R. H.. Moore Painting Added To Collection

April 21, 2021 at 3:40 AM

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      One of the stated purposes of the DuBois Area Historical Society is to preserve the history of the DuBois area. Another chance to preserve that history came this year with the donation of a painting of Ruben Haines Moore painted by Luthersburg artist Richard Burfoot.

       The painting, due to its age, needed some help. It was passed along to Peaceable Kingdom in DuBois, who professionally restored the painting; fixing holes and cleaning both the canvas and the frame, just as they have with several other paintings on display in the museum.

        Reuben Haines Moore was important as a merchant and financier in DuBois. He was a son of Robert (1806-1858) and Esther (1802-1864) Moore and a descendant of Andrew Moore (1796-1881), one of the early settlers of the Clearfield County.

        Reuben was born in the Half Moon Valley of Centre County in 1831. Two years later, his family relocated to Curwensville and three years later to Rockton where his father operated the Moore mills for a number of years.

         In 1850, Moore, now 19, moved permanently to Luthersburg entering a business career emphasizing mercantile and lumber. This beginning led him into the world of finance, where he was a unanimous selection by the Deposit National Bank of DuBois' board of directors as president of the bank. He continued in that position for 25 years, leaving the job in 1917. In addition to his bank duties, Moore served as post master of Luthersburg and on the DuBois School Board.

        Moore's obituary described him . . . "Honest, industrious, clean in habits and in life, he was always known as a front-rank man." In an interesting contrast to current events, his funeral service was held at his residence and grounds where people could avoid congregating due to the ongoing Spanish flu pandemic.

         He was married to Henrietta Barrett (1835-1898), sister of Clearfield County Judge George R. Barrett. Both are buried at the Luthersburg cemetery. They had four daughters and three sons.

         This portrait of R. H. Moore was painted by his fellow Luthersburg resident Richard Burfoot (1866-1939). Burfoot was a famous portrait and landscape artist during his lifetime. The DuBois Area Historical Society now owns six paintings completed by Burfoot.



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