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Moore's Mill, Benton County

My search for Moore’s Mill began in the fall of 2009 when I acquired a scrip note issued from Moore’s Mills, Benton County, Ark., June 16, 1862.  Matt Rothert, Sr., in his book, Arkansas Obsolete Notes and Scrip, copyright 1985, The Society of Paper Money Collectors, listed Moore’s Mill as a small hamlet in Benton County. A quick internet search for Moore’s Mill reports that Confederate Brigadier General William Y Slack died there of wounds received after the Battle of Pea Ridge. Where then was Moore’s Mill and who issued these notes?

About the Note:  Surviving Moore's Mill notes are extremely rare and are listed as R-7. It is believed that only a few of these notes still exist today. The Old State House Museum in Little Rock list two Moore's Mill notes - a .50 cent note, serial number 259 or 359 (its hard to read) which is not listed in Rothert’s book and a 2.50 note serial number 19. My note is serial number 45. Neither of these appear to be the note listed in the book so we know at least 3 of these notes still exist. The book also list a $1.00 note of this type. My note has some wear and tear but is still a nice addition to my collection. You can see the signature of E. M. Moore & Bros. on the back of the note.



A different type of Moore's Mill note has surfaced featuring a dog and safe on the left which was a common motif. This beauty was provided by Ron Horstman, a Collector of Missouri notes specializing as I understand it in St Louis notes. Many thanks to Ron for allowing me to display this on my site. This note is the only one displayed here that is not from my personal collection.


This note is serial number 1099 and the signature is also visible on the back. This is just an excellent note printed on lined writing paper.

About the Moore's:  According to the printing on the note, Moore's Mills was owned and operated by E.M.Moore and Brothers in Benton County, Ark.  Washburn Prairie Cemetery records show that Elijah M. Moore was born around October 1829 and died September 21, 1884 at 54 years 10 months and 23 days old. The Barry County, MO. marriage records show that Elijah M. Moore married Vesta Buchanan on Oct. 14, 1855. According to Washburn Prairie Cemetery records, Vesta Moore was born August 18, 1837 and died August 29, 1871. The 1860 census for Barry County, MO., Sugar Creek Township, list E.M. Moore, dry goods merchant from TN, age 24 with wife of the home, Vesta, age 23. The 1860 census list an L..H. Moore, age 21 and a brother Simpson, age 19, living with parents Garrett and Ellen Moore - all from TN. It appears that Garrett is the father and L.H. and Simpson are the  brothers  based on the land entry records below. However, Good Speed's History of Barry County says on page 140 that Garret Moore and son (singular) were merchants before the war (Civil War). The 1870 Barry County census list L..H. Moore as Dry Goods Merchant and E.M. Moore, age 40 (more than 16 years older now) as Dry Goods Merchant and wife of the home, Vesta at age 34. (That decade was good to Vesta but not E.M who seems to be aging much faster).

According to Goodspeed's, E.M. Moore was  a general merchant at Keetsville (now Washburn, MO) up to the start of the Civil War and resumed the business in 1869 or 1870. E.M. Moore is listed as a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Washburn during 1871. E.M. Moore is not listed in the 1880 Barry County census. According to Goodspeed, the only business in Washburn under the name of Moore in 1880 was a Moore and Salmon's saw mill. However, also according to Goodspeed, Seligman, MO was platted September 27, 1880 and the first store was erected by E.M. Moore and W.G. Neeley. However, Goodspeed then seemly contradicts himself by saying that Seligman was incorporated (usually happens after the original platting) on March 8, 1881 with the original businesses to include a general merchant L. S. Moore. E.M. did have a son S.L. Moore that would have been in his mid twenties by then. It is possible that Father E.M. built the store and son S.L. ran it. But that would mean Goodspeed got the name backwards.??

Ok, so where was the Mill?  Alvin Seamster wrote in the Benton County Pioneer, Volume 5, Number 3, March 1960, that Moore's Mill was located  just below where the Gateway Post Office now stands . In an article in the Rogers Daily News - May 25, 1963 page 12B Alvin Seamster says Gen. Slack  "...died at Moore's Mill, down the valley from the present Gateway..."  In a book in the Bentonville Library reference section titled The Battle of Pea Ridge 1862, page 27 notes  "He (Slack) was finally moved to Moore's Hill (I assume a typo), NW of Gateway".

In an article in the Ozark Mountaineer Vol 28 #4 & #5 May-June 1980, W.D. Cameron writes  "In 1862 Moore's Mill was just another small grist mill, serving the milling needs of a farming community in Benton County, Ark., a few miles south of the Missouri line. No town came into being around that mill, and had it not been for the misfortune of war that gave it a place in history, it would have served its time and faded into the realm of lost memories....Located in a small narrow valley and at the entrance to a cave and spring. The cave had been closed with rocks thus impounding the water which was used to power a small paddle wheel and in turn operate a run of buhrs. In 1971, the little valley was a restful place with its beauty of trees, shrubs, flowers and rocks".

