Data source is Steve Kamm, 2117 SW 84th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73159, e-mail skamm@occc.edu
JOHN FISHER MOOMAW
John was born in Virginia, moved to Grant Co., IN, at about age 10, and then to Iowa. (See his father, Jacob B.) According to the 1881 History of Fremont Co., he arrived in Iowa in the autumn of 1856.
According to the Moomaw Family Book, John F. was married to Jane Burson, but this is in error. Jane was married to John's brother, Mark. (The 1881 History of Fremont County indicates there was a Burson family in the area.) Sidney Marriage Records show John was definitely married to Matilda Ann (1860).
On September 17, 1862, John (along with brothers Mark F. and Daniel D.) enlisted as a Private in Company A, Fourth Battalion of Iowa's Southern Border Brigade. The ISBB was formed to protect southern counties against raids by Confederate sympathizers roaming Missouri. All three were mustered in on October 18th. Less than a year later, on March 1, 1863, brother, Mark, was promoted to First Sergeant. On April 25, 1863, John was discharged--reason unknown.
His biography in the 1881 History of Fremont Co. indicates he visited the Rocky Mountains in 1863, "remaining but a year." This would have been shortly after his discharge from the ISBB. Might there have been some instances of over-zealous actions on the part of the ISBB which caused him to be "absent" for a time? See comments on the ISBB in the 1881 History.
In 1874, John F. was elected into the Nishabotany Lodge #153 of the AF & AM, along with brother Mark F. and Jacob B. (brother or father?) On March 25, 1875, John F. was raised to the rank of Master Mason.
The family, including sons William (14), Joseph (6) and Charles (4), is listed in the 1880 Census as residing in Sidney.
According to his obituary, he originally worked as a carpenter. At some point, John entered the furniture business--a trade he was still persuing in 1881. His obituary indicates he went on to become a butcher, operating Moomaw & Son (Will and perhaps Joe). He was a respected member of the business community, while Matilda's obituary describes their pleasant home.
He died at his home in 1908 and is buried in Lot 46 of the Old Sidney Cemetery. Six months later, Matilda Ann passed away.
Some questions exist about the first three children listed. Obituaries give a total of five children, 4 boys & one girl. It is fairly certain that Jacob and Matilda had at least one child who died young. Sidney cemetery records show Clara and Eddie who might be their children. Family records show a baby, Mae.
See the obituaries of both John & Matilda Ann, 1880 Census, 1881 History of Fremont County.
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THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN. June 11, 1908. "ANOTHER OF SIDNEY'S PIONEERS AND BUSINESS MEN REPONDS TO THE BECKON OF GRIM REAPER."--On Monday June 8, 1908, at his home in Sidney occured the death of John F. Moomaw, who came to Fremont county in the year 1856.
Mr. Moomaw had been in failing health all spring and his death came after a short but severe attack which confined him to his home and bed. All that loving hands and skilled physicians could do to effect a cure was without avail and on Monday evening last, his spirit took its flight to that bourne from which no traveler returns.
For many years Mr. Moomaw has been a prominent citizen and business man of Sidney and was one of the most familiar figures observed among the older settlers about town. He was highly respected and honored by all his friends and business associates, and by frugal habits and simple manner of living had acquired a comfortable home and paying business.
His character was always above reproach and it was a pleasure to have his friendship. He was an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity in the local lodge. While he has been called away from earthly scenes his loved ones and life time friends hope to meet and be reunited with him on that great day when all shall meet their maker face to face, and enter into the paradise of peace and rest forever more.
The entire community extends sympathy to the bereaved family in this their dark hour of grief and sorrow, and may they receive consolation for their loss from Him whose unseen hand rules the action and limits the space of life of all man, but in the workings of whose will, doeth all things well, and whose chastisements are meant in mercy.
John F. Moomaw was born in Giles County, Virginia, October 11, 1837, and removed from that state while quite young to Indiana, and in the year 1856 removed to Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa, settling in the new and at that time undeveloped west, and making this place his life time home, where he was married and reared his family.
His death occurred at the home in Sidney, Iowa, on Monday evening June 8, 1908.
On December 20, 1860, he was united in marriage with Matilda A. Fletcher, who with three sons, now grown to manhood, namely, William, Lee and Joseph L. Moomaw, survive to mourn the loss of loving husband and father.
Funeral services were conducted at the home on Wednesday June 10th, at 10 a.m., by the Rev. Shipman assisted by Rev. Dickinson. Intermnet made in the Sidney cemetery.
The following is from the Fremont Co., IA history, 1881
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/historical/fremont/fremont_sidney_bios_3.htm
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MOOMAW, JOHN F., merchant, P. O. Sidney; born October 11, 1837, in the state of Virginia. When about ten years of age moved with his parents to Grant county, Indiana, remaining some seven years. In 1856 came to Fremont county, of which he has since been a continuous resident. His life, for the greater part, has been spent at the work-bench, for he is a carpenter by trade. In 1863 he visited the Rocky Mountains, remaining but a year. In 1877 he entered the furniture business, in which he is now engaged. Mr. Moomaw is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married December 20, 1860, to Miss Matilda Fletcher; by this union they have three children: William H., Joseph B. and Charles.
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"ROSTER AND RECORD OF IOWA SOLDIERS IN MISCELLANEOUS ORGANIZATIONS of the Mexican War, Indian Campaigns, War of the Rebellion and the Spanish-American and Philippine Wars" published in Des Moines in 1911. -- Pages 209 - 272 pertain to the "Southern Border Brigade (State Militia)".
There is an historical sketch preceding the rosters which explains the role played by each of the four battalions which comprised the Southern Border Brigade. The greatest threat of invasion by Southern Troops into Iowa came from a drive northward through Missouri during the summer of 1861. After capturing Lexington, Missouri, those forces--under General Sterling Price--crossed the Missouri river, and headed for northern Missouri. However, mistaken intelligence reported to Price that there were ten regiments from the North marching to engage him at Chillicothe, when in reality, there was but one much smaller force from the Southern Border Brigade. This mistake caused Price to retreat with his army and never again during the Civil War was southern Iowa threatened by a large armed force of Confederates.
But the South did realize that small bands of Rebels could necessitate the deployment of much larger forces on the part of the North to prevent their plans -- such as destroying the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad which ran east - west across Missouri. This meant a large number of men in the State militia could not be called up by the United States to fight against the Confederacy in the South, and for Fremont county this set the stage for the kind of operations that Company "A" of Fourth Battalion of the Southern Border Brigade would be kept in readiness to engage in.
The following roster lists those in Company "A" of the Fourth Battalion of the Southern Border Brigade. Most men gave their residency as being in Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa. If they said only that they lived in Fremont county, I have followed their name with an (F).
"M": Daniel D. Moomaw, John F. Moomaw, Mark F. Moomaw