to be his half-brother.
Needless to say, Sidney was angry with his father, and as the head of the family, refused to allow his siblings to have any contact with their father.
David is listed on the 1870 census in Sanford Co, AL, married to Sophronia, and living in the household of George and Eliza Harrison. At that time, he was listed as age 50 and Sophronia was listed as age 29. The oldest Moore child in the household is listed as 15 year old Louie and he was probably Sophronia's son from her marriage to John Ray.
David, Sophronia & family were enumerated in Lamar Co, AL in 1880, but not because they'd moved. The part of Lamar Co in which they lived had been Sanford Co. originally.
David died in Lamar Co. 31 Dec 1903 and is buried at the Wofford Cemetery in Lamar Co, AL, along with Sophronia.
I have been unable to locate Louisa on the 1800 census. All of her children had married by then and except for Harriett, who had moved to Mississippi, they were living in the Phillips (Southside) area of Etowah Co. I was told that in 1893 when William Frank Moore and other family members went to Fannin Co, TX, Louisa went to Texas with them and that she died there abt 1899. I have not been able to locate a place of burial if that's the case. All the others that went to TX and died there have marked burial sites.
CHILDREN OF DAVID MOORE AND LOUISA ELIZA CHANDLER:
1) Sidney Marion Moore, b. 9 Apr 1850, Cherokee Co, AL, d. 9 Jul 1918, Etowah Co, AL. Md Lydia Emily Metcalf, daughter of Samuel E. Metcalf & Fannie Phillips, 19 Jan 1871, Etowah Co, AL. Lydia was born in May 1848, AL and died 9 Mar 1917, Etowah Co, AL. Sidney and Lydia are buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery, Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
2) Martha Emma Moore, b. 11 May 1853, Cherokee Co, AL, d. 23 Dec 1938, Shelby Co, AL. Martha md Allison Templeton Thornburg abt 1870. Allison was born abt 1847 in Tennessee and died in 1913. Martha is buried at Mt Pleasant Cemetery, St Clair Co, AL.
3) Margaret Moore, b. 25 Dec 1853, Cherokee Co, AL, d. 16 Jan 1916, Etowah Co, AL. Md James Mattison Metcalf, Sr abt 1969. James, son of Samuel E. Metcalf & Fannie Phillips, was born 15 Jan 1844, AL and died 4 Jun 1927, Etowah Co, AL. Margaret & James are buried at Old Harmony Bapt Cemetery, Rainbow City, Etowah Co, AL.
4) Harriett C. Moore, b. abt 1856, Cherokee Co, AL, d. abt 1890, Pontotoc Co, MS. Md George Phillip Fuhrman aft 1870. George was born abt 1838, Germany and died abt 1885 in MS. The children of Harriett & George returned to Etowah Co, AL after the deaths of their parents.
5) Annie Moore, b. abt 1858, Cherokee Co, AL. Listed as a 2 year old on the 1860 census and 13 year old on the 1870 census. No further record beyond that date.
6) William Frank Moore, b. 17 Jun 1859, Cherokee Co, AL (although it's more likely that he was born in May, 1860, per the 1860 census), d. 28 Jul 1928, Fannin Co, TX. Frank md 1) Ann Lister 13 Mar 1880, Etowah Co, AL. Ann was born abt 1862 in AL. She apparently died sometime after 1886. Frank md 2) Mary Anna Easterwood, daughter of John Robert Easterwood, Sr & Mary Susan Brown, 5 Sept 1891, Etowah Co, AL. Mary Anna was born 9 Mar 1871 in Etowah Co, AL and died 1 Mar 1944 in Bonham, Fannin Co, TX. Frank and Mary Anna are buried at Forrest Grove Cemetery in Fannin Co, TX.