W. Oscar Moore, a prominent farmer and stockman of Murdock township, is a member of one of Butler county's old pioneer families. He was born in Kendall county, Illinois, in May, 1852. His parents were Reuben and Minerva (Paul) Moore, both natives of Illinois. In the early days the family went from Illinois to Iowa and from there to Texas, and thence to Missouri. In 1857 they settled in Douglass county in the Territory of Kansas. This was four years before Kansas was admitted to the Union. After remaining in Douglass county for ten years, the family removed to Butler county in 1867, settling in Murdock county, being among the very first settlers of that section, and here the father engaged in farming and stock raising and spent the remainder of his life. To Reuben and Minerva (Paul) Moore were born the following children: Edgar, Lawton, Okla.; J. Monroe, Elgin, Kans.; W. Oscar, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Melissa Taylor, Toronto, Kans., and Mrs. Etta Wiley, Altoona, Kans.

W. Oscar Moore grew to manhood on his father's farm in Murdock township and started in life for himself by purchasing eighty acres of land from his father in 1876. He immediately began work on his new place, breaking out a little prairie during the summer of the first year and then he was compelled to sell his team in order to get money to build a little house and live during the winter. The next year he had a good crop of wheat, although he had but seven acres. This gave him a start and since that time he has met with unvarying success and is one of the substantial men of Murdock township.

Mr. Moore was married in April, 1872, to Miss Louisa Adams, a daughter of David and Sarah Adams. The Adams family consisted of the parents and three children, as follows: Mrs. Lavina Turner, of Wichita; Elmer, Duncan, Okla., and the wife of W. Oscar Moore, the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born five children, as follows: Mrs. Effie Courter, Tahoma, Okla.; Arthur, South Haven, Kans.; Reuben, Whitewater, Kans.; Orin, Whitewater, Kans., and Ray, Benton, Kans. Hazel Newcomb, a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moore, makes her home with them and is attending school. The members of the Moore family are well known and highly respected and number among the leading citizens of the locality where they reside.

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