The Family of Sidney Marion Moore & Lydia Emily Metcalf
In 1850, the family's neighbors included the family of Mark Smith and Adam Tidmore, Louisa's family.
The 1860 US Census finds the Moore family still living in roughly the same area, Cherokee Co, AL. By this time, the family had grown to include 8 children. Neighbors again included members of the Tidmore family.
The 1860's were a time of many changes, especially in the South. Sidney's father, David, enlisted to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War. David served in the 8th AL Calvary. He was taken prisoner by the Union Army and was held at Camp Butler, Springfield, IL. At the end of the war, he was sent to Vicksburg, MS to be exchanged and he was discharged there. He didn't return home to Louisa and their children, though. On 17 Feb 1863, he married Sophronia Northern in Gattman, Monroe Co, MS.
David & Sophronia settled in Lamar Co, AL and started a family.
David's family in North Alabama obviuously thought that David had not survived the war. As the family story goes, his bigamy was discovered at some point when Sidney Moore was driving cattle through Lamar Co, AL. He'd stopped to water the cattle and his horses and met a young boy who just happened to be his half-brother.
Needless to say, Sidney wasn't happy about what his father had done and as the "head" of the family, he refused to allow any contact with David. There is no evidence that Louisa ever brought charges against David or even filed for divorce, though.
At the time of the 1870 US Census, Sidney is recorded at living in New Market, Madison Co, AL in the household of his brother-in-law, Allison Thornburg, and sister, Martha. Also in the household are his mother, Louisa (listed by the name, Eliza), and siblings, Harriett, Annie, and William Frank.
The family obviously didn't live in Madison Co very long, as Sidney married Lydia Metcalf 19 Jan 1871 in Etowah Co, AL. His sister, Margaret had married Lydia's brother, James, 2 years earlier.
Lydia's family history is a bit different from Sidney's, although it was no less striking. She was born in May 1848, but I am not sure which county. She was the daughter of Samuel E. Metcalf and Fannie Phillips, one of their 8 children. Her father, Sam, was listed as a head of household on the 1840 US Census in Benton (Calhoun) Co, AL, but in 1850, 2 years after her birth, the family was enumerated in St Clair Co, AL. By 1859, the family was in the Peaks Hill area of Calhoun Co, AL, where Sam Metcalf had a good sized farm. At that time, Sam was also serving as a Calhoun Co constable.
On 30 Nov 1859, Sam Metcalf and his half-brother, Hiram Moore, were "sawing with a cross cut saw" when they were approached by a man named Vandy Sturkie who'd had some sort of altercation with Hiram Moore previously. According to the article in THE JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN about the incident, Sturkie fired at Moore, "the wad striking Moore and the ball Metcalf below the ear ranging downwards into his lungs." Hiram Moore recovered from his wounds, but Sam Metcalf did not. As an example of the legal system at that time, Sturkie was taken before a judge who released him on the grounds that he did not kill the person he intended to kill. The incident took it's toll on Sturkie, though. The newspaper article stated that he immediately left the area. I think he went to Arkansas, never to return to the area.
At the time of the 1860 census, the family lived, still, in Calhoun Co, AL, with Fannie a widow raising her children.
By 1870, Fannie and her children were listed living in Kansas (Green Valley/Southside), Etowah Co, AL. There's a possibility that they didn't move. Peaks Hill and Green Valley are geographically very close. When the boundaries of Etowah Co were formed in 1868, it may have included the place they lived.
When Lydia married Sidney Moore in 1871, she was about 22 year old and he was about 21.
After their marriage, they spent the rest of their lives in Etowah Co, AL. Sidney Moore "sawed the lumber" that built Pilgrams Rest Bapt Church in Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
In 1880 and 1900, Sidney and Lydia with their family were enumerated as living in the Southside area. This is where all of their children were born and raised.
In 1910, Sidney and Lydia were enumerated living in the Gum Springs area of Etowah Co, AL, an area now known as Rainbow City.
Lydia Metcalf Moore died 9 Mar 1917 in Etowah Co, AL and Sidney Moore died 9 Jul 1918, also in Etowah Co, AL. Both are buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery in Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
Their Children:
1) Lucinda Katherine Moore, b. 24 Nov 1872, Etowah Co, AL, d. 28 Mar 1942, Ball Play, Etowah Co, AL. Lucinda md Willie Elbert "Bud" Easterwood 5 Jan 1890 in Etowah Co, AL. Bud, son of John Robert Easterwood, Sr & Mary Susan Brown, was born 7 Aug 1865 in Calhoun Co, AL and died 22 Feb 1939 in Riddles Bend, Etowah Co, AL. Lucinda is buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery in Southside, Etowah Co, AL and Bud is buried at Ten Island Bapt Cemetery in Ohatchee, Calhoun Co, AL.
2) William Marcus Moore, b. 3 Feb 1874, Etowah Co, AL, d. 19 Sept 1960, Etowah Co, AL. William md Ezzie Melitha Bryant 26 Dec 1895 in Cedartown, Polk Co, GA. Ezzie, daughter of Augustus & Sallie Bryant, was born 19 Jan 1881 in Etowah Co, AL and died 24 Dec 1915 in St Clair Co, AL. Ezzie is buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery in Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
3) Laura J. Moore, b. 8 Oct 1875, Etowah Co, AL, d. 2 Feb 1967, Etowah Co, AL. Laura md 1) Glover Spurlock abt 1898. Glover was born Sept 1873, AL and died bef 1910. Laura md 2) Marion Thomas William Smith bet 1910 and 1920. Marion, son of William H. Smith & Lucinda Jane Pettit, was born 19 Oct 1863 in Calhoun Co, AL and died 8 Oct 1940 in Southside, Etowah Co, AL. Laura and Marion are buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery in Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
4) Elihu Sidney Moore, b. 9 Jul 1879, Etowah Co, AL, d. 1959. Elihu md Henrietta E. Hood, who was born 16 Jul 1888 in AL and died 15 Feb 1942. Elihu is buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery in Southside, Etowah Co, AL and Henrietta is buried at Shiloh United Bapt Cemetery near Steele, Etowah Co, AL.
5) Emma V. Moore, b. 17 May 1880, Etowah Co, AL. She md Pinkney Ross Gartman bef 1910. He was born abt 1882 in AL.
6) Lela L. Moore, b. 9 Mar 1882, Etowah Co, AL, d. 25 Nov 1896, Etowah Co, AL. She is buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery in Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
7) Mattie Ola Moore, b. 21 Oct 1884, Etowah Co, AL, d. 28 Dec 1972. Mattie md Dayton Thomas Watts, Sr abt 1905. Dayton was born 5 Dec 1883 in AL and died 9 Aug 1938 in Etowah Co, AL. Mattie and Dayton are buried at Old Harmony Bapt Cemetery in Rainbow City, Etowah Co, AL.
8) Nancy Elvira Moore, b. 12 Sept 1888, Etowah Co, AL. Md Joel A. Lowery abt 1907. Joel was born abt 1884 in AL.