Obituary from the La Porte Daily Herald and La Porte Argus Bulletin - May 11, 1891

AT REST
The Herald of Saturday contained the brief announcement of the death of Mrs. Ann Mary Moore, widow of the late James Moore, which occurred Saturday morning. The death of Mrs. Moore calls for larger notice than that brief statement of the simple fact. Her long and useful life in this community, her close identity with its charitable and religious activities, her large circle of friendship will make her death one to be widely regretted. Ann Mary Smith was the daughter of Hon. David A. and Eliza (Allan) Smith, who were we;; known pioneers of central Illinois. Mr. Smith was born in Virginia in 1804, spent his boyhood and young manhood in Tennessee and Alabama and prepared himself for the practice of the law. Tho' born and raised in slave-holding communities, he was convinced of the iniquity of slavery and in 1837 disposed of his Alabama estate, except his twenty-one slaves, and removed to Carlinville, Ill., where he settled, and emancipated his slaves, giving the required bond to the state against the possibility of them becoming public charges on the poor fund. Two years later he moved to Jacksonville, where his residence remained until his death in 1865. His widow died within the past year. Mr. Smith, in his many years of residence in Jacksonville, was prominent in all good works, an earnest, faithful Christian, a man of note and power in the community, all which traits descended to and were exemplified in his daughter, Ann Mary. She was born in Courtland, Ala., April 12, 1834, and was but a small child when the family removed to Illinois. She was educated at the Jacksonville Female Academy, afterward finishing at the celebrated Mt. Holyoke School, the training place of so many earnest, useful Christian women. She was married Jan. 24, 1861, to James Moore, of this city, and thenceforward this was her home and the field for her activity and influence. Eleven children were the fruit of this union, of whom three died in infancy. Mrs. Moore was also the loving mother to three of Mr. Moore's children by an earlier marriage. The death of her husband in 1879 left Mrs. Moore to care for a large family, and how well she discharged this second trust need not here to be detailed. The home was one in which vital piety was the ruling principle, and the prayer and faith of the mother were a constant and persuasive influence on the children, who saw day by day, and felt continually, the power power of a faith which, working by love, was fruitful in good deeds. Of this family, four of her own children, Laura, Kate, Harvey, and Hugh,were yet with her in the home, while James, Eliza, and David are residents of Chicago, and Thomas, of Duluth, John and William, of the step children, reside in Colorado, and Mrs. Charles Michael in this city. Mrs. Moore, on coming to this city, a bride, brought her church letter from Westminster, Jacksonville, to the Second Presbyterian, of this city, and thenceforward was one of the active and hearty workers in all the departments of its life. For many years she was president of the Women's Missionary Society, and always an active member of it. Her work was not confined to church fields. During the war she was an efficient member, and, for a time, president of the Ladies Relief Society. Always she was interested in every good course. but dearest to her heart was the cause of her Lord and the growth of His power and kingdom in her own heart and in all the world. The sickness which resulted in her death began in October last, with heart failure, and despite successive rallies, steadily progressed to a fatal termination. Saturday, May 9, at 11 o'clock a.m., when surrounded by the resident members of the family, she peacefully folded her hands "and fell on sleep." With the certainty that the end would soon come, and the feeling that it might come at any moment. she had committed anew her ways unto the Lord and only waited His will. With entire consciousness, Saturday morning, that the end was at hand and peacefully trusting God in the hour of death as in the years of a busy and useful life, she passed from time to eternity, "sleep in Jesus." The funeral services will be held at the family residence on East Main Street, tomorrow afternoon at 1 o'clock, conducted by her pastor, the Rev. E. B. Newcomb. The internment will be at Pine Lake Cemetery.

Mrs. James Moore died after a lengthy illness at her home on East Main St. last Saturday. She was an old resident of LaPorte and had a large circle of acquaintances.