From “Work Family History”, vol. I (1969) & vol. II (1994), compiled by Von Gail Hamilton.

Moses lost his father at the age of 16, and the care of the farm fell principally on his shoulders, the older brothers having married and gone to homes of their own. The farm implements of that period were the wooden plow, the scythe, the sickle and the flail.

At the age of 21, he married and 3 years later built himself a log cabin and log barn on the farm where he lived the remainder of his life.

He was a man of good taste and was considered a good farmer; had a good address and of fine appearance.

He was County Commissioner from 1854 - 1857; was often called upon as an arbitrator to settle disputes between his neighbors. At his home, the poor and the simple met with the same warm reception as those more favored in wealth and talent.

Moses lost his wife and 2 youngest children within 6 days, leaving him with 3 children under 10 years of age to care for. It was fortunate that he lived close to other family members. Five of his siblings lived on adjoining farms, with most of the others close by.

Moses was especially gifted in music, and his name is mentioned many times in the records regarding music, teaching, singing and other musical talents he and other family members were blessed with.

Census records show he was well off financially, having real property worth $10,000 and $3,000 in cash.

His brothers' net worth statements compared favorably with that of Moses.

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A letter from Alexander N. Thompson at Smithfield, OH, to Moses, sent to the Mahoning Post Office, Indiana Co., PA.

Loving Friend,

According to your desire and my promise I shall write to you the following news. I am well at present and has enjoyed good health since I left you and I hope that these few lines will find you and the rest in the same state of health. I went to Uncle John A. Scroggs in 2 days after I left you and stayed there 2 or 3 weeks and as Uncle John is not in the way of tanning much now I thought it best to trust on to Uncle Hugh Thompson that is down the Ohio River about 60 miles. I traveled along the bank of the Ohio about 15 miles and came here in 2 days. They are all well. They have 5 sons but they are not old enough to grip the Girls yet. I neglected writing to my people till the other day for I thought I would try to get into work before I would write but I did not get a place to please me and then I went to see Uncle Allen Scroggs. They are all well at present but his wife is dead. She died last winter. She lay 4 years but he is out on the hunt of another and if he can find one that will suit him he will be married before long.

I wrote to my people on the 11th day of this month. Uncle Hugh Work took it to the post office and there was a letter there for him. He read the letter and brought it home. He handed it to me and said I have got a letter from your father, take it and peruse it, for poor Susan is no more. You are shure it struck me very much. I trembled so for some time that I could not read the letter. She departed this life on Sabath Night, the 4th of July after a long and tedious sickness as I was telling you she had been atacted with what is called the Kings Evil or (unreadable) some years ago and ever spring she was worse. She was always able to attend to some little work till this spring. We all had the measles before I left home and she being in a weak state it appears it settled on her lungs a bad cough immediately followed finally ended in the consumption. I understand she was confined to bed from (when) I left home till she died. It was the 1st case of that kind that ever happened in our family and I expect Father and Mother would take it very hard . . .

Moses, I must begin to tell you something about what I have seen since I left you. I have seen only 1 little habit the girls of Geersburg has among them that which I must tell you of in the 1st place that is they have a snuff box full of Scotch snuff and then they have tooth brush for the purpose of brushing with. One day there came a young lady to Uncle Scroggs which was counted pretty much girl. In the evening we took a walk out till the orchard. Well, Moses, I acted as politely as I could with her. It come round as nature would have it that her and I sat down under an apple tree. Well, we were settin in a soshable order, Moses, and you know how that would be. She put her hand in her pocket and pulled out her brush and snuffbox. Well, she put as much snuff on the brush as would lie on it and put it in her mouth and she would stir it about in her mouth and then let the head of the brush stay in her mouth and the handle stick out about 6 inches and this is the way she would set for a half day. Now this I could not stand.

There is some tolerable good looking girls there. I went several nights to help them to rake the fire, them that did not use the snuff. Ohio girls and I have not got much acquainted with. I have been at Preaching over there. Was a good many there is some not bad looking girls among them but a good many of them Quakers. Moses, I give the girls in your Country the prefferance yet as you and me don't care about the girls, I will give it up for is vanity and vexasion of spirit. I want you to write as soon as you receive this letter. Give my respectrs to ant and your Sisters and Brothers and keep a good share to your self.

Alexander N. Thompson