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- Rev. Dr. James B. Moore Obituaries
"The Waterford Star" newspaper
Waterford, Ontario, Canada
Thursday, September 03, 1931
Page: 01
"Ontario's Oldest Baptist Preacher Died on Saturday.
"Elder Moore Widely Know Throughout Province - Funeral Attended by Over Thirty Preachers and a Large Number of Friends - He Will be Mourned by All.
"The village of Waterford lost one of its oldest and best beloved citizens on Saturday last in the death of Rev. Dr. James B. Moore, who passed away following a stroke suffered August 12. He was in his 90th year, and until the last few weeks had enjoyed remarkably good health for a man of his years.
"He was the oldest living Baptist minister in the Ontario and Quebec Union, and had been preaching the gospel for nearly three quarters of a century. On a few occasions even during the past year he had occupied the pulpit. Having served in many pastorates throughout the province he was widely known and his stately, venerable figure was familiar to thousands of friends by all of whom he was deeply respected and admired.
"Elder Moore, as he was more familiarly known, was born on the first day of April, 1842, on a farm in the township of Norwich, county of Oxford, not far from Burgessville. His father was William S. Moore, a man of Quaker parentage, who came to Canada from New Jersey and settled near Norwich. Their family consisted of ten boys and six girls, of which Elder Moore was the last remaining member.
"When he was seventeen years old, he determined to enter the Gospel ministry, although he was opposed by his father who had been a Quaker in all of his training and his sympathies. The young man had the choice of leaving home or leaving the religious meetings. He chose the former and was baptized and united with the Baptist Church at Burgessville.
"He began his struggle for an education at a private academy and boarding school in a village about 20 miles from New York City. He received board and tuition free in return for doing odd jobs. He had been there only a year or so when the Civil War broke out. He heard the call to arms and enlisted, be selected as an aide-de-camp to General Phil Kearney. He was only 19 years old at that time. His unit was with the Army of the Potomac and camped near the White House. Several times he had the pleasure of seeing the President, Abraham Lincoln. The only engagement in which his division took part was the retreat after the siege of Richmond in which the fighting was fierce and many men were slain. Elder Moore always declared, however, that he did not fire a gun, but was engaged in running messages from one division to another on horseback. He did have a horse shot beneath him during one assault.
"He was in the army for nearly a year when his father learned about it and was instrumental in securing his discharge on the ground that he enlisted under age and without the consent of his parents.
"The ambitious young man returned to the old farm home in Norwich township. The he learned that Woodstock Baptist College had opened and he straightway enrolled there. Although often in financial straits, he managed to complete a six year course at the College and graduated in 1868, at 26 years of age.
"He was ordained to the ministry and became pastor of a small Church in Whitevale, Pickering Township, Ontario County, at a salary of four hundred dollars a year. He was married while at Whitevale and for over fifty years they lived happily and laboured together. He was instrumental in forming three new Churches in the district.
"Rev. Mr. Moore devoted a year to evangelistic work after which he assumed a pastorate in Tillsonburg and from 1880 onward laboured there and in the nearby village of Brownsville. After a year or two in the village of Scotland he came to Waterford. After five years as pastor of the Waterford Baptist Church, during which he made a wide circle of friends, the again began evangelistic work and for eight years was peregrinating among the churches, while his family lived in Toronto. Then he returned to the pastorate and assumed charges in Blenheim, Brownsville and Delhi successively. At the conclusion of his Delhi pastorate, he definitely retired because he was then nearly 70 years of age. Having many congenial friends in Waterford, he and Mrs. Moore decided to come here to spend the remaining years of their lives.
"Here Mrs. Moore predeceased her husband some fourteen years ago. In 1921 he married Mrs. David Grey of Hamilton, who survives him. A daughter, Bessie, Mrs. (Rev) W. J. H. Brown, of Toronto, died more than a year ago, while three sons remain, Mr. W. H. Moore, M.P. for Ontario County; Mr. Harry Moore of Toronto, and Ambrose of Detroit.
"Elder Moore had preached on one or more occasions in every Baptist Church in this district and there were few in Western Ontario which he had not preached. As late as the summer of 1928 his services were still in keen demand and he preached 28 sermons that year. In the last few years he had continued to do supply work when called upon.
