James A. Moore, banker, was born December 10, 1839, near West Point, Clay County, Mississippi. He was the son of Thomas W. B. Moore and Elizabeth (Burton) Moore, the latter a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina and nephew of Andrew Barry Moore.
His father, Thomas W. B. Moore was born in Spartanburg District, South Carolina in 1805, and was the first of the family to come to Alabama. He settled in Perry County, later going to Mississippi, where he married. He then settled in Clay County, Mississippi, where he lived for several years before moving to Palo Alto, Chickasaw County, Mississippi, where he died in 1855. He was an extensive planter, and going into Mississippi at an early date, 1828, became a pioneer of that state.
After the death of his father and mother Mr. Moore, then fourteen years of age, made his home with his uncle. Dr. Robert Foster of Perry County. He received an academic education and was then sent to New Orleans, where in 1861, he completed a commercial course. A few weeks later he returned to his home in Perry County and became a private in the Marion light infantry, later known as Co. G, Fourth Alabama regiment, commanded by Captain Porter King. He participated in the battles of second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg. Chickamauga, the siege of Knoxville, battles around Richmond, and at Petersburg, and when the surrender came, was at Appomattox Court House.
After the war, MR. Moore returned to Perry County and accepted a position as clerk with Evins and Barry, general merchants, and six or eight months later, accepted the offer to take an interest in the business under the name of J. A. Moore and Co., becoming the manager, and remaining as such for two years. He then became sole proprietor.
Two and one-half years later Messrs. Wyatt and Fitzgerald became associated with him under the firm name of Moore, Wyatt and Fitzgerald. MR. Wyatt withdrew in sixteen months and the business continued until 1883 under the name of Moore and Fitzgerald, when the firm suspended the mercantile business. The firm had large real estate possessions in Birmingham and members were large stockholders in the Marion central bank, formerly the Marion savings bank. Mr. Moore was president and Mr. Fitzgerald, cashier.
James A. Moore was mayor of Marion for five terms of one year each, during which time several important changes were made. For over twenty years he was a member of the board of trustees for the Marion female seminary and was president of the board for ten years or more. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder for over eleven years, and for eight years was superintendent of the Sunday school.
He married Sarah F. Robinson in 1872. She was a native of Marengo County, and daughter of James B. Robinson, who was a prominent citizen of Madison County, and a member of a prominent family of that county. He came from Russell County, Virginia and held colonial deeds to their early possessions in that county.
James A. Moore passed away in 1910 and is buried in Marion Cemetery in Perry County, Alabama. His wife passed away in 1907 and is buried in the same cemetery.
SOURCE
History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Volume IV
is a collection of lost and forgotten stories about the people who discovered and initially settled in Alabama.
