Moir, Alexander 1821-1898 & Jessie Ross Family

MOIR, ROSS, CLARKSON, STIRLING

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg (email)
Date: 3/29/2024 at 18:44:57

Moir, Alexander 1821-1898 and Jessie Ross Family

This story was taken from pages 435-436 of the Maurice Centennial Book (1891-1991). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

Alexander, fourth child of Jane (Stirling) and George Moir was born August 15, 1821, near Callander, Scotland. The family emigrated to near Hensall, Ontario, Canada, in 1844. Alexander married Jessie Russell (Janet) Ross, on February 22, 1853, in London, Canada. Jessie, the name she preferred to her given name of Janet, was the daughter of Jane (Clarkson) and Gavin Ross. Little has been recorded of the early life of these two pioneers. In his adult years in Canada, Alexander farmed near Exeter, Huron County, Ontario, and was a wagon-maker.

In April 1882, the Moir family moved their family of thirteen children to their new farm in Sherman Township, Sioux County, Iowa. He had purchased 320 acres, this being the south half of section 25. He bought other lands in nearby sections later. Alexander died in September, 1898, at age 77 years and was buried in Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, Iowa. His obituary states “he was a good citizen and a kind Christian man. He was always a very rugged man and little accustomed to sickness and was sick but about a week before his death.”

Jessie (Janet) Russell Ross was born in Scotland, April 14, 1835. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was known as a fine Christian lady. She died from cancer in April, 1899, at age 64 years. Her body was interred next to that of her husband in Memorial Cemetery, LeMars, Iowa.

(end of the family story in the Maurice Centennial book)

RESEARCH Notes – Family report on ancestry.com public member tree submitted by other than this submitter.

Alexander Moir was born 15 Aug 1821 Scotland died 18 Sep 1898 Sherman, Sioux, Iowa. His parents were George Moir born 22 August 1784 Thornhill, Perthshire. Tayside, Scotland died 6 May 1855 Usborne Twp, Ontario Canada; and Jean 'Jane' Stirling born 30 Apr 1794 Kincardine, Perthahire, Scotland died 5 Apr 1867 Hensall, Ontario, Canada. Alexander married Janet 'Jessie' Ross.

Janet 'Jessie Ross was born 14 Apr 1835 Carluke, South Lanarkshire, Scotland died 20 Apr 1899 Le Mars, Plymouth, Iowa. Her parents were Gavin Ross born bef 27 Jul 1788 Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland died 23 May 1875 Huron County Ontario Canada; and Jane Janet Clarkson born 30 Sep 1806 Carluke, Lanark, Scotland died 30 Sep 1874 Hay Township, Huron, Ontario, Canada. Alexander and Jessie had the following children:

CHILDREN: The information can vary from one source to another, as from family report on ancestry.com, Find A Grave, obituaries and etc. Information can vary from one source to another.

1 George Ross Moir born 17 Apr 1855 Usborne Huron County Ontario Canada died 7 Apr 1936 Le Mars Plymouth Iowa. He married Mary Florence Tucker on 15 May 1883 in Sioux County IA. They had children - George A. Moir, Ellsworth, Neb.; Will R. Moir, Maurice, Iowa; Carl R. Moir, Akron; Roy E. Moir, Sioux City; Mervin Moir and Glenn Moir, Orange City; and Mrs. Lloyd Laughton, Le Mars. Two daughters, Mrs. Oscar Eason and Bertha Florence Buss, preceded him in death, the former in 1913 and the latter five years ago 1931. See his obituary on this web page.

2 Jane Russell Moir born 6 Feb 1857 Usborne Twp. Huron County Ontario Canada died 3 Sep 1944 Le Mars, Iowa. Married Richard Hawkins. Children Mrs. B. F. Potter of Mitchell SD, Mrs. Martha Haney of Minneapolis MN, William G. and Albert Thomas Hawkins of this vicinity, one son R. A. preceded her in death. From the Le Mars Globe Post of Sep 7, 1944. .

