History of Jerome

[Susie Sidles, a resident of Jerome all her life, wrote a history of her hometown, drawing upon her personal knowledge of the events and people who made up Jerome. Sidles is now deceased. Excerpts from that history follow:]

The small town of Jerome is located in Lincoln township in Appanoose County.

In 1856, Horace W. Lyon was named the first postmaster in Jerome. It is said that Lyon was not popular with his fellow townspeople, but that he had a son, who was blind, whose name was Jerome, and the town was named for him.

The first school site was known as School District No. 5, and was purchased from Jacob Stoner in 1857 for the consideration of $10. It is assumed the first school building was built the same year, and it served until 1871, when a new school was built.

The second building was used until 1894, when the population of Jerome increased due to coal mining, and a bigger school was needed.

One of the early teachers in this second building was Theodore P. Shontz, later internationally famous. After teaching in Jerome, he graduated from Monmouth College, practiced law and became interested in railroad building. He helped construct the Iowa Central and obtained controlling interest in the Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska and Toledo, St. Louis and Western roads. He was chairman of the Panama Canal Commission in 1905-1907.

The third building served until it burned in April, 1920. The new building was of brick, and ready for occupancy at Christmas time, 1923. This building was also destroyed by fire in 1931. The fifth building was ready for occupancy late in September of the same year. A modern water system was installed and the building was wired for electricity on Dec. 24, 1936.

The first settlers were much interested in religion, and several churches were started in Jerome.

After the demise of coal mining, Jerome lost much of its population. A few years ago, Frances and Kenneth Owen established The Trading Post, an antique shop, in the old school building, but it is not currently (in December, 1985) open for business.

---------------------------

Transcribed with permission of the Appanoose County Historical Society from Appanoose County, Iowa [page 8], written by the People of Appanoose County, compiled [1984-1985] and copyrighted [1986] by the Appanoose County Historical Society, Centerville, Iowa, and printed by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas.

Naomi Isabel White & George Thomas Pinches

Naomi Isabel White Pinches, 1889-1972

  Naomi Isabel White was born 27 September 1889 at What Cheer in Keokuk County, Iowa, daughter of John James and May Elizabeth (Huston) White.
  She moved with her parents at an early age to Jerome, Appanoose County, Iowa, where she attended high school. Naomi entered nurses training at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital and graduated with two other students at the First Annual Commencement of the Hospital on 4 January 1912 held in the Centerville High School Auditorium.

  On 26 June 1913 she was united in marriage in Jerome, Iowa, with George Thomas Pinches who was born 30 September 1878 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England, son of William and Martha (Page) Pinches, and who was an active minister in the Believers Church. Their first year of marriage was spent on a preaching mission in England, Ireland and Wales from which they arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on 26 September 1914 on board the Scotian from Liverpool, England. They lived in Des Moines (1914-1917) and Centerville (1917-1942) before moving to Pella in 1942.
  They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a reception at the Legion Auditorium in Pella on 22 June 1963 with over 100 close friends of earlier years and of the Pella Gospel Hall congregation. Out-of-town relatives who attended included her aunt and uncle, Jesse and Mae (White) Butler, of Des Moines; her sister and brother-in-law, Daniel and Elsie (White) Moore of Des Moines; and her brother and sister-in-law, Donald R. and Irene (Fox) Moore of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  Her husband spent 63 years spreading the Gospel, traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Britain. During her husband's travels, Naomi carried on at the "home-front" and as a nurse cared for many friends and neighbors. She did accompany her husband on several British trips evidenced by their return to New York on 18 February 1925 aboard the Aquitania from Southampton, on 29 February 1932 aboard theLancastria from Liverpool, and on 22 February 1938 aboard the Scythia from Liverpool.
  Naomi Pinches passed away 29 February 1972 at the Pella Community Hospital after only two days of serious illness. Funeral services were held Friday, 3 March 1972, at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home with Mr. Raymond Routley officiating. Interment was made in the Oakwood Cemetery, Pella, Iowa.
  Surviving Mrs. Pinches were several brothers and sisters: Mable, Mrs. Glen A. Norris, of Pella, Iowa; Paul H. White of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Elsie, Mrs. Daniel E. Moore, of Des Moines, Iowa; Lloyd J. White of West Covina, California; and Donald R. White of New Brighton, Minnesota. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, George Thomas Pinches who died 13 December 1969; a brother, John William White, who died in 1958; and a sister, Ruth White, who died in infancy in 1901.
  Mrs. Pinches loved and served her Lord since she was a young girl of 16. Her life was marked by deep devotion to her Lord, family and friends, not as expressed in words but through care of those in physical suffering. Her faithful attention to her husband during his long illness and her Godly life will leave an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew her.

