Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Henry Moorman

In the best development of Wayne county, Henry Moorman bore an important part. He was identified with the agricultural interests of this section of the state from pioneer days, and while promoting the material welfare of the community also gave an active and liberal support to those measures with tended to advance its intellectual and moral status. His life was filled with good deeds and kindly thoughts, and all who knew him entertained for him the highest regard, by reason of his upright, honorable life. Over the record of his career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. To his daughter, his only descendant, he left not only a handsome property but that good name which is rather to be chosen than great riches, and his example is one well worthy of emulation by his many friends.

Mr. Moorman was born in Richmond county, North Carolina, July 7, 1813, a son of Tarlton and Hannah (Way) Moorman, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. In 1816 Tarlton Moorman came on a prospecting tour to the west and purchased land in Randolph county, Indiana, then an almost unbroken wilderness, and in 1822 he removed with his family to the new possession. Thus it was that Henry Moorman became identified with the pioneer development of the state. He was then only nine years of age. His mother had died in the south and his father had married again. The second wife died July 12, 1865, and the father then lived with the children until his death, which occurred December 30, 1875, when he was almost ninety-three years of age. On the death of his father Tarlton Moorman had received one hundred and fifty dollars, and at his death was worth forty thousand dollars, which figures give some indication of the active, useful life he lived.

He had three brothers: Thomas, born in 1790, died in 1841; and James and Jesse, twins, born in Richmond county, North Carolina, June 26, 1895. Their father died when they were six years old. In 1822 James Moorman came to Wayne county, Indiana, and was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of this locality for many years. In 1860 he established the Winchester Bank, and was also the owner of considerable city property in Winchester and Union City. He also accumulated much farming property and at his death, which occurred in 1888, he left to his nephew, Henry Moorman, seventeen hundred and eighteen acres of valuable land, besides realty in Winchester and Union City, the entire amount valued at about thirty-three thousand dollars.

Although surrounded by all the comforts of life in his last years, in early life Henry Moorman experienced many of the hardships and difficulties incident to the establishment of a home on the frontier. He aided in the development of his father's farm until seventeen years of age, when he left home and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. After securing a farm of his own, he conducted a carpenter's shop there, and made cradles, window sash, doors, coffins and grain cradles. Through great industry and economy he was enabled to gain a good start in life, and worked his way upward to a position of affluence.

On the 17th of March, 1836, at Dunkirk, Randolph county, Indiana, Mr. Moorman was united in marriage to Miss Ann Diggs, daughter of William and Fanny (Crews) Diggs, who came from Anson county, North Carolina, to Indiana in 1822, settling in Randolph county. After his marriage Mr. Moorman took up his residence on a tract of land which he entered from the government, near where the Poplar Run meeting-house now stands. This was covered with timber, but he at once began to clear away the trees and in course of time transformed the raw tract into richly cultivated fields, the waving grain giving evidence of abundant harvests. There he made his home until 1869, when he purchased one hundred and eighteen acres of arable land in New Garden township, Wayne county. This tract was improved with a substantial residence and other good farm buildings, and to the further development of his land Mr. Moorman devoted his energies until after his wife's death, which occurred February 18, 1872. He continued to reside upon that farm until March 31, 1884, when he purchased property in Fountain City, where he made his home until his death. There were four children in the family, but the eldest died in infancy; Susanna died at the age of two and a half years, and Caroline died about two years prior to her father's death; so that Rebecca, wife of Joseph Brown, is the only one now living.

Mr. Moorman was a very prominent and influential member of the Society of Friends, and in his younger days took a very active part in the work of the church. He was first connected with the Beech Grove meeting, and later with that at Fountain City. Before his death he and his daughter Rebecca donated two farms, comprising two hundred and fifty-two acres, to Earlham College, the income from which is to be devoted to the extension of the work of the Biblical department. His home was the place of entertainment for all the Friends, particularly the ministers who visited the neighborhood, and with his team and carriage he would drive the ministers from house to house, that they might visit the people of the denomination and promote the cause for which they were laboring. He made many sacrifices in the interests of his church,and throughout his life was deeply interested in its welfare. He was well read in the literature of the church as well as in Bible and other sacred history. At all times he was a warm friend of education and did all in his power to promote intellectual activity among his neighbors. Before the war he was a Strong opponent of slavery and was connected with the "underground railroad." He joined the Republican party when it was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, and remained one of its stalwart advocates until his death. He was a man of firm convictions, honest purpose, kindly nature and upright life, and the world is better for his having lived. He departed from the scene of earth's activities November 14, 1889, but his memory is still enshrined in the hearts of his many friends.

Mrs. Rebecca Brown is now his only surviving child. She was married June 25, 1890, to Joseph Brown, a native of Preble county, Ohio, and since their marriage they have occupied the Moorman home in Fountain City. They carry on their farms, six in number, comprising about six hundred acres of land. Mr. Brown gives careful supervision to the property, and the improvements placed upon it have increased its value. Mrs. Brown greatly resembles her honored father in personal appearance and traits of character, is a faithful member of the Society of Friends, and her many admirable qualities and social nature render her very popular among a large circle of friends in Fountain City and Wayne county.

Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899