3 Margaret Moir Hawkins born 23 Jan 1859 near Exter, Ontario, Canada died 25 Jun 1924 Ireton Iowa. She married Henry J. Hawkins. Their children -  the eldest, William Henry, who passed to the Home Beyond at the early age of one year, Mrs. Jessie A. Simons, who resides near Ireton and Merrit A. Hawkins of Maurice. See her obituary on this web page.

4 Jessie Janet Moir born 27 Oct 1860 Ontario, Canada died 25 Jun 1932 Plymouth County Iowa. Married F. T. Eason. Their children F. A. Eason and George Eason. Her obituary was found in the Le Mars Semi Weekly Sentinel of Jun 28, 1932.

5 Gavin Moir born 10 Jul 1862 Ontario Canada died 18 Jan 1928 Cass County North Dakota. His wife was Rhuella Tucker and children – Robert A. Moir, Russell E. Moir and Gavin Albert Moir. From Find A Grave Index.

6 Agnes Moir born 6 May 1864 Usborne, Huron Co. Ontario, Canada died 14 Jan 1945 Ottertail County Minnesota. She married Ira Derrick Van Wechel. Their children were – Frank Alexander Van Wechel; Jessie Lavina Buth; Floyd Lee Ira Van Wechel; Lorentz Edgar Van Wechel, Eunice Ida Ernst; Clarence Aaron Van Wechel; Source Find A Grave Index.

7 Alexander Moir born 22 Apr 1866 Ontario Canada died 11 Nov 1915 Delhi, Richland, Louisiana. According to a family report on ancestry.com He married Catherine ‘Katie’ Folan 1872-1943. Three children were listed Clarence ‘William’ Moir 1896-1952; Ida Helen Moir 1897-1996 and Edward Alexander Moir 1900-1996. His second marriage was to Sadie Handy born 1874.

8 Russell John Moir born 4 May 1868 Exeter Ontario Canada died 19 Jun 1945 Le Mars, Iowa. He married Lillian Harriman 1875-1958. Their children were – Jessie Lilian Moir 1896-1902; Infant Moir 1902-1902; Alice Sabina Moir 1906-1994; Earl Russell Moir 1906-1989; Lloyd Leslie Moir 1909-1974. From a report on ancestry.com submitted by others.

9 Lucy Mary Moir Mc Mullen born 7 Aug 1870 Usborne, Huron Co. Ontario Canada died 30 Apr 1942 Le Mars Iowa. Her husband was Merrit C. McMullen LeMars businessman. They were the parents of six children – A. E. McMullen, Geroge, Lloyd, and Pearl McMullen, Mrs. T. W. Thompson of Sioux City and Mrs. Glen Taylor of Onawa. Source obituary in the Le Mars Globe Post of Mary 4, 1942.

10 Robert Stirling Moir born 22 Aug 1873 Exeter, Ontario Canada died 21 Dec 1945 Mitchell So. Dakota.
He married Florence Ladenberger 1857. Sons Robert R.Moir 1899 and Floyd Eugene Moir, Lloyd Moir 1905 and daughter Laura Moie 1909. Source Find a Grave index.

11 James Thomas Moir born 2 Nov 1874 Usborne Twp Huron County Ontario Canada died 16 Nov 1953 Tucson AZ. He married Jennie Bos 1880-1962. Angeline Moir 1901-1954 and Alice Moir 1905-1990. Found on Find A Grave and a family report on Ancestry.com.

12 Peter William Moir born 8 Mar 1877 Exeter Ontario Canada died 6 Feb 1951 Davison So. Dakota. He married Alice Sabina Osborne 1879-1906. Their children were William Lawrence Moir 1902-1974 and Alice Sabrina Moir 1905-1994. Peter’s second wife was Elizabeth Sanderson 1885-1930. Their children were Harold Millard Moie 1908-1991, Louis Premier Moir 1909-1981, Francis Leroy Moir 1911-1975 and Mabel Moir 1914. From a family report on ancestry.com