---------------------------------

Gravestone of George T. & Naomi White Pinches

in the Oakland Cemetery, Pella, Iowa
-----------------------------

  The editor sincerely appreciates the contribution of the above gravestone picture by Sharon Welch of Pella, Iowa, through Find A Grave. 

---------------------------------

George Thomas Pinches, 1878-1969

---------------------------------

  George Thomas Pinches, a minister, Bible teacher and evangelist, was born 30 September 1878, in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England, son of William and Martha (Page) Pinches. He went to Toronto, Canada, in 1903, and made a trip to San Francisco in 1904, arriving in San Francisco on the Senator on 21 April 1904 having departed from Victoria, British Columbia. He then lived for a time in Manitoba before coming to the United States in April 1910 to begin his full-time Christian ministry first in Chicago, Illinois, then Numa, Iowa. He apparently returned to England as he returned to New York on 19 April 1912 on the Mauretania from Liverpool. He spent 63 years spreading the Gospel, traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Britain. His last years of active ministry were spent at the Pella Gospel Chapel in Pella, Iowa.  He married on 26 June 1913 in Jerome, Iowa, Naomi Isabella White, daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth (Huston) White. Their first year of marriage was spent on a preaching mission in England, Ireland and Wales. They lived in Des Moines (1914-1917) and Centerville (1917-1942) before moving to Pella in 1942.

  George Thomas Pinches became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America before the United States Court in Des Moines, Iowa, on 20 May 1918.

  On 12 September 1918 he registered for the draft in Appanoose County, Iowa.

  George and Naomi (White) Pinches celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a reception at the Legion Auditorium in Pella on 22 June 1963 with over 100 close friends of earlier years and of the Gospel Hall congregation. Guests enjoyed a vocal solo by their pastor when he sang his favorite hymn, "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds."

  On 4 November 1954, the Pella Chronicle reported: "The many friends of Rev. George T. Pinches will be happy to hear that Mr. Pinches is back in the United States after a very blessed and successful six months ministry in England, Scotland, and Wales. He is well known as an evangelist in the British Isles and Canada as well as in the United States. Rev. Pinches is now conducting meetings in New Jersey, New York, and other places but expects to be pack in Pella sometime after the first week in November."

  In 1957, when he returned from a three-month ministry in sixteen cities (including Flint, Valjaraise, London, Toronto, Kingston and Detroit), he noted: "Whether in the United States or Canada amid the mad rush of the world some turned aside to the things that cannot pass away and in which there is not confusion." Rev. Pinches was impressed with the trivial things that seem to occupy the majority. He said a real awaking to realities is most urgent. With this in view, he turned the searchlight on the present and future world movements in a series of nightly addresses on the Book of Revelation at the Gospel Chapel.

  He died 13 December 1969 in the Pella Community Nursing Home where he had been living for three and a half years. He was survived by his wife, Naomi; and a brother Charles of London, Canada. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Phebe and Mary, and three brothers, Charles, John and Arthur.

  His funeral services were held on Monday, 15 December 1969 in the chapel of the Van Dyk-Daven Funeral Home in Pella, Iowa. Officiating for the services were Raymond Routley of Davenport, and James White of Des Moines, friends and associates of Rev. Pinches. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella, Marion County, Iowa.

------------------------------

Sources of Information on

George Thomas Pinches and Naomi Isabel White Pinches
--------------------------

--1878: George Thomas Pinches [Index of Births Registered in Oct-Nov-Dec Quarter 1878, Page 409] District: Madeley, County: Shropshire, Volume 6a, Page 577. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc. 2006. Original data: General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office.