None of these authors provide the source of their information. However, based on my research, I do not believe the Mill was located around Gateway, Arkansas.

In the Book Generals in Gray, published by Louisiana State University Press, copy right 1959, Ezra Warner located Moore's Mill eight miles east of the Pea Ridge battlefield.

The Official Record Series 1 volume XXII/1(S#32) Cassville, Mo. April 18, 1863 David McKee, Major, Seventh Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, Commanding, reports  "I sent Captain Humphrey out on a scout with 50 men in the White River county, 18 miles from here". In a second report dated April 18, 1863 Major McKee further reports  "..Captain Humphrey, has returned. He reports the enemy at, or near, Moore's Mill, on White River, 200 strong, and he has reliable information that the enemy is in camp at Leashure, Wood Creek, 8 miles south of Moore's Mill..."

Using Google earth, I noted that the intersection of the White River and Indian Creek is almost exactly 18 miles from Cassville. It should also be noted that the intersection of the White River and Indian creek is almost exactly 8 miles east of the Pea Ridge Battlefield.

According to officials at the Hobbs State Park Conservation area, Woods Creek flows through what is now called Woods Hollow in the Rambo Creek area of Beaver Lake. This is section 19 and 20 of T19N and R27W in Benton County and is almost exactly 8 miles south of the intersection of Indian Creek and White River. This matches the Official Record.

The property records of Benton County from 1833 - 1873 does not list E.M. Moore or L..H. Moore as property owners. Nor do the land grants, homestead records, real estate tax rolls or personal property tax rolls that I could find at the Benton County Clerk's Archive Records Office reflect property ownership by E.M. or L. H. Moore.

However, the State Land Records located online from the Arkansas History Commission shows that Elijah Moore, Garrett Moore, and a Frederick Oliver filed a Swamp Land Application for 40 acres on 10/22/1860 located in the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of section 5, T20N, R27W. This places the Mill right at the intersection of the White River and Indian Creek. The 1903 Benton County atlas shows a road and bridge crossing the White River at this spot. This is the ONLY record of land ownership for Elijah Moore in Benton County that I can find. This area had road access from both the north and south and is similar to the route taken by the Confederates when they withdrew from Pea Ridge. This area was flooded in 1963 with the formation of Beaver Lake. Today it is part of the Indian Creek recreation area. The Beaver Lake fishing map shows
two sets of under water foundations on the south side of what was once Indian creek along side the old road now under water. This placement is consistent with all known factors in that it is  on the White River , 18 miles from Cassville, 8 miles east of the Pea Ridge Battlefield, Woods Creek is 8 miles south of this location and it is the only record of land ownership by Elijah M Moore in Benton County during this time period. I am convinced this is the location of Moore's Mill. I did find records pertaining to another Elijah Moore on the western side of Benton County late in the 1800's but that person apparently has nothing to do with this E.M. Moore.

Records from the Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office also list Elijah M Moore, Garrett Moore, and a Frederick Oliver as acquiring land right across the White River (in sections 11, 12 and 14 of T20N, R27W) in what is now Carroll County on May 1, 1861 and then again on August 1, 1861. Garrett and Elijah also owned various parcels in Barry County Missouri. Based on this and the census records discussed above, I believe E.M. was Garrett's son and L.H. was one of the brothers.

Below is a copy of the 1903 Benton County Atlas showing the intersection of Indian Creek and the White River. The current Beaver Lake Dam is located just off the right side of the picture. The heavier vertical line on the right is the Benton and Carroll county line. This area is now all under water and is the Indian Creek recreation area of Beaver Lake. Moore's Mill was located right at the top of the  E  on the map just on the west end of the bridge crossing the White River.


That now completes our picture. We know who E.M. Moore was, we know who his brothers were, and we know where the mill was located.

Where then was the original burial place of Confederate General William Y Slack? Seamster's accounts says Slack was buried in the Roller Cemetery by what is now Gateway, Arkansas. In his book, Generals in Gray, Warner says Slack was buried in the yard at Moore's Mill. In either event, the body was moved to the Confederate Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1880 allowing Moore’s Mill to slip into history relatively unknown...until a scrip note was collected 130 years later.

Update regarding the burial place of General Slack

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Maysville, Benton County, Arkansas

A small battle occurred at Maysville on October 22, 1862 as a prelude to the Battle of Prairie Grove. In addition, smaller skirmishes were fought in or near Maysville in January 1863 and on September 5, 1863, May 8, 1863, and July 20, 1864. Goodspeed's 1889 History of Benton County, Arkansas  notes Maysville was settled in 1839 and it was rumored that in the 1846 Maysville was larger than Bentonville. Goodspeed's also notes that at the time of the Civil War, "..six or seven stores.." were located in Maysville "...all of which did a thriving business.." The only business documented as issuing scrip notes was Thompson and Snufeer. I assume other businesses issued such notes but none have been documented.

1903 Plat map of Maysville