Rachael Almeaney Moore

(My sincere thanks to Virginia Rose who contributed much of the following information.)

Rachael Almeaney Moore was born April 8, 1864, in Conway County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Israel Moore and Rachael McClure.

Rachael's mother died during childbirth and her father died about 1869 when Rachael was about five years old. Rachael was raised by her uncle James Orsen McClure and his family.

Rachael appears on the 1870 Van Buren County, Arkansas, census in Cadron Township, living with her uncle James Orsen McClure and his family. She is listed as six years old.

The 1880 White County, Arkansas, census shows Rachael, age 15 still living with her uncle James and his family, in Harrison Township.

Information submitted by Virginia Bradford Rose, a great granddaughter of Rachael Almeaney Moore, states that Rachael married Hugh S. Patterson, but they weren't married long because he was mean to her. Hugh Patterson was born 1837, in Franklin County, Alabama, one of nine children of James Patterson and Catherine Gray.  He was murdered December 15, 1897 at Culpepper, in Van Buren County, Arkansas.

Rachael married William Frances "Frank" Ramsey on October 22, 1895, in Cleburne County, Arkansas. Frank Ramsey was born June 8, 1860, in Arkansas, the son of David Ramsey and Hannah Potter. Hannah Potter was the daughter of William Potter and Nancy Carpenter. Hannah had two sisters, Lucy Potter and Nancy Potter.

Frank Ramsey was first married to Elizabeth C. "Bette" Hargis on February 26, 1885, in Cleburne County.  "Bette" Hargis was born October 28, 1869 and died August 11, 1895. Frank and Bette had two children, Laura Ramsey, born April 8, 1887 and died August 10, 1895, and Samuel L. Ramsey, born May 18, 1889 and died March 26, 1971. Samuel married Lila (last name unknown) and had four children: 1) Delila Ramsey, 2) Earl Ramsey, 3) Lloyd Ramsey and 4) Ira Ramsey. Virginia Rose relates that Laura died first and Bette took it so hard she died the next day. Both Bette and Laura were buried first in Higden Cemetery, at Higden, Arkansas, but when the dam was built the graves were moved to Higden-McLehaney Cemetery, on Highway 16, in Cleburne County, near Higden.

Virginia Rose relates the following: "When my great grandfather William Frank Ramsey's wife Bette died, my Aunt Lesbie said he went to Prayer Mountain, which extends down to Millers Point, and got Rachael." Rachael, according to Virginia, was living and working at Prayer Mountain. Virginia also states in her notes, that Rachael was Cherokee Indian. There was Cherokee Indian blood in the Moore family. It is possible that Rachael's father, Israel was full blood or at least 1/2 Cherokee.

Frank and Rachael appear on the 1900 Cleburne County, Arkansas, census in Saline Township, near Higden. The census shows William, age 39; Rachel A., age 36; Samuel L., age 11 and Florence E., age 3. Living with them was Rachael's uncle, Stephen McClure, Jr., age 51. Rachael was listed on the census as having given birth to two children, but only one child was still living at that time. Frank was a farmer.

The 1910 Cleburne County census, Saline Township, shows Frank Ramsey, age 51; Rachael, age 46; Samuel, age 20; Florence, age 13; Joseph, age 9, and daughters Winnie, age 7 and Willie, age 4. The census shows that Rachael had given birth to 5 children, but only 4 were still living. The census also shows that Frank owned his property.

The 1920 Cleburne County census, Saline Township, shows W. F. Ramsey, age 58; Rachel, age 62; daughter Winnie, age 17; daughter Willie, age 18 (the age listed is incorrect - it should be 14); son Joe, age 19, and daughter-in-law Bessie, age 17. The census shows they owned their farm with no mortgage.

 William Frank Ramsey died July 19, 1935 and was buried beside his first wife, Betty, in the Higden Cemetery. His grave was later moved to the Higden-McLehaney Cemetery when the dam was built.

Rachael died November 3, 1939 and was also buried in Higden Cemetery, but later moved to the Higden-McLehaney Cemetery near Higden.

Children of William Frank Ramsey and Rachael Moore