Ambrose J. Moore, a well-to-do farmer, residing three miles north of Perryville, Perry Co., Mo., was born December 28, 1842, where he now resides. His parents were William and Monica (Moore) Moore, both natives of Perry County but of distant consanguinity.

William Moore was the son of James Moore, who came to Southeast Missouri from Kentucky about the first of the present century and located in Perry County on the farm now owned by Mrs. Barbara Huber. William Moore was born December 22, 1811, and in 1840 he settled on his patrimonial portion of the homestead where his son, Ambrose, now lives. William Moore died February 6, 1874.

Monica his wife, was born January 12, 1818, and died September 14, 1884. She was the daughter of Bede Moore, who was another very early pioneer settler, who settled an adjoining farm now owned by Felix Miles, his son-in-law. On this place was held the first court in Perry County. Bede Moore also build and operated on this farm about the first horse mill and distillery in Perry County.

To William Moore and wife were born six children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one living. He remained with his parents until he was twenty four years old, attending the district schools from four to eighteen years of age, and from that time until twenty-one the school at St. Mary's Seminary, Perry County.

At the age of twenty-one he began teaching school and taught six terms very successfully. He has always taken an active interest in school affairs, having served as director of his district about fifteen or sixteen years. He was one of the leading men who had the fine brick schoolhouse erected in his district.

In 1856 he married Mary Ambrosia Tucker, a daughter of Raymond Tucker. She was born in Perry County, Mo., June 23, 1847. To them have been born ten children whose names are Arthur, Rosalia, Victor Vitalis, Mary Minettie, Mary Avelene, Mary Amelia, Mary Jessamine, Mary Ambrosia (deceased), Lilie Margarette, Mary Areina and Mary Ambrosia.

After his marriage Mr. Moore settled one-half mile from the old homestead, returning to the latter in 1884. Mr. Moore owns 207 acres of good land conveniently situated and is one of the county's highly esteemed citizens. Politically he is a Democrat. He and family are members of the Catholic Church.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.