benjamin boose moore

benjamin “boose” moore

1873-1936

Life Story

A Life Rooted in Land and Family

Benjamin Moore Jr., known throughout Newton County as “Boose,” lived a life that reflected the rhythms, challenges, and endurance of the rural South in the early twentieth century. Born between 1873 and 1878 to Benjamin and Eliza Stanfield Moore, he became a fixture in the agrarian landscape of Mississippi—a man defined by labor, land, and an expansive family network that stretched across the county.

Early Life and Career

Boose was born and raised in Newton County, a place he would call home for his entire life. Like many men of his generation, his early years were shaped by physical labor and limited opportunity, yet he carved out a measure of independence through persistence and skill.

By the time of his World War I Draft Registration (1917–1918), he was described as a man of medium height with a stout build, black hair, and black eyes—a physical description that aligns with the enduring image of a working farmer in the Mississippi Piney Woods.

Although the 1920 Census briefly records him as a wagon driver for a sawmill, his primary identity remained tied to agriculture. By 1930, Boose had established himself as a farmer operating on his own account, a designation that signaled a degree of independence and control over his labor. In an era when many were tied to tenant systems, this status reflected both resilience and a level of economic stability.

Marital History and Expanding Family

Boose’s personal life was marked by multiple marriages, each contributing to the growth of the Moore family and reflecting the complexities of life in rural Mississippi.

Relationship with Martha (Lula) Nelson
Before his formal marriages, Boose fathered a son, Smith “Jig” Moore.

Marriage to Allie Barnett
Boose’s most extensive family was formed during his marriage to Allie Barnett. The 1910 Census captures them as a young couple—Boose (30) and Allie (23)—with children Johnnie, Mattie, Gertrude, and Rebecca already in the household.

Over time, this union produced approximately ten children, establishing a large and active household. However, the marriage eventually ended in separation. A 1919 notice in The Newton Record confirms that Allie Moore vs. Boose Moore resulted in a granted divorce—an uncommon but documented legal step during that period.

Marriage to Amanda McCullough
Following his divorce from Allie, Boose married Amanda McCullough. This marriage, too, ended in divorce, as confirmed by another court notice: Boose Moore vs. Amanda Moore—divorce granted in 1925.

Despite its brevity, this union produced a daughter, Lettie Moore, further extending the Moore lineage.

Final Marriage to Betty Crowe
Boose’s final marriage was to Betty Crowe, whose name appears in records as Bettie or Bessie. By 1930, the couple was living together in Beat 1 of Newton County, raising young children, including James H. and Benjamin.

This final household reflects a man who, even in later years, continued to build and sustain a family rooted in the land.

Final Days and Passing

Benjamin Moore Jr. passed away on December 13, 1936, at the age of 58. His death certificate lists the cause as chronic nephritis, a kidney condition he had endured for several months.

He was laid to rest the following day at Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Lawrence, Mississippi—a resting place shared by many in the community he helped shape through both labor and lineage.

Legacy

Boose left behind more than a record of work; he left a living legacy. Through his many children and extended family connections, his influence spread across Newton County and beyond.

Remembered as a stout and industrious farmer, his life reflects the realities of a generation that navigated hardship, built families across changing circumstances, and remained deeply tied to the land. In both his labor and his lineage, Benjamin Moore Jr. helped shape the community that continues to remember his name.

Resting Place

Union Chapel United Methodist Church

Photos/Albums

Sources

1900 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, population schedule, Benjamin Moore household; digital image, Ancestry.com .
1910 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, population schedule, Benjamin Moore and Allie Moore household; digital image, FamilySearch.
U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918, Benjamin Moore Jr., Newton County, Mississippi; digital image, Ancestry.com.
1920 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, population schedule, Benjamin Moore household (occupation listed as wagon driver, sawmill); digital image, FamilySearch.
1930 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, population schedule, Benjamin Moore household (occupation listed as farmer, “own account”); digital image, Ancestry.com.
The Newton Record (Newton County, Mississippi), 1919, legal notices section, “Allie Moore vs. Boose Moore—Divorce Granted”; newspaper clipping, accessed via Newspapers.com.
The Newton Record (Newton County, Mississippi), [1925], legal notices section, “Boose Moore vs. Amanda Moore—Divorce Granted”; newspaper clipping, accessed via Newspapers.com.
Mississippi Death Certificate, Benjamin Moore Jr., December 13, 1936, Newton County, Mississippi; Mississippi State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics; digital image, Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Ibid.; informant listed as “Ship Moore” brother of Benjamin (Boose) Moore.
Burial information for Benjamin Moore Jr., Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Lawrence, Newton County, Mississippi; cemetery records and/or memorial listing, Find A Grave.

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