Moir,George R. 1855-1936 & Mary Tucker Family

MOIR, TUCKER, ROSS, MCDERMOTT

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/11/2024 at 20:51:21

Moir, George R. 1855-1936 & Mary Tucker Family

This story was taken from pages 436-438 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.

George Ross, first child of Alexander and Jessie (Ross) Moir was born April 17, 1855, in Usborne Township, Huron County, Ontario, Canada, He had a good education and taught school in Canada, for ten years before moving to his farm in Iowa, as well as getting his farm under cultivation and building up his herds of cattle, horses and hogs. He was of a sturdy build and enjoyed good health.

George was very progressive in his thinking, very studious, continued to read all of his life, and treasured good books. His wife Mary also was a teacher before their marriage, so they had that valuable interest in common.

When they were first married they had a small house to the north of the present home, in what in later years was the apple orchard, containing many trees. A good-sized grove was planted to the west of the farmstead, between the farm buildings and the road, with a long line of trees extending from the grove east and west the entire north side of the farmstead as a wind-break of sorts. The prairie yielded very few trees in those days. About all the first settlers saw was a sea of grass with a few scanty trees along the Floyd River which ran its course about three or four miles east of the Moir land and larger groves of trees along the Big Sioux and Rock rivers, many miles west of the Moir farms. Because fast growing trees were needed for fuel in the early days, many groves were started and most of the trees planted were the early maturing types such as cottonwoods, box elders, and elms.

It was told that to obtain cottonwood seedlings, a trip was made to some water courses where there were numerous young trees started by nature, these were dug up and the roots kept moist on the trip back to the farm, and these were planted along the road the entire distance between the farms of George and his father Alexander. In later years these towering cottonwoods became a distinctive landmark and provided shade for the livestock that were pastured in the area. These trees have died out and had to be removed in recent years.

The land George purchased was 320 acres, the north half of Section 25. He was very knowledgeable in laying out his farmstead, as he selected high ground for the house and garden, apple orchard and grape arbors, with barns and hog houses, corn cribs and chicken house and such needed buildings on a lower slope of the ground for proper drainage. A huge barn, for protection of his many horses, as all farming was dependent entirely on work-horses then, and an area for cattle on the north end was built. This barn measures 102 feet by 64 feet and has always been painted in the deep red color so popular on farm buildings in the east and mid-west. This entire building was constructed without nails - - it was built with wooden pegs and has withstood storms and long years of use, being now about 100 years old. An innovative feature used here, in this big barn, was that a large watering tank for livestock with a hydrant to fill it, was built into the center of the barn, so there would be no freeze-ups in the bitter winters of this area. George was a person who thought out labor-saving devices and incorporated such ideas wherever possible. Another smaller barn was built in 1915, to the south of the big barn. This latter barn was always referred to as the “New Barn.”

About the year 1891, or 1892, as the family grew, it became necessary to construct a much larger house. This was a pleasant two-story frame house still in use. This was before the era of electricity, so George had a gas lighting system in the downstairs of this home, later on he installed a Delco plant which was a 32-volt system to supply electricity to the house and yard light. There was indoor plumbing and a hot-air furnace which very few farm homes had at that time. He was also the owner of one of the earliest automobiles in this vicinity. This was a 1910 4-cylinder Cadillac which he purchased from his brother Russell’s Garage in Le Mars. He drove Dodge cars after 1920, as his son Carl had the Agency in Akron. He also bought one of the earliest “Heider” gas tractors. George was very successful in managing his money and served as director and vice president of the bank in Maurice, Iowa. It was one of the few Iowa banks that did not close in the 1929 financial crash.

George was raised in a good home, instructed in the Presbyterian faith, was always courteous and respected by all who knew him for his fair and equitable dealings. He was the father of ten children, one of whom died in infancy.

In the last several months of his life, he suffered much. Death came April 7, 1936, and he was buried from the Methodist Seney Church, with burial in the Seney cemetery.

The wife of George R. Moir, was Mary Florence Tucker, daughter of Sarah (McDermott) and Rufus K. Tucker of Buena Vista, Ohio. Mary was born March 14, 1862, in Nile Township, Scioto County, Ohio. Directly across the Ohio river from Buena Vista is the town of Vanceburg, Kentucky. The family lived at times on this side of the river according to the work of her father, who was a master stone mason. The stone quarry was on both sides of the river and it is said, it runs also under the Ohio River there. At one time, the family lived in Cincinnato, as Mary told that she attended school in that city during her elementary grades. The family lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the time of the 1880 census-taking. She graduated from high school there, then Sarah and Rufus came by train to northwest Iowa. He went into farming, but didn’t like it, so after five years, he gave that up and the family lived in Le Mars, where Rufus had plenty of work in his stone mason line. Mary taught the country school in Fredonia Township, Plymouth County, and made the acquaintance of George Moir, newly in the area from Canada, also a school master. They were married in May of 1883, and lived out their lives on the farm in Sherman Township. Upon retiring, they bought a home in Le Mars, where they lived until their deaths.

