My Genealogy Hound

Rev. James Wilson Moore (deceased), first pastor of Sylvania Presbyterian Church, was born in Northumberland County, Penn., September 14, 1797, being the son of James Moore, a native of Ireland. Mr. Moore was a graduate of the Theological College, at Princeton, N. J. He was ordained by Northumberland Presbytery in 1827, and the following January came to Arkansas Territory and located in Little Rock, where he organized the first Presbyterian Church in the Territory. He remained in Little Rock, engaged in preaching the Gospel, for twelve years, a few years of which time were spent in teaching a select classical school, and later moved to what is now Lonoke County, where he built the first log church in that part of the State, in 1843. A few years after he erected a frame church, and just before the war built the pioneer brick church. He also established a good school. Mr. Moore patiently worked here from 1840 until his death (which occurred in 1873) for the spiritual, moral and intellectual welfare of the community. Returning to New Jersey in 1830, he was there married to Elizabeth Guild Green, a native of that State, and a daughter of William E. and Charity Green. They became the parents of eight children, who attained the age of maturity: Capt. William E. Moore (who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, while acting as colonel of his regiment), Mary W. (widow of William B. Nash), Maj. Charles B. Moore (of Little Rock), Dr. James W. (now deceased), Alexander M. (also deceased), Henry (an attorney at Texarkana), Philip G. (deceased) and Elizabeth L. The survivors of this illustrious family are held in high esteem by the citizens of the localities in which they reside.