13 Andrew Clarkson Moir born 14 Feb 1880 Exeter, Ontario Canada died 19 Dec 1952 Andover Brown So Dakota. He married Neeltje ‘Nellie’ Eibe Winter 1979-1968. The had children Elmer Edwin Moie 1901-1959, Walter Wilfred Moir 1903-1988, Everett Andrew Moir 1905-1999, Nelvina J. Moie 1909-1999, Myrtle Moie 1912-2010 and Eunice Moie 1919-2007

OBITUARY OF ALEXANDER MOIR
The Death of Alexander Moir.
The death of Alexander Moir, sr., occurred last Sunday forenoon at his home in Sherman township in this county. The funeral took place on Tuesday.
Deceased was born in Scotland seventy-seven years ago. While still a young man he came to this country, and settled in the lake regions of Canada. At twenty-eight he was married to Miss Jessie Ross, who was ten years his junior. Thirteen children were born to them, five daughters and eight sons. In 1882 Mr. Moir and family moved to this county, where they have since resided.
The savings of the many years of faithful toil and wise frugality were invested in Sioux county land, and the natural and divine reward promised to "the band of the diligent" was realized in his case; those who depended on him were well provided for. But not only in a material sense did he provide well for his family. Though not a man of great book learning himself, he realized the value of an education, and did a good deal to educate his children. Several of them have been teachers in this county, and the high order of their work was well recognized. The thirteen children all survive him, and all but one--who is in Oklahoma--were about his bedside in the latest hours. All the children are married, except three sons who are still at home and the youngest of whom is eighteen. Although it is forty-five years ago that Alexander Moir and Jessie Ross were married, the faithful wife of these many years kept faithful watch as his life ebbed away.
Personally Mr. Moir was a man of excellent character, a typical Scotchman, quiet, sober, industrious, honest; honored and respected by his neighbors--they all liked "Mr. Moir"; and why should they not? He seemed to like them all, and a man cannot well seem that way for a long number of years without its being pretty nearly true. He was a man of whom the world at large did not hear, but a man of the best social timber. Of harmonious organization, he was very unobtrusive, and lived "far from the madd'ning crowd's ignoble strife." A true and faithful husband, a kind and thoughtful father, the day of his life was calm, and its sunset serene. He has realized the beautiful benediction that "his children rise up and call him blessed."
Source: Sioux County Herald, September 21, 1898.

From the Alton Democrat of Sep 24, 1898
Alexander Moir, who resided near Seney just over the line in Sioux county, died at his home on Sunday at the age of 77 years. The funeral was held at the house on Tuesday noon and the remains were laid to rest in the city cemetery at Le Mars.
Deceased moved to his late home from Canada in the early seventies and has since resided there where his children have grown up and married.
The aged wife and a large number of children survive him. He was always a rugged man and little accustomed to sickness, and was sick about a week when he yielded up his earthly career. The funeral was a very large one, the neighbors for miles around coming to attend the remains to their last resting place, Le Mars Globe,

OBITUARY OF JESSIE (JANET) MOIR
Death of Mrs. Alex Moir.
Died, at her home north of Seney, Mrs. Jessie Moir, on the 18th day of April, 1899, aged 64 years and 5 days. Deceased was the wife of the late Alex Moir, one of the prominent farmers of Sioux county, Iowa.
She was born in Scotland, married at the age of 21 years to Alexander Moir in Canada, where they resided until the year 1882, when they removed from there and made northwestern Iowa their home. They came here with their family of thirteen children on April 15th of that year and have since made this their home. Mrs. Moir had long been a sufferer and during the last years was never entirely well. Her husband died September 13th, 1898, and the shock of his death doubtlessly hastened her death.
She died a member of the Presbyterian church, and the sorrowing children are comforted with the full belief that she has followed her husband to a better land in the great hereafter and that she rests in peace with her Lord who she has served so long and faithfully. Mrs. Moir was a faithful wife and mother and her life was an example to all about her. All the friends join in sympathy with the bereaved children.
Alton Democrat, April 29, 1899
(A briefer news note in the Sioux County Herald, April 26, 1899, adds that she died after several months illness with liver cancer, and that she was interred in the LeMars cemetery.)

Picture on Page 436

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