<b>John Steuben Moore</b>
John Steuben Moore, familiarly known to people of the Fowler Community as "Uncle Jackie" Moore, was born in Ohio April 2, 1832. One of eleven children. The family moved a lot, schools were remote and Jackie received the only instruction from his mother. He never learned to write, but his X was readily accepted in transactions or payment. Driving an ox team he freighted from St. Louis to Colorado (Kansas territory) in 1861. In 1862, he herded cattle for the government in New Mexico and had his share of run in with the Indians. During the Civil War he drove cattle to Fort Union for food for the army. Another Government job was that of hauling wood. Jackie Moore married Elizabeth Clark, a widow with children.
In 1884, John Steuben Moore bought the Way Station cabins and land from Burrel Smith and moved his family to Fowler. The only child of Jackie and Elizabeth was a daughter Lillie. She married a cattleman, Louis Younger, and lived in Fowler until her death. Elizabeth Moore passed away in 1903 and Jackie married a widow, Annie Minning, with three children. They were raised in the old cabin and attended Fowler Schools. One daughter Marguerite married Arthur Hilton and remained in the Fowler vicinity.
"Uncle Jackie" Moore was a colorful pioneer, a scout with Kit Carson, and a way station keeper. He was, no doubt a host to men who met at the cabin to trade stock, buy land, and swap tall tales.Return to Front Page