The First Generation
Oliver Moore - He was born in 1785 in Greenbrier, Fluvanna Co., Virginia. He is often referred to by the name "Olive" in genealogy records, but he went by the name Oliver, as noted in the "Kanawha County Deaths 1854" Record; (which records the death of his wife Mary, who died on July 23, 1854 at the age of 60; and records her husband's name as "Oliver".) Oliver died about four years later in 1858. Oliver married Mary Polly Chandler on Jun, 6 1808 in Fluvanna Co. Virginia. Mary was born about 1787 in Fluvanna Co. Virginia; and died on JUL 23, 1854 in Kanawha Co., West Virginia.
Oliver and Mary Moore had thirteen children: Matilda, William, John W, Elizabeth, Jemima, George, Philip, Sarah, James Lemuel, Mary, Robert Chandler, Mahulda W, and Allen. It is from Robert Chandler Moore that we are descended.
Oliver aquired 300 Acres on the Coal River (really just a stream) in West Virginia. Oliver partitioned some of the Coal River land, and sold off some of it.
Oliver's Will, written in 1856, deeded his remaining land on the Coal River to his son-in-law Rev. Richard A. Billups, who had married his daughter Mahulda (Hulda). In return, Richard promised to support and take care of him, for the rest of his days. This information was found in Kanawha Co. Deed Book T. page 426. In 1858 Richard and Hulda Billups sold the Coal River land to Samuel Hudson, by deed. They then moved to Scott/Scotland Co. MO, taking Oliver Moore with them. He did not survive long after that. His remains were returned and Buried in Kanawha Co. WV
Other Notes: He was a Farmer; He served in military during war of 1812; In 1830, he helped build the first school in Kanawha Co.; Also in 1830 he was paid a bounty of $2.50 for 1 wolf scalp! Apparently Neither Oliver or Mary could read or write.
The Second Generation
Robert Chandler Moore - He was born on May 16, 1826 in Kanawha Co. West Virginia. He was the twelveth child of Oliver an Mary Moore. Robert died on January 29, 1907 in Chicago. On June 4, 1851 in Wayne Co., and at the age 25, he married Martha Jane Billups, age 19; She was born on February 15, 1832 in Cabell Co. West Virginia; and died on July 29, 1889 in Ironton, Lawrence Co. West Virginia. Click here to see a photo of Robert Chandler Moore.
Robert and Martha Moore had thirteen children: Georgia, Lemuel, Oliver, James B, Wythul Wood, a daughter who died at birth, Samuel B, Robert, Mary Elizabeth, Drucilla, William, and Edwin (who went by the name "Edward"). It is from Edwin/Edward Moore that we are decended.
Robert was born when John Quincy Adams was president and the Erie Canal running from Buffalo to Albany, NY had just been completed. A granddaughter of Robert's, Hazel Wood, said that he wasn't too ambitious and "grandma" would tell him that he would have to hunt work as work wouldn't hunt him." He did build a house, by hand of logs. Click on the log cabin at the top of this page to see larger photo of this house. Robert worked as a farmer, carpenter, and at one time as a boatman.
The Third Generation
Edward (Edwin) Moore - He was born on September 21, 1874 in Huntington, Wayne Co. (Cabell Co.), West Virginia. Although, he was named "Edwin" he often went by, and used, at least when older, the name "Edward". He was the youngest of the thirteen children born to Robert and Martha Moore. He died on June 28, 1963 in San Diego Co., California. He lived in the coastal town of Encinitas CA at the time of his Death. In about 1904 he married Mary Ann MacLay. She was the daughter of John and Margaret MacLay. She was born on June 3, 1881 in Ontario Canada; and died on December 24, 1932 in National City, San Diego Co. California.
Edward and Mary Ann Moore had three children: Mildred Allene, Edna Gatun, and Edward John.
Edward was a soldier during the Spanish-American war of 1898. Sometime shortly after being discharged form the military he moved to Sault Ste. Marie Michigan. This is where the Soo Locks are located, which enables ships to travel from Lake Huron to Lake Superior. It was during this time period that Edward learned how to operate the big Steam shovels of the day that were used to dig canals and other such big jobs. His short biography in "The Makers of the Panama Canal" states that "For eight years he was employed in the States as a steam shovel man." (Click here to see this short bio and the accompanying photo.) He belonged to the International Brotherhood of Steam Shovel and Dredgemen; and he was a member of the Elks. It was, also, while living here that he met Mary Ann MacLay. She lived in The Canadian city, across the Canal and Locks from Michigan, which is also called Sault Ste. Marie. They were eventually married and moved to Chicago Illinois, where Edward operated a Pool Hall. Their daughter Mildred (Milly) was born on Sep 24 1905 in Washington D. C. which would indicate a visit or or short move to that city at that time.
While living in Chicago Edward received a "tip" and suggestion that he should invest in Panama Cigars, which were supposedly going to rise in price from 5 cents a cigar to 25 cents a cigar. Taking the risk, he invested all that he had in Panama Cigars; and sure enough the price of these cigars went up! Apparently he made quite a bit of money on this investment.
