Born in Harrison Co., Ohio
on 31 Oct 1838, Thomas was the son of James U.
& Rebecca (Cook) who came to Madison Co.,
Illinois in 1847. They settled in Collinsville
where James' brother Joseph was manufacturing cow
bells and here they resided until the tension and
onset of the Civil War split their family.
Thomas, his mother and younger brother went to
St. Louis and their father, sympathetic to the
southern cause, went south where he eventually
made his home in Lamar Co., Texas.The "War Between the
States" had divided the country, but also
Tom's family. He volunteered for the 33rd
Missouri Volunteer Infantry on the first of
August 1862 at St. Louis, Missouri for a term of
three years. Shortly after, he married the young
Miss Clarissa V. Pilcher, daughter of Louisa
(Ballard) and the late Ezekiel Pilcher, and less
than a week later was at Camp Fisk, "two and
a half miles from Rolla, due west on a high hill
surrounded by Ravines."
While he was
fighting for the Union, he and Clara exchanged
many letters - several of which survived and were
donated to the Missouri Historical Society. The
last letter Thomas probably wrote his dear wife
was from Helena, Arkansas on 17 Jun 1863 when the
33rd Missouri was preparing for an attack from
Price's army. The enemy attacked their works on
the fourth of July a few minutes before daylight.
Thomas was listed as having received a "gun
shot wound over right temple" and
"prounounced mortal" but a passing
soldier found a breath of life in him and he was
taken to a Memphis hospital where he remained
until he was discharged on permanent disability
on 14 Dec 1863.
After he was well
enough, he returned to his wife in St. Louis.
Photographed here in about 1865, T.A.'s gunshot
wound is clearly visible. He typically combed his
hair over this wound and often wore a cap to hide
the injury. Although he suffered from vertigo and
many other symptoms after the injury, he
continued to work as a self-employed carpenter
and often worked with realty companies, bidding
and securing, and supervising much of the work
which was often done by his sons and Pilcher
in-laws.
He and Clarissa
became the parents of eight children, including
two infant daughters who died in their infancy.
The Moores resided in St. Louis where Clarissa
studied at the Medical College of Missouri and
graduated in 1886, becoming a Homoeopathic
doctor. Sadly, she passed away at the young age
of forty-four when their youngest child was not
quite four years-old.
T.A. Moore lived
to be seventy-six years old. He died in St. Louis
on the 16th of June 1915 and was laid to rest at
Bellfontaine Cemetery.
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THURSDAY
| 17 Jun 1915
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Contributed
by P. Davidson-PetersEntered into rest Wednesday, June
16, 1915, at 7:30 p.m., Thomas A. Moore, beloved
husband of the late Clarissa V. Moore (nee
Pilcher), and our dear father, father-in-law,
grandfather and uncle, aged 77 years.
Funeral from the
Leidner chapel 2223 St. Louis Avenue, Friday,
June 18th at 2 p.m., thence to Bellefontaine
Cemetery. Deceased was a member of Gen. Lyon Post
No. 2, Department of Missour G.A.R.
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Whereas it has pleased the
Almighty Father to remove from this Earth and its
associations another one of the Comrades of our
Post, and we miss them more and more, as the
numbers grows less. Comrade Thomas A. Moore, was
born Oct. 31st, 1838, at Scio, Harrison County,
Ohio. The family moved to Collinsville, Ill., in
1847, and later to St. Louis, where he received
his education. Before the war, he was in the
Livery and Ice Business, and afterwards became a
builder and contractor.
He
enlisted in the Union Army at St. Louis, Mo., on
August 1st., 1862 in Co., K, 33rd Infantry
Volunteers, Mo., and was in active service in the
campaign in the South, at the Battle of Helena,
Arkansas, was severely wounded by a Minnie Ball
in his right temple and was left on the field for
dead. This battle was fought on the 4th of July
1863 - celebrating our National Holiday. Comrade
Moore was in the Hospital for many months, and
was discharged at St. Louis, MO on the 14th of
December 1863, on Surgeons Certificate of
Disability.
He
was mustered in the Gen. Lyon Post No. 2, Grand
Army of the Republic, on July 10th, 1884. He was
faithful to duty, having served the Post for many
years as its Chaplain, and held this position at
the time of his death. Comrade Moore died at the
home of his Daughter, Mrs. S.E. Jones, No. 7
Parkland Place, Kirkwood, Mo, Wednesday, June 16,
1915, and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery,
June 18th, 1915, with services by Gen. Lyon Post
No. 2, GAR, with the ritualistic services of the
Grand Army of the Republic.
Comrade
Moore left one son and four daughters to mourn
his death.
Therefore
be it resolved that in the death of Comrade
Thomas A Moore, this Post has lost a True,
Faithful and Loyal Member, this community an
Honest and Honrable Citizen, the Country a
Patriotic Supporter, and his family a Kind,
Loving and Dutiful Father. ... signed James P.
Hesser, Commander | St. Louis, MO Sept. 20th
1915.
Note:
Headstone photo taken by Gene Beals 2007.
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