Mary was a kind, genteel, Christian lady, who was skilled at sewing, knitting, baking and cooking and was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was well-known for setting a bountiful table. There were many visitors to this home, not only relatives, but her husband had many business interests and often had callers to discuss these matters, so it often happened that an extra plate or two were set at the table as all were invited to partake of meals served. Mary was a member of the Seney Methodist Church. She dressed in the most stylish manner and loved nice clothes and furnishings for her home. In the year 1919, she and her son Carl made a rare (for that time) automobile trip to Chicago, Carl, of course, doing the driving. They went back East to visit sons and a daughter of John W. Tucker, a younger brother of her dad, Rufus Tucker. Carl had made the acquaintance of these cousins while he was stationed in Fort Sheridan near Chicago, during his training for W.W.I. Mary remembered these cousins, as she knew them when all of the family lived along the Ohio River.

There were times when she would tell us she was a real “Yankee”, meaning that her family lines went back into the early settlement of our country. Upon searching back on her lineage, we found that to be true. Her great great grandfather David Mitchell of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, had served in the Revolutionary War, her great grandfather John Tucker had served in the War of 1812. Other close relatives served on the Union side during the Civil War.

Mary Moir died in December, 1939, and was buried in the Seney Cemetery next to the grave of her dear husband.

IN MEMORY OF George and Mary Moir by Mrs. Earl Albert - end of story in Maurice Book.

RESEARCH NOTES: Found family in a report on Ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter, and from local obits on this page.
See the BIOS of George's parents Alexander Moir and Jessie Ross on this web page and more information following at the end of this narrative.

Geprge Ross Moir was born 17 Apr 1855 Usborne township, Huron County, Ontario Canada and died 7 Apr 1936 Le Mars Plymouth Iowa. His parents were Alexander Moir 1821-1898 and Janet ‘Jessie’ Russell Ross 1835-1899, George married Mary Florence Tucker 1862-1939 on 15 May 1883 at Plymouth County IA.

Mary Florence Tucker was born Mar 1862 died 14 Dec 1939 Le Mars, Iowa. Her marriage record indicates her father was Rufus Tucker born 5 Jul 1836 Scioto, Ohio and mother was Sarah McDermot 1836 -1915. George Moir and Mary Tucker had 8 children.

CHILDREN: Various sources, obits on this web page, ancestry.com birth marriages and deaths.

1. George Alexander Moir born 21 March 1884 Sherman Township Sioux Iowa died 1 Feb 1972 Los Angeles CA. He married Pearl Deborde 1890-1947. They had children - George W. Moir 1920 and Gerald L. Moir 1922.
2. Grace Ella Moir born 3 Nov 1885 Sherman died 4 Jan 1918 Alton IA. She married Oscar Eason 1890-1969 They had children Stephen James Eason 1913-1913 and Mildred Eason 1916-2011. See her obituary on this web page.
3. William Rufus Moir born 9 Oct 1887 Sioux County Iowa died 1 Aug 1982 Salix, Woodbury, Iowa. He married Nellie M. Wynia 1894-1967. Their children were Dorothy Ann Moir 1924-1924, Elsie Mrs. Frank Brown of Salix and Donald Rufus Moir 1927-2002. See William’s obit on this web page.
4. Infant son, born and died February 1892
5. Bertha Florence Moir born 15 Jun 1894 Iowa died 29 Jul 1931 Le Mars IA. She married William Francis Buss. Her obit was in the Le Mars Globe Post of August 3, 1931 lived at Seney, she died at 37 yrs. Four sons were born to them, Frank, Lloyd, Harold and Ralph .
6. Carl Raymond Moir born 19 May 1897 Eugene OR died 23 Jan 1970 Akron OH. He married Maybelle Rose Simmons 1894-1986. He was a car and implement dealer in Akron. Children - Ronald, Mrs. Victor Clark of Akron and Mrs. Ray Heeren of Akron. His obituary was carried in the Le Mars Daily Sentinel of Jan 26, 1970.
7. Hugh Mervin Moir born 20 Sep 1902 died 30 May 1975 Boulder CO Spouse Garnet Lorraine Mann Moir 1916-2012. No further information found.
8. Ethel R. Moir born 27 Apr 1904 Iowa died 5 Aug 1985 Le Mars IA . She married Lloyd Laughton in 1932. Children George Laughton of Le Mars, Mrs. Charles Mary Bangs of Co. Springs, Mrs. Charles Joyce Willer and Mrs. Charles Helen Driggs of Le Mars, Mrs. Perry Mildred Springer of Urbandale and Mrs. Ray Lois Tursheim of Toledo IA. Her obit was in the Le Mars Daily Sentinel of Aug 6, 1985.
9. Glen Albert Moir born 13 May 1907 23 May 1988 Le Mars, Iowa. He married Evelyn Marie Baldwin.