In 1906 Edward and Mary and their little daughter Milly moved to the Panama Canal Zone so that Edward could work on the construction of the Panama Canal. Their second child, Edna Gatun, was born in the Panama canal Zone on November 21, 1908. The name "Gatun" comes from the name of one of the "Locks" that Edward helped carve out of the land of the Canal Zone, and from Lake Gatun, which feeds water into the Locks of the Panama Canal. Edward and his family lived at Bas Obispo where he worked as a Steam Shovel Engineer. Click here to see a one of these machines at work on the Panama canal; and here to see another photo of the Panama canal under construction. Edward was seriously hurt by a steel cable that snapped and shattered his leg. The doctors wanted to amputate his leg, but he would not allow it. The leg healed fairly well, but always showed signs of the injury. This injury resulted in Edward and his family being sent back to the States, where they resettled again into Sault Ste. Marie.
In 1914 Edward obtained a passport to travel to the country of Russia, and the region known as Georgia, for the purpose of training men there on how to operate the Big steam shovels for use in oil exploration. The information on the passport reads as follows, "The person to whom this passport is issued under oath declares that he desires it for use in residence in Russia for oil drilling. This passport is not for use in any other countries except for transit to or from the country named." The passport was issued on June 11, 1914, and Edward embarked for Russia. Unfortunately in June of 1914 the events resulting in the start of the first World War also began. Eventually, either because of the war, or because his training job was completed, he had to leave Georgia. Transportation, however was not to be had. Russian transportation services were in disarray because of the war; needless to say Edward had a slightly hard time getting out of that country. What he did was travel north, by whatever means he could find, to Finland, and then through Scandinavia, and eventually back home in the States.
Later Edward and His family moved to the city of San Diego California, when the population of the city was only around 50,000 people. At first he bought and operated a hotel in downtown San Diego; but after their son Edward John (Eddie) was born in June of 1924, they decided that downtown was not a good place to raise a boy. Their two daughters, Milly and Edna, were quite a bit older than their little brother. So Edward and Mary Ann sold the motel and purchased a combination Citrus-Fruit orchard and Chicken farm in the community of Chula Vista, near San Diego. They called their new place the "La Paloma Ranch". Click here to see an informal photo of Edward Moore and his family; and here to see a photo of of their home in Chula Vista, and a photo of their "Chickens".
Edward and Mary Ann did not keep the "La Paloma" ranch for long; Edward decided that it was simply not his kind of business. And so this place was sold and they purchased a business that included a Shell Gas Station and a Grocery store. This business was located at the intersection of 24th street and Highland in National City, just south of the city of San Diego. They named the station "Moore's Super service"! Click here to see a picture of the Moore's Super Service Gas Station; and here to see Edward in his Grocery store.
A home also came with the purchase of the gas station and store, and was located behind the grocery store. This is the home where their son Eddie grew up; This was a happy time for young Eddie; he had a little dog named Tiny, and friends, and very loving parents. His older sisters were available to help and watch him from time to time, even after they had moved out and married themselves. here to see a photo of Eddie playing with some of his friends.
This was the business that they had during the Great Depression. Times were hard, and money was scarce. Edward and Mary would allow customers to buy food on credit. Customers would come in and gather up about three or four dollars in food and then put down maybe one or two dollars on their "Tabs". Edward and Mary trusted their customers to eventually pay off their debts with the store; and eventually they all did!
In December of 1932 Mary Ann Moore was hospitalize with an infected or burst ovary. The surgery went fine, but because of the lower sanitary standards of that time, Mary became infected with peritonitis, which is an inflammation of the peritoneum or membrane that lines the abdomen. On December 24, 1932, the day before Christmas, Mary Ann Moore died of this infection; she was fifty-one years old. Her son Eddie was just eight years old.
Life went onward for Edward and Eddie; but it was now much harder. The store and gas station both still needed to be run. Eddie began to learn to how to pump gas and to run errands for his dad. Milly and Edna helped when they could. For the next eight years this was pretty much the routine for the father and son. But Eddie grew discontented with this routine, and when he turned sixteen years of age, in 1940, he joined the US Navy. Eventually Eddie (Ed by this time in his life) was assigned to the ship named the USS Honolulu, a light-Crusier, stationed at the Naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was at Pearl Harbor that Ed Moore experienced the beginning of the United States' involvement in World war II.
Edward Moore Sr. continued to run the store and gas station; but by wars end he had retired from this business and from work . During the war the USS Honolulu made a couple of port calls in California. Edward and his son Ed were able to visit a bit during these layovers. Click here to see a war time photo of Edward and Ed.
Edward retired to a trailer park in the National City area, and lived there for many years until 1960 when he relocated to a trailer park in the small coastal town of Encinitas, located about 25-30 miles north of San Diego. He often came to dinner at the home of his son Ed and his family, who also lived in Encinitas. Each year on Thanksgiving, Edward, Milly, Edna, Ed, and their families would gather together to celebrate the day. Edward was eighty-nine years of age when he died of an illness in 1963.
The Fourth Generation
"Dad"
The Fifth Generation
Thats "Us"
Moore Family History 
Family Reunion 2003