Ralph Hugh Moore was born to parents John Hugh Moore and Elizabeth Mumford Moore in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in 1845. In 1876, Moore married Mavor "Mae" Hartshorn, daughter of early settlers of Traer, Iowa. They had six children together. Moore moved west and worked a series of odd jobs such as a school teacher and lumber yard hand, until he received a job working with the Brooks-Carmichael Bank in Tama City, Iowa as a clerk in 1871. After Traer's founding, Moore was sent to run a new extension of the bank there. Eventually, he became partner and the bank was named the Brooks & Moore Bank. After his partner's death, Moore decided to incorporate and First National Bank succeeded Brooks & Moore. Many of the Moore family members were interested in the arts. Mavor was a gifted poet and occasionally put her poems to music with her daughters. Edna Moore Watt, Ralph Moore's eldest daughter, wrote songs. Edna also travelled, and her father's obituary mentions that she passed away in China a few months prior to her father. Another of the Moore's daughters, Nadine Moore Goldsworthy, wrote poetry and short stories and her husband, W.A. Goldsworthy, also composed.
From the description of Papers, 1899-1973, n.d. (Iowa State University). WorldCat record id: 696012823