--1881 British Census on FamilySearch.org. Public Records Office Reference: RG11, Piece/Folio: 2641/22, Page Number: 4; Family History Library Film 1341635; Dwelling: Eaton Mascott, Census Place: Berrington, Shropshire, England. William Pinches, Head, Married, Male, 34, Born: Hayton, Hereford, England, Occupation: Railway Platelayer; Martha Pinches, Wife, Married, Female, 30, Born: Barrow, Shropshire, England; William Pinches, Son, Male, 5, Born: Worfield, Shropshire, England; George T. Pinches, Son, Male, 2, Born Wenlock, Shropshire, England; John Pinches, Son, Male, 5 months, Born: Wenlock, Shropshire, England.

--1895 Iowa State Census, Jerome, Appanoose; Roll IA1885_287; Line 12; Family 34.

--1900 U.S. Federal Census, Lincoln, Appanoose, Iowa; Roll T623_416; Page 6A; ED 16.

--1904: Ancestry.com. California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008.Passenger List for the Senator arriving San Francisco on 21 April 1904 having departed from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

--1905 Iowa State Census, Lincoln, Appanoose; Roll IA-75; Lines 456-463. John White family.

--1910 U.S. Federal Census, Centerville Ward 2, Appanoose, Iowa, St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital listing includes Naomi White, Nurse.

--1910 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. "Four Days' Conference," Waterloo Reporter, 22 November 1910.

--1912 - Program of the First Annual Commencement, 4 January 1912, St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, Centerville, Iowa.

--1912 - The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. Passenger List for the Mauretania arriving New York, New York, 19 April 1912, having departed from Liverpool. Manifest Line Number 0014: George Pinches, Age: 28y, Male, Single, Ethnicity: English, Britain, Last Place Lived: Kinghten, England.

--1914: Ancestry.com. Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S. 1895-1956 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008. List of Alien Passengers Onboard the Scotian arriving Montreal, Quebec, Canada 26 September 1914 having departed from Liverpool, England.

--1915 Iowa State Census, Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Cards No. 692-693.

--1918: World War I Draft Registration, Appanoose County, Iowa, 12 September 1918, Serial Number: 3124, Order Number: 3348; George Thomas Pinches, Numa, Appanoose, Iowa; Born 30 September 1878; Naturalized Citizen; Nearest Relative: Naomi W. Pinches, Numa, Appanoose, Iowa; Medium Weight; Medium Build; Gray Eyes; Black Hair. Page 1 and Page 2.

--1920 U.S. Federal Census, Bellair, Appanoose, Iowa;  Roll T625_477; Page 2A; ED 14. George T. Pinches, 41; Naomi Pinches, 30.

--1920 Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [National Archives Microfilm M1490] [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. George Thomas Pinches, born 30 Sep 1878, Mech Wenlock, England; Residence: Numa, Iowa; Passport Issue Date: 7 Aug 1920; Father's Name: William Pinches, Father's Birth Location: England, Father's Residence: London, Canada. Page 1 and Page 2.

--1921 Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Passenger List of the Cedric arriving 5 March 1921 in New York, New York, having departed Liverpool, England. [Microfilm Roll T715_2932, Page Number 52, Line 30]

--1925 Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Passenger List of the Aquitania arriving 18 February 1925 in New York, New York, having departed Southhampton, England. [Microfilm Roll T715_3609, Page 49, Line 17]

--1929 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. Oakland Tribune, advertisement of Bethany Gospel Hall for addresses to be given by George T. Pinches of Iowa.

--1930 U.S. Federal Census, Centerville, Appanoose, Iowa; Roll 641; Page 17B, ED 7.

--1932 - Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Passenger List of the Lancastria arriving 29 February 1932 in New York, New York, having departed from Liverpoot, England. [Microfilm Roll T715_5118, Page 106, Lines 5-6.

--1933 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. Oakland Tribune, 4 February 1933. Advertisement of Bethany Gospel Hall for presentations by George T. Pinches of Iowa.