OBITUARY OF GEORGE MOIR
From the Alton Democrat, April 10, 1936:
George R. Moir, prominent Sherman township farmer for many years, died at his home in Le Mars Tuesday evening following a paralytic stroke. Mr. Moir was within ten days of his 81st birthday on April 17th. He came to Sherman township about fifty years ago and resided in that township until he moved to Le Mars last October.
Funeral services will be held at his home in Le Mars, 208 Fifth Ave. S. W. at two o’clock Friday afternoon, with interment in the Seney cemetery.

From the Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, April 10, 1936:
WIDELY KNOWN AND PROMINENT STOCKMAN DIES
George R. Moir Was Successful Farmer in Sioux County Many Years
Instructor In His Youth
Formerly Served In Capacity Of Public Official
Death claimed George R. Moir, 81, prominent farmer and stockman in Sioux county for many years, at his home, 205 Fifth Avenue SW., in this city, Tuesday evening. Infirmities of age were the cause of death. He had been in failing health for a year.
George R. Moir was a native of Canada, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Moir, immigrating from Scotland to Canada in early days, and was born at Exeter, April 17, 1855. He received a good education in his native place and when a young man taught school for ten years.
While resident of Sioux county in addition to farming successfully, he served as county and township clerk for a number of years, and was active in community affairs. He came to Le Mars six months ago to make his home.
He was married to Mary Florence Tucker, May 15, 1883, in Sioux county. He is survived by his wife and seven 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.
He also leaves three sisters and five brothers, Mrs. Richard Hawkins, Seney; Mrs. Merrill McMullen, Larchwood; Mrs. Van Witchell, Burnsville, Minn.; R. J. Moir, Le Mars; Robert Moir and Peter Moir, Mitchell, S.D.; Andrew Moir and Thomas Moir, of Andover, S.D.
Funeral Friday Afternoon
The funeral will be held at the residence this Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., Rev. M. B. Phillips officiating, and interment will be made in the cemetery at Seney. His six sons will act as pallbearers.

RESEARCH NOTES
His birth certificate has George Ross Moir, born April 17, 1855 in Canada; parents Alexander Moir and Jessie Ross, both born in Scotland; a resident of the U.S. 55 years and of Le Mars 6 months; wife Mary Florence Moir; died at 6:50 p.m. April 7, 1936; causes, cerebral thrombosis, onset April 2, 1936, arteriosclerosis, onset 1925, and senile dementia, onset 1935.
His Find a Grave page gives his birthplace as Usborne, Huron County, Ontario, Canada; parents Alexander Moir (1821-1898) and Jessie Russel Ross Moir (1835-1899); wife Mary Florence Tucker Moir (1862-1939); eight siblings and four of his children are listed. One of the children listed is an unnamed infant son, born and died February 1892.
The 1900 U.S. census says that he immigrated to the U.S. in 1882 and is naturalized.

OBITUARY OF MARY MOIR Mrs. George Moir 1862-1939
Information from Family Search – Historical Records
LeMars Semi Weekly of Dec 15th 1939
Mrs. May Moir Taken by Death, Taught School Here In Pioneer Days
Mrs. Mary Moir, 77, resident of Plymouth and Sioux counties for over fifty years died at her home 123 Third Ave NW Thursday afternoon following an illness of a year caused by failing powers and complications.
Mary Florence Tucker was born at Portsmouth, Ohio March 14, 1862, where she received her early education and engaged in the profession of teaching.
Coming to Le Mars in the early eighties she taught school in Fredonia township. She was married at Seney May 15, 1883 to George R. Moir and they farmed successfully over fifty years on their place in Sioux county. On retiring from active farm like they came to Le Mars in 1935 and established a comfortable home. Mr. Moir died April 7, 1936.
Mrs. Moir leaves six sons and a daughter, Rev. George Moir of Macon NE, Will Moir of Le Mars, Carl R. Moir of Akton, Roy E Moir of Sioux City, Mervin Moir and Glen A. Moir of Orange City and Mrs. Lloyd Laughton of Elgin Township. 20 grand children and one great grandchild. She also leaves a sister Mrs. Ella Moir, who lived with them and faithfully tended her in long illness. Two brothers, George and Bert Tucker, who lived in Le Mars in the early days preceded her in death.
Mrs. Moir was a member of the Methodist church. She enjoyed a large acquaintance and we highly esteemed in a large circle of friends
The funeral will be held Saturday at 1:30 p. m. at the residence with services in the Methodist church at Seney at 2 o’clock. Rev. Richard Mohler, the pastor will conduct the service. Interment will be made in the Seney cemetery.

This picture is from page 436 of the Maurice book.

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