Christopher Columbus Moore
The C. C. Moore Window
Good Samaritan window inscribed, “In Memoriam, C. C. Moore, One of the Organizers of This Church, 1837–1903” The scene depicted is based on the Good Samaritan which appears in Luke 10:25-37.
Painting below, left, is by Robert Ambrose Dudley (1867 to 1951). He was a British artist and illustrator whose work appeared in many Nister publications. He was also a landscape and portrait painter, exhibited at the Royal Academy. This painting was done somewhere between 1890–1903. The painting below, right is from the 19th Century English School. One or both may have been the model for the window.
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n 1850, C. C. Moore, age 14, was living in Forsyth, Georgia with his parents, Hillarey L. Moore (1906–?) and Kissiah L. Moore (1905–?) and siblings, William F. Moore (1835–?), age 15, Josiah D. Moore (1840–?), age 10 and John W. Moore (1842–?), age 8. His father was a carpenter and the older brother was farming. Both parents were born North Carolina. They owned their farm which was valued in 1850 at $80. Christopher and two of his brothers were in school.
In 1860, Hillarey and Kesiah L. Moore were living in Athens, McMinn, Tennessee, with Josiah D. and John. C. C. was not with them. Hillarey was a master house carpenter and the two sons are apprentice house carpenters. Their home is worth $700 and personal effects, $300.
In 1870, Christopher was living with his brother, John and his family, in Florence, Alabama, both working as carpenters. John’s wife was Laura Eugenia Hamilton Moore and they have a son, C. W,. and daughter, Kate L.
By 1880, Christopher’s brother, John W., his family and his parents were living on East Avenue in Austin. He was doing carpentry. He had children, C. W., Kate L., John, Alice, May and Helen. In 1880, there was a C. C. Moore, a boarder, living in Blount, Alabama, born about 1836 in Georgia, he was a carpenter and single. He listed his father as born in Georgia and mother born in South Carolina. (Incorrect information might have been supplied by others in the household.)
In 1890, the Austin Weekly Statesman, Aug. 21, 1890, reported activities of the Republican Convention in Austin. Among the many nominated candidates were Benjamin Harrison for president, and C. C. Moore for justice of the peace, precinct #2.
An 1893 Austin Directory, has a Columbus C. Moore living with John W. Moore, and both were carpenters. Also listed is a Columbus W. Moore, a carpenter.
An 1895 Austin Directory, has a Columbus Moore living with John W. Moore, and both were carpenters. In that same year, C. C. Moore, D. W. Doom and A. O. Watson, and several other from the church founders, sign a letter urging Mr. Lewis Hancock to run for the office of Mayor. A. O. Watson was a prominent Austin architect.
In the 1900 census, there was a Christopher Moore in Austin, listed as born Deember 1836. In a city directory, he was listed as Christopher C. Moore, a carpenter by trade. Christopher is living with his younger brother, John W. and his family. He and John listed Georgia as their birthplace. He could read and write and was single. Christopher’s brothers, William F., Josiah D. and John W. Moore, were all carpenters.
C. C. Moore and his brother John W. were great friends as well as siblings and worked together. Below is a picture of John W. and his wife Laura Eugenia Hamilton Moore. We can assume that Christopher bore some resemblence to John.
Above are three of Christopher's nieces, left to right, Mae C. (Kofahl), Katie L. and Nellie.
These facts seem to suggest that C. C. Moore is indeed Christopher Columbus Moore.
Acknowledgements: Helene Blake, a relative of Norman Potter and no relation to C. C. Moore, kindly provided some information.