--1934 - Ancestry.com. Boston Passenger Lists, 1820-1943 [database on-line] Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc. 2006. Passenger List of the Scythia arriving 20 May 1934 in Boston, Massachusetts, having departed from Liverpool, Enlgand. [Microfilm Roll: 396]

--1935 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. Oakland Tribune, 30 November 1935. Advertisement of Bethany Gospel Hall for a series of speeches by George T. Pinches.

--1935 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. Oakland Tribune, 14 December 1935. Advertisement of Bethany Gospel Hall for a series of lectures by George T. Pinches of Iowa on the Book of Revelations.

--1938 - Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Passenger List of the Scythia arriving 22 February 1938 in New York, New York, having departed from Liverpool, England. George and Naomi Pinches.

--1947 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. "Circuit Riders On 4,000 Mile Tour To Visit Pella," Pella Chronicle, 29 May 1947, page 1.

--1954 - Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Passenger List of the Mauretania arriving 6 October 1954 in New York, New York, having departed from Southampton, England.

--1954 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. Pella Chronicle, 4 November 1954.

--1957 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. "George Pinches Plans Addresses on Book of Revelation," Pella Chronicle, 14 November 1957.

--1963 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. "Honored on 50th Wedding Day," Pella Chronicle, Pella, Iowa, 25 June 1963, page 1.

--1969 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. "Rev. George T. Pinches 1878-1969," an obituary, Pella Chronicle, Pella, Iowa, 24 December 1969, page 4.

--1972 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. "Mrs. George T. Pinches," an obituary, Pella Chronicle, Pella, Iowa, 15 March 1972, page 17.

--1972 - NewspaperARCHIVE.com. "Legal Notice in the District Court of the State of Iowa in and for Marion County in the matter of the estate of Naomi White Pinches Deceased. Probate No. 28-277," Pella Chronicle, 5 and 12 April, 1972.

--Social Security Death Index, Number: 485-40-7747.

Manford Ray & Marshall Walton Moore

George Walton Moore was born 16 May 1857 in Illinois, son of Robert Moore and Eliza Jane Wells, died 7 April 1925 in Monroe County, Iowa and was buried in the Lovilia, Iowa, town cemetery. He married 5 June 1890 in Hickman, Lancaster County, Nebraska, Mary Catherine Grim who was born 4 May 1868 in Hickman, Lancaster County, Nebraska, daughter of George W. Grim and Catherine Shatto, and died 2 December 1942, in Gandy, Nebraska, and was buried in the Lovilia, Iowa, town cemetery. To this union four children were born:

[1] Emma Blanche Moore was born 17 May 1891, near Panama in Lancaster County, Nebraska, and died 20 October 1933 at her home near Wellington, Colorado. She married in April 1910 in Tryon, Nebraska, Herbert Jarmin.

[2] John Roy Moore was born 24 September 1894 in Panama, Lancaster County, Nebraska, died in December 1957 in North Platte, Nebraska and was buried in McCain cemetery near Stapleton, Nebraska. He married 18 February 1914 in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Urah Jane Beaver, who was born 16 July 1894, daughter of Samuel Wilson Beaver and Margaret J. Daugherty Gillett, died 12 December 1955 in North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska. To this union ten children were born: Margaret Catherine Moore (1916-1975) married Ira Emmett Cumpston in 1959; Audrey Esther Moore (1920-1985) married Larry Eugene Bierma in 1945; Samuel Walton Moore (1922-2001) married LeNora Arlene Nielsen in 1943; Charles Ray Moore (1923-1990) married Wanda Harrington; John R. Moore, Jr. (1925-2006) married (a) in 1950 Naomi Hampton and (b) in 1979 Marilyn Hall Sunia; Albert Lyle Moore (c1928) married Edna Louise Blagdon in 1952; Urah Elizabeth "Betty" Moore (1930-2007) married Edwin Junior Schaefer; and Bertha Pauline Moore (1932-1932).

[3] Manford Ray Moore was born 14 October 1896 near Bennett in Lancaster County, Nebraska, died 12 August 1967 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, and was buried in the Gosport Cemetery, Marion County, Iowa. He married 21 July 1926 in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa, Maggie Electa Agan who was born 19 August 1903 in northern Lucas County, Iowa, daughter of Lee Roy Agan and Louisa Angeline Agan, died 12 February 1996 at Wesley Acres Retirement Home, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, and her body was willed to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Her ashes were interred at the Gosport Cemetery, Marion County, Iowa. Two children were born to this union: Leroy Walton Moore who married Kathryn Fisher and Gay Letha Moore who married Lewis Nichols.

[4] Marshall Walton Moore was born 23 February 1899 near Bennett in Lancaster County, Nebraska, died 12 October 1963 in Appanoose County, Iowa, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery. He married 19 October 1936 Edna Mae "Tootie" Hardy who was born 21 March 1913 in Jerome, Appanoose County, Iowa, daughter of William Hardy, Jr. and Marie "Maggie" Allan, died in January 1978 in Appanoose County, Iowa, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery. Two children were born of this union: Jerry Lee Moore and Roger Marshall Moore.

Penn Profile: Manford Moore

Penn College Bulletin - June 1966

William Penn College, Oskaloosa, Iowa

----------------------------

Penn Profile

---------------

Penn Profile for June is an alumnus of Penn College who is also a faculty member here. But after more than fifty years in the classroom, he plans to retire at the end of this school year. Manford

Moore, Professor of Industrial Arts, earned his B.A. Degree with honors from Penn College in 1936, and later returned to begin the Industrial Arts Department there. For a man who said after one year of teaching, "This is not for me!", Prof. Moore is a revered instructor who renounced that vow. His retirement from active teaching comes as the culmination of a long but steady climb up the ladder of success.

The first, lower rungs of that ladder were in rural schools, followed by rungs in elementary, junior high, and high schools. His years at William Penn College topped the ladder. By dint of perseverance, patience, and plain hard work, Prof. Moore has attained a status of professor-ship, honored among his co-workers and beloved by his students. Of the latter, through the long years there must have been more than 2,000 pupils under his tutelage.

If we burn back the years, 1913 would find Manford Moore at the age of sixteen in his first year of teaching in Logan County, Nebraska, where he stayed one year only, as he decided that was the way he wanted to earn his bread. The following summer, however, he did attend summer school with courses from the University of Nebraska.

He began teaching again in 1916 in a rural school in Marion County, Iowa, until the Army took him in May, 1918. He served during World War I to the end of the War, and returned to Iowa in July, 1919.

There followed a career through the years of teaching at Haydock (Bucknell) Consolidated school, Marysville elementary school, Lovilia Junior High, and Jerome High School. He taught and was Superintendent of Schools at Bouton, Coburg, Dallas, Rose Hill, Gibson, and Barnes City. Early in his career he took summer and extension courses from Iowa State Teachers College of Cedar Falls, at Corydon, Bloomfield, Albia, and Chariton. In 1929 he attended William Penn College during the summer. In the summer of 1933 he went to Simpson College for Manual Training, which was not offered at Penn. In 1934 and 1935 he continued Summer School study at Penn and by correspondence from the University of Iowa.

He obtained his B.A. Degree at Penn College, August 18, 1936. This degree was conferred with honors, and was the first such degree issued by Penn with honors for work done entirely by extension and correspondence and summer work. In 1940 he secured his Master of Science degree at Iowa State College at Ames.

He obtained his Superintendent's Certificate issued by the State of Iowa on September 17, 1937, based on his B.A. degree and work done at the University of Iowa and University of Chicago.

In 1958 President S. A. Watson, Penn College, asked Prof. Moore to start an Industrial Arts Department there. He joined the faculty that Fall and started a woodworking and metal shop in Penn Hall. Those early beginnings have grown from about ten students in one or two rooms to a modern Industrial Arts Building with a total of 56 Industrial Arts major students this year.

Mr. Moore was married in 1926 to Maggie Agan, who is also a Penn alumna and who teaches in the Home Economics Department there. They have two children, Leroy, a minister at Farmington, Iowa; and Mrs. Gay Nichols, of Knoxville, Iowa. The Moores are active in the Methodist Church. He is affiliated with the Masons and Eastern Star, and is a member of the American Legion and World War I Veterans.

