From the Journal of Moore Reunion, August 6, 1922:

Life Story of Ephraim W. and Lucy Jane Branson Moore as told by their grand-daughters Laura Jordan Goff and Sadie Moore Parker.

Once upon a time, as all stories begin, there lived in a far away old Kentucky home [Frankfort, Knox Co.], a man named Jesse Moore and his good wife, Amelia Stone Moore. On August 3, 1819, this home was made happy by the arrival of a baby boy who came into their home to stay until he had grown to manhood. Sometime after the birth of this son who was named Ephraim W. Moore, Jesse and his wife decided to make a new home in a new place. It was there that they left old Kentucky and settled in Park County, Indiana.

At the same time that Jesse and wife were living in Kentucky, there lived a family in Tennessee by the name of Branson. In this home a baby girl was born May 24, 1823. This girl was named Lucy Jane and like Jesse and wife, the Branson family [Lemuel and Jane] left the old home and settled in Park County, Indiana. Here Ephraim and Lucy Jane grew to manhood and womanhood. They met, loved and were married [Nov. 28, 1839].

On May 6, 1855, he loaded his household goods and his little family [above] into two wagons and came west and landed in Guthrie County, Iowa, June 2, 1855, stopping and staying with John Branson, Lucy’s brother, until some time in August, when he moved to a farm on Beaver, six miles south of Guthrie Center, for which he obtained a Patent from the General Land Office at Washington. This patent was signed by the President, Franklin Pierce on October 1, 1855. This farm remained in his possession as long as he lived. Here on this tract of land this couple lived the life of pioneer days. They were often visited by the Indians but were never harmed by them. The wife made good use of the spinning wheel as all pioneer wives did; spinning the yarn and knitting the sox [sic] and stockings for the family. To Ephraim and Lucy Jane were born six sons and six daughters. Of this number, one son, George J. Moore and one daughter, Lucy Sarah Morlan, are living. The husband was a farmer, a carpenter, a school teacher and a Baptist Minister. His wife was indeed a help-mate.

In January, 1879, the husband was injured when his team ran away with him and his right side was paralyzed. Having lost the use of his right hand, he taught his left hand to do the work of his right hand and he spent many hours writing for many years. He kept a daily record of the happenings around home.

The wife, Lucy Jane, was called from her earthly home July 28, 1882. In April, 1885, he was married to Mrs. Jamima Smoot. He then left the old homestead and made his home in the little village of Monteith. Here he spent the rest of his life. He was called from Labor to Reward on April 6, 1896, having lived on earth nearly 77 years. December 23, 1893, he fell on the icy side-walk at his home and sustained a fractured hip and was confined to his bed the rest of his life.

So ends the story of a husband and wife who was not only loved by children and grand-children but by all who knew them. Surely Great is the Reward in Heaven for such lives on Earth.

Sidney Reed recalled a time when he was a boy living at the old home just over the hill south of Monteith when our Grandfather had an appointment to preach at their schoolhouse. When the time came it was storming and the snow was very deep but Grandfather was there to fulfill his appointment and stayed overnight at the H. T. Reed home and made the remark that he felt it his duty to fulfill all of his appointments even if he had to “crawl” to get to them.

Written by Harriet Crabbs, a descendant of Ephraim W. Moore:

The daughter of Ephraim W. and Lucy Jane (Branson) Moore, Emelia Ann (Moore) Jordan, was the grandmother of Leora (Goff) Wilson. They are mentioned in Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots.