The parents of Rev. D. J. Moore were born and reared in North Carolina. After their marriage they moved to Pickens District, South Carolina, where the subject of this biography was born. The family later moved to Georgia, and thence to Texas. They settled in Hunt County, eight miles East of Loneoak. Here his mother died when he was thirteen years old.

It was at an old fashioned camp meeting, on the Sabine River that Brother Moore, when only a child accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his sister, little barefoot, motherless boy and girl walked four miles to attend the meeting. Here God's word was being preached and the Spirit was poured out on saint and sinner. It was at a night service that God for Christ' sake saved these little orphan children.

Brother Moore in relating this experience uses this language: "For this I praise His name--Like David I can say: 'Bless His holy name! We went home the next morning happy children. My sister died years ago and has gone to heaven."'

At the age of sixteen Brother Moore joined a Cumberland Presbyterian Church that was organized by Rev. Hugh Burns. There were two reasons for this uniting with the Cumberland Church. First it was his mother's church; and second, he liked its doctrines best. When he arrived at manhood he was made an elder. About this time he felt it his duty to preach, but like many others, he put it off. Finally, at the age of twenty-eight, placed himself under the care of Greenville Presbytery. In two weeks he was sick--his wife thought with consumption. For nine months he was confined to his bed. Like Jonah, he was chastened of the Lord for shirking his duty. Again we quote his testimony: "When I arose from that affliction, my precious wife was willing to do anything the Lord wanted us to do. From that time till now I have been trying to preach repentance and faith, upon the part of man, and the great necessity of regeneration by the Holy Ghost. I am glad that I can preach a Whosoever-will gospel." Brother Moore's ministry has been a busy and useful one of forty years. He and ruling elder W. L. Stewart were Commissioners to the Decatur Assembly, and were among the "One-hundred-and-six" faithful ones that perpetuated the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

After the sad experiences of that wrecking Assembly he immediately returned home and lined up seven churches. He was one of the three preachers and five elders that perpetuated the Greenville Presbytery. Since 1910, our hero has conducted a number of good meetings, in which many souls have been saved. Under his influence three church houses have been built, as follows: Mt. Zion, Pine Hill,and Wallings Chapell.

Brother Moore now lives at Mt. Vernon, Texas, and does some ministerial work. His health is not good because of the infirmities of old age. He is loved and respected by all. Quietly and calmly he awaits the summons to come up higher. His life verifies the statement of Solomon, that--"If it be found in the way of righteousness, the hoary head is a crown of glory."

He was a confederate soldier about a year, having been too young to enlist at the beginning of the war. Returning home he entered school at the age of eighteen, but could not remain long in school because of poor health. At the age of twenty-six he was married to Miss Dee Russell, daughter of Henry Russell, a staunch elder in the Whiteoak Congregation. They reared a family of five children. For twenty years they lived together, a happy family till the Lord called his faithful companion to take her place among the family of glorified saints. Two years later, he was married to Miss Maggie Broils. Brother Moore says: "We are trying to do all we can for the cause of God, and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. May this little history do good when we are gone, is our prayer."

"We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
  In feelings, not in figures on a dial--
We should count time by heart-throbs.
  He most lives,
    Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best!"

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 136-139]