Moore, Charley and Lida Alsup

Lea County Families and Histories, "Then and Now", Vol II, 1984

Submitted by: Richard Moore

     Charles Lester Moore came to the west Texas area in the early 1900's. He came to Midland Texas, and went to work for the Cowden's.

     He married Lida Minerva Alsup on October 10, 1930. He and his new bride moved to the old JAL Ranch. He was foreman of the Jal Ranch, which was owned by the Cowden Family. Three children were born to Lida and Charley; Charles Willis Moore, Lewis Richard Moore and Roy Moore.

     In 1927 he moved to where the Cowden ranch is now (Dollarhide). He and Mr. Knight  (Annetta Black, Blanche Cailey and Frank Night's father) built the house at Roundtree which is the present location of the Cowden Ranch. The ownership of the ranch changed hands within the family and Mr. Moore was no longer foreman. This happened in 1928.

     Mr. Moore purchased some land from the Cowden's, leased some state land, and purchased he homestead of Preacher Ely. This was Spencer Ely's father. The Moore family lived on the Moore Ranch until 1942, when Mr. Moore had a stroke and was moved to JAl, New Mexico, and lived there until his death on January 14, 1944.

     The ranch was then sold in 1949 to Fowler Hair.

     The earliest recollection of school by Richard Moore is as follows: 1929/1930 Cooper School taught by Mrs. Fowler Hair, 1930 Jal School taught by Mrs. George Davis. 1931/32 Cooper school taught by Miss FLora Farsnworth, who kept two girls room and board in order to keep the school at Cooper open. Cooper school closed around rhe year 1935 or 1936.