| Other People | Frank J. Bradley | Olive Rambo Cook | Jerry Litton | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 2. Biographies by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Pages 190-192
A native of Livingston county and a resident therein for sixty-seven years Alexander S. Moseley is widely and favorably known as one of the foremost agriculturists of this district, where he owns a farm comprising two hundred and forty acres on sections 21 and 28 in Jackson township. Born in that township on December 19, 1845, his parents were James S. and Eliza (Jones) Moseley. The former, one of the early pioneers here, became subsequently a prosperous farmer originally coming to this country in 1830 from the state of Virginia. Having successfully followed farming pursuits all his life, the father passed away November 19, 1879, at the age of seventy-nine years, his wife having preceded him in death in 1873 at the age of sixty-eight years. Both are buried in the cemetery at Springhill, Missouri. The family is of English origin, but members of it crossed the Atlantic in the early days of the history of this country.
Alexander S. Moseley, in the acquirement of his education, attended the Springhill district school, enjoying such advantages as were provided in the primitive days of his youth. He left school at the age of fifteen and then assisted his father in the work on the farm until twenty years of age, becoming well acquainted with the methods and details of agriculture and laying the foundation of a career that brought him success. He then married and leased a farm from his father-in-law, his efforts being attended with such good results that in 1868 he was enabled to buy forty acres, to the cultivation of which he gave his assiduous attention. As his means increased he added to his holdings and gradually extended the boundaries of his property until it reached its present proportions, Following general farming he specialized along lines of stock-raising and gratifying results have attended his efforts in that respect. He erected upon his farm a handsome residence and has made thereon all improvements, which are kept well in repair. Instituting such equipment and machinery as he deemed indispensable to modern and intensive farming, he has enhanced the value of the property to such an extent that his farm is today considered one of the most valuable in Jackson township.
On May 3, 1866, Mr. Moseley married, on the farm upon which he now resides, Miss Fannie Guthridge, who after a happy married life of nine years passed away on November 1, 1875, and was buried in the Guthridge cemetery. She left three children: Walter, an agriculturist, residing in Chillicothe, Missouri; Catherine, the wife of William Frederick Williams, a prominent agriculturist of Jackson township; and Charles F., who also follows that occupation in the same township. On March 10, 1878, Mr. Moseley married, in Sampsell township, Miss Martha A. Dickison, a daughter of William S. and Mary (Cooper) Dickison, both of whom were old settlers of Daviess county, Missouri, but are now deceased. The mother found her last resting place near Gallatin, Missouri, and the father died while returning from the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Moseley were born three children: Norah E., a graduate of Jackson University; Mary E., who married Charles W. McLean, a bookkeeper, residing in Arizona; and J. O., assistant cashier of the Bank of Concordia at Concordia, Kansas.
Public-spirited and deeply interested in all matters of public importance, particularly in the cause of education, Mr. Moseley has been a director of the school board for about twenty years and gave highly satisfactory service. He also held the office of road supervisor for three terms, being closely connected with the good roads movement and doing all in his power during that time to improve the highways and roads in the township. His faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he takes an active and helpful interest in the church and its allied societies. A man of serious purpose, Mr. Moseley has largely given his attention to one goal and has attained to prosperity in his line by hard work and close attention to business. However, he himself gives great credit for his success to the able assistance of his faithful wife, who shared with him alike adversity, as she now participates in his prosperity.