"Waterford was indeed fortunate when he decided to spend his twilight years in this village for there was no more loyal citizen and none more sympathetic with every community movement than the genial Elder. His name became a household word in the village and far beyond its confines. During his 20 years in Waterford, though he claimed to be in retirement, no request for his presence at religious or social gathering ever met with refusal. He was the embodiment of good nature and his whimsical stories and droll humor have enlivened many a party.
"In his early years he was very fond of thoroughbred horses and his stables were frequent blue-ribbon winners at the C. N. E. Gardening and fishing were other hobbies, while his fish stories became almost legendary. His parrot "Polly" provided much amusement for both himself and his visitors. At the last accounting, this bird was over 25 years old.
"For the last twelve years or more, Elder Moore had made his winter home at St. Petersburg, Florida, where he became almost a landmark. He was permanent chaplain of the Canadian Association, comprising about 300 members, the Grand Army of the Republic which included forty Civil War veterans, and the Three Quarter Century Club, comprising over 300 members, all of whom were over 75 years of age. The Elder's infinite capacity for telling stories made him a prime favourite with the Canadian colony in Florida.
"Few men live to the ripe old age of fourscore and ten: to still fewer is given the opportunity of serving in their chosen vocation for nearly 75 years; and only very rarely is such a man possessed of the clarity of mind, the command of language, and the charm of personality at the end of this time as exhibited in the case of the late Elder Moore. A happy disposition and an even, imperturbable temperament assisted in making his a pleasant journey though his life.
"Waterford will miss his genial countenance and patriarchal figure, his sparkling with and his treasured storehouse of recollections, as well as his impressive pulpit deliverances. But he has left his mark on the community and his long and faithful service will not soon be forgotten.
"The funeral was held from his late residence on St. James Street on Monday afternoon where so many friends gathered from far and near that it was found necessary to hold the service out of doors, the day being warm and sunny, and ideal for such an arrangement. Rev. Dr. Langton of Brantford, President of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec, was in charge of the services. Rev. C. E. MacLeod, secretary of the Convention, made the opening prayer, and the Scriptures were read by Rev. C. R. Duncan, Educational Secretary representing McMaster University, which a few years ago conferred on Elder Moore the degree of Doctor of Divinity, in accordance with Dr. Moore's request, the address was given by Rev. F. C. Elliot of Ingersoll, who since childhood had known the deceased. Most appropriately he chose for his text, "And Abraham died in a good old age, and old man and full of years and was gathered to his people." Mr. T. C. Savage, also by request, sang two solos, and Rev. L. F. Kipp, editor of the Canadian Baptist, closed the service with a prayer and benediction. Over thirty ministers were present and formed a guard of honor as the casket was borne by six pastors form this vicinity: Revs. W. H. Howard of Delhi, E. Butcher of Hagersville, J. A. Suggitt of Walsh, E. J. Whan of Villa Nova, T. M. Mead of Waterford, G. M. Saunders of Langton
"Of the immediate family present beside Mrs. Moore were Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Moore, Rev. W. J. H. Brown, Rev. Gordon Brown, and Mr. Douglas Brown, all of Toronto.
Interment took place in Greenwood Cemetery."
From "The Canadian Baptist"
3 Sep 1931
"When Rev. Moore died, he was the oldest minister in the Baptist denomination of Canada and probably the only survivor of Canadian nationality who participated in the American Civil War. As a youth of 17, he left home to obtain an education, preparatory to entering the ministry. Fate directed his steps to the United States and, when the civil war broke out, he enlisted, being selected as an aide de camp to General Kearney with the army of the Potomac in Virginia. His father obtained his discharge and he returned home to enter Woodstock College. Elder Moore, as he was more familiarly know in later life, occupied the pulpit in practically every Baptist church in the province on one or more occasions."
Source Unclear
After 1930
FINE OLD VETERAN SUMMONED TO REST
Rev. Dr. James B. Moore, retired minister of the Baptist Church, who died at Waterford a week ago. Dr. Moore was the oldest minister in the Ontario and Quebec Baptist Union and before entering the ministry, while still a lad in his teens, he enlisted with the Northern army in the American Civil war. His freedom being obtained by his father after one year's service because he was under age, he returned to his native district of Norfolk and by dirt of much labour and thrift obtained enough money to go through college. He held charges at Tillsonburg, Brownsville, Blenheim, Delhi and other places. Such was the esteem in which he was held by the ministry that at his funeral over thirty ministers of all denominations were present.
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1842 - 1931 (89 years)
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