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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ZAAVAN AVERY MOORE, of Northampton, who is now retired from active pursuits, has had a life of varied experience, and, notwithstanding that he has met with reverses, has accumulated enough of this world’s goods to enable him to pass his declining years surrounded by all necessary comforts and in the enjoyment of as many pleasures as his feeble health will permit. He was born February 13, 1821, in Hampden County, just across the line from Hampshire County, in the town of Westfield. His grandfather, Luke Moore, was for some years a resident of that place, being engaged in tilling the soil. He died in middle life, leaving his widow, Lucretia Moore, with one son, Zaavan, the father of the subject of this sketch, and two daughters. Mrs. Moore was married again, reared a family of children by her second husband, and lived to a very advanced age. Although blind the last years of her life, she was a very cheerful and happy old lady, and the life and comfort of the household.

Zaavan Moore was born about 1790 in Connecticut; but, after attaining his majority, he bought a farm in Southampton, Mass., on which he engaged in mixed husbandry, living there until his decease, at the age of eighty-two years. In 1815 he married Margaret Root, of Westfield Farms, where her birth occurred in 1788. She died in Westfield two years before her husband. Eight children were born to them, of whom four sons and three daughters grew to adult life; and of these two daughters and two of the sons are now living. Zaavan A. is further spoken of below. Luke Henry, born in 1825, is married, and has two sons and several grandchildren. He was a soldier in the late Civil War, and subsequently settled on government land in Arkansas, where he carries on general farming. Margaret Arvilla is a widow living in Ohio. Electa Ann died in August, 1895, widow of Lysander B. Bates, of Westfield, who died, leaving her with a large family of children. Jane E. is the widow of Joseph Williams, of the same town.

Zaavan A. Moore received an excellent academic education, and likewise a practical drill in agricultural labor on the parental homestead, where he remained until eighteen years old. Having a natural aptitude for mechanical pursuits, Mr. Moore then turned his attention to that branch of labor. Learning the carpenter’s trade of his brother-in-law, Lysander B. Bates, he worked for and with him thirty years, being in partnership with him a large part of the time. He afterward returned to the old home farm, which, with the outlands, consisted of about one hundred and fifty acres of land; and from the money which he had accumulated he bought out the remaining heirs, and thus acquired the estate. There he followed agriculture for some ten years, when he left the place to his father, and returned to his trade of cabinet-making. For some years his health has not permitted the active pursuit of business; and his time is spent mostly in Northampton, except the summer season, when he usually goes to the seashore, to inhale the invigorating ocean breezes. Mr. Moore is a self-made man, having started out for himself even with the world; and, notwithstanding that he has lost one fortune, he still has ample to suffice him in all his needs, unless some unforeseen calamity should befall. He has travelled earth’s journey for many long years alone, with the exception of a few months’ experience of matrimony in 1874, but has doubtless made many warm and lasting friendships. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, directed by good practical judgment, in business affairs meeting with general success. His portrait* will be found in this gallery of representative citizens of men of Hampshire County.

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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