Prof. Moore has several hobbies akin to his vocation, as he enjoys both woodworking and leatherwork. He recently bought a gem cutting machine and said he will "begin polishing diamonds as soon as I find some." He says that his plans for retirement are "indefinite, except that I definitely plan to retire." The Moores live at 1006 Gurney, Oskaloosa.

------------------------------

Addendum: Manford Moore, born October 14, 1896, died on August 12, 1967, approximately one year after his retirement, at the age of 70.

------------------------------

The editor sincerely appreciates the contribution of the above article to The Jerome Journal by the Rev. Leroy Moore, Manford's son, of Indianola, Iowa.

Maggie Agan Moore, 1903-1996

Maggie Agan Moore, the daughter of Lee Roy and Angeline Agan, was born August 19, 1903, in a little farm house in northern Lucas County, the seventh of nine children. She was the last one of that family, when she died, at Wesley Acres, on February 12, 1996, at the age of 92. She had lived at the Wesley Acres Retirement Home for 20 years and was always glad of her decision to move there. Her body was willed by her to the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

Maggie Agan Moore - After Retirement

She attended grade school at the Pleasant Valley country school one-half mile from their home. While in the fourth grade she knew she was going to be a teacher. Though she hadn't been to high school, when 17 she went to Chariton for a summer Extension School, passed the state examinations in sixteen subjects, and received a teacher's certificate! In a later Extension School she became better acquainted with Manford Moore, whom she knew as teacher of a school near Bluebird School, where she was teaching. They were married on July 21, 1926, and were educators ever after.

Maggie Agan - 1923

Maggie and Manford didn't go to "regular" college terms. They would teach school for nine months and then go to college summer school. And, they had two children, Gay and Leroy. Though Manford completed his education first, Maggie didn't give up. She graduated from William Penn College when she was 47. And she received a Master's degree from the University of Iowa just 12 days before she was 60!

They lived and taught in Haydock, Marysville, Lovilla, Jerome, Bouton, Coburg, Dallas, Rose Hill, Gibson and Barnes City. They they began their last teaching positions--on the faculty of William Penn College. Maggie was Dean of Women and taught Home Economics. Her favorite course was on The Family.

Magan Agan Moore
Gibson School Photograph

She continued at William Penn after Manford's death in 1967, and retired in 1972. After living for a time with her brother Roy in Chariton, she moved to Wesley Acres. She was Librarian for two years, but had to give it up because her sight was failing. She also conducted tours for visiting church (and other) groups from all over Iowa. Her log book shows that she conducted tours for 283 groups, who totaled 4,953 persons! She was very happy when Fern Agan, her sister-in-law, moved to Wesley Acres.

Maggie was a life-long Methodist and for the last several years has been a member of the Fort Des Moines United Methodist Church.

She always reminded her children that they were very fortunate people, because (1) they had such a wonderful man as a father, and because (2) they each married such outstanding persons -- Gay married Lewis Nichols and Leroy married Kathryn Fisher.

Maggie Moore with her two children,

Leroy Walton Moore & Gay Letha Moore

And she loved her grandchildren: Laurence, Gayletha, Charanne, and Loretta. She was gladdened at every good thing they achieved, received or did, both as children and as adults. In the same way, she was in love with her great-grandchildren: Nathan, Jeremy, Brian, Brandon, Rachel, Michael, Maggie, and Hannah. She didn't want to overburden the little children with her long title of GreatGrandMother. So she encouraged them to call her "Great." And they did. She never favored one over another. But she did think it was special that little Maggie was named after her!

At the last, nearly blind, too weak to stand or sit, her voice little more than a whisper, she still said the Spepherd's Psalm from memory and sang parts of several hymns. After one of them, she kept saying the last line of the hymn over and over: "Bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee!"

----------------------------

The editor sincerely appreciates the contribution of the above article to The Jerome Journal by the Rev. Leroy Moore of Indianola, Iowa. He is Maggie Agan Moore's son.