Otheniel Moore
This name represents one of the younger members of the agricultural community of Greene County, who is making for himself a good record, both in connection with his vocation and as a citizen. He is a native of this State, and was born November 4, 1849, at Mt. Holly, Warren County. His immediate progenitors were James and Anna (Cole) Moore, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey, and born near Mt. Holly, of that State.
The father of our subject emigrated to Warren County, this State, when a young man, and settled at or near Waynesville, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. He was first married to Miss Anna Cole, an adopted daughter of James Gest, of Sugar Creek Township, Greene County. This union resulted in the birth of seven children. The eldest, John Henry, during the Civil War enlisted as a Union soldier in the Ninety-third Ohio Infantry, and died in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., in 1864, from the effects of a wound received in battle; Frank, the second son, enlisted in the Second Ohio Infantry, first in the three months service and then re-enlisted for three years, serving until the close of the war; Peter also gave his services to his country, in an Indiana regiment, and served from the beginning until the close; James Newton was in the Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry for about eighteen months; he now resides near Barry, Pike County, Ill.; Hannah Elizabeth became the wife of Charles Rossell, and died at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1868; Otheniel. our subject, was the next in order of birth; Martha J. is the wife of Marion Justice, a farmer residing near Richmond, Ind.; Mrs. Anna (Cole) Moore departed this life at her home in Montgomery County, this State, in 1851.
James Moore married for his second wife Mrs. Katie Benham, and there was born to them one son, George, now a resident of Richmond, Ind. Mr. Moore about 1850 removed to Centerville, Montgomery County, this State, thence to Lebanon, and from there to Richmond, Ind., where he settled on a farm and died in May, 1886, at the age of seventy-six years. Our subject after his mother's death lived among strangers, and received only limited advantages, working out by the month until his marriage. This important event occurred March 8, 1874, with Miss Laura Belle Wright. She was born March 29, 1854, in Sugar Creek Township, Greene County, and was the daughter of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Venyard) Wright, who were among the earliest pioneers of that township. This union resulted in the birth of six children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Nettie Jane, died when about one year old; Charles A., Mary Elnora, Delcie M. and Effie May remain at home with their father; Orville N. died when one year old. Mrs. Laura Belle (Wright) Moore departed this life at her home in Spring Valley Township, September 27, 1888.
Mr. Moore after his marriage located on a farm near Montgomery County, and in the spring of 1877 removed to Clinton County. From there in 1882 he came to his present farm, this comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 29. In his agricultural operations Mr. Moore evinces the thoroughness and skill which have made his fields uniformly fertile and from which he realizes a comfortable income. His buildings compare favorably with those of the intelligent men around him, and he is looked upon by his fellow-citizens as a valued member of the community. He votes the Republican ticket, and socially; belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Spring Valley.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890