Oldest Child of John Thomas and Annie Andersen Moore

Life Sketch for Joseph Thomas Moore

Life Sketch given at Funeral:

Joseph Thomas was born May 17, 1882 at Spanish Fork, Utah. His parents were John Thomas Moore and Annie Andersen Moore. His childhood was spent in Spanish Fork Canyon and he attended the Clinton Elementary School five miles South of Thistle Junction.

In October, 1897 the family moved to Idaho and settled in Shelton Ward where he completed his schooling.

In February, 1905 he was called on a mission to the Southern States. There he labored in the conference of North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee for a period of twenty-nine months. After returning from this mission, he was active in ward activities. Among the positions he held were Ward Clerk, Superintendant of Religion Class, Assisstant Superintendant of Sunday School, and a member of the Recreation Committee.

Again in February, 1918 he was to labor as a missionary. This time in the Eastern States where he labored for six months. He was in the New Haven Conference which included the State of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. He was a devout student of the scriptures and much of his spare time was spent studying them.

Although he never married he was a great lover of children and would spend hours romping with them.

His health has been failing for the last four years, but he did not become seriously ill until about two months ago. He passed away October 17, 1943. He is survived by two sisters and six brothers.

Memories of Tom by J. Reed Moore:

Joseph Thomas Moore was the first born son of John T. and Annie A. Moore, born 17 May 1882 in Spanish Fork, Utah. He died in Idaho Falls, Idaho 17 Oct. 1943. He was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 18 Aug 1892 and endowed 1 Mar 1905.

Tom spent his early years in Spanish Fork and in Clinton, Utah County, Utah. His father moved the young family to Clinton about 1886 where they farmed. They spent time on this farm until 1897 when the family moved to Shelton, Idaho. His father purchased the old Martin farm there. The family rented another farm just 1/2 mile East of this Martin farm and later they bought both farms. Tom was fifteen years old at the time the family moved and many responsibilities were his. His father depended on Tom to do a man's job.

Tom's education was received in Spanish Fork, Clinton, and he took a Missionary Course at Rick's College before leaving on his mission in 1905. He served his mission in the Southern States and returned home after serving twenty-nine months. He served well on this mission. While he was there his brother, Reed was born. After returning home he worked as a laborer, mainly as a farm worker. He worked in the hayfields for family members and was good dependable help. For many years he herded sheep for various sheepmen around the Shelton area. A Mr. Swenson who lived above the cemetery in Shelton was one of them. Reed, his brother spent several nights in a sheep camp with him. The sheep were herded in the summer on the hills Southeast of Shelton.

Tom was a great fisherman. He always had good luck wherever he fished-in Willow Creek, down by Jim Heath's in the Anderson Canal; at the Headgates in his Uncle Willard's field. He took his brother Reed with him on several of his fishing trips. One particularly was up the Snake River to Calamity Point, where the dam is now built. They had plenty of fish to eat for three or four days.

Tom filed on a farm West of Idaho Falls where he farmed for several years. He was out there by Ed Collett. He purchased a Case tractor to do this farming. Reed went out with him a time or two.

Tom never did marry. He lived alone most of the latter part of his life. He purchased a sheep camp and lived in it for a long time. Tom loved children and they liked him. Tom was good natured-would give anyone the shirt off his back if asked to. Frank Brown said at Tom's funeral that "Tom was generous to a fault." That is a great compliment to Tom. He was also a good scriptorian. He could quote and find scriptures for a point, as good as the best of them.