Biographical Sketch of Dr. William Hugh Moore

Dr. William Hugh Moore

b. 14 Apr 1853, Cannon County, Tennessee

d. 11 Feb 1910, Pensacola, Florida

m. 10 Mar 1881 to Nancy Virginia "Jennie" Witherspoon (b. 18 Sep 1858, d. 26 Jan 1903)

s/o Thomas W. Moore and Nancy Ashley

William Hugh Moore

Dr. William Hugh Moore

Born April 14, 1853 in Cannon County, Tennessee, William Hugh Moore is the son of Thomas W. Moore and Nancy Ashley. William's father, Thomas, is a native of Indiana and presumably moved to Tennessee alone in his early twenties. He worked as a school teacher in Coffee County, and later, as a merchant. William's mother, Nancy, is a member of the prominent Ashley family of Beach Grove, Tennessee, where she was born.

William's family placed a high value on education, which he received at an early age. In 1875, William began studying medicine with Dr. Alexander Smith Norville, and the following year, he continued his studies at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating, William started a medical practice in the small town of Hillsboro, Tennessee. A few years later, he moved to Viola, Tennessee, where he spent the remainder of his professional career. In Viola, William not only practiced medicine, but he also owned the local drugstore, and it has been said that he conducted a very lucrative business.

William married Virginia Nancy "Jennie" Witherspoon March 10, 1881 in Coffee County, Tennessee. Born in 1858, Jennie is the daughter of Alexander Bond Witherspoon and Jane Neely, both from Rutherford County, Tennessee.

William and Jennie had five boys and two girls. Their oldest child, Ores Witherspoon, or O.W., was born May 10, 1882. Lillie Mae was born May 11, 1884. William Hughes, Jr. was born April 1, 1886, Kate was born March 15, 1888. Charles Hardy was born March 1892. Paul Bryan was born October 25, 1896. And, Audley was born May 1899, but he is thought to have died as a young child.

In 1903, William's wife, Jennie, died at the age of 44. Sometime after, William was remarried to a woman by the name of Lida. Not much is known of her except she became the guardian of the Moore children after William died.

Later in life, William suffered from heath issues and moved to Pensacola, Florida in hopes that the climate would help his ailments. Despite the move, on February 11, 1910, William died of kidney failure in Pensacola at the age of 56. His body was returned to Tennessee, where he is buried in Viola Cemetery next to his wife, Jennie.

William is said to have been one of the best known physicians in the area. He also has the distinction of being included in Goodspeed's biographical history of Warren County, Tennessee, published in 1887.