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[Children of Major Moses McCue (12) and Sarah Smith.
...(53) iii Col. Moses Hannibal McCue, b 30, July 1808, Augusta county, Va., d 31, Jan. 1885, Callaway county, Mo., m 6, Sept. 1838, Sarah Frances Steele (b 12, July 1817, Waynesboro, Va., d 21, Feb. 1884, Callaway county, Mo.) dau. of Capt. Samuel Steele, of the War of 1812 and his wife Frances Hunter.
Moses H. McCue was educated at Washington College, afterwards Washington and Lee University; leaving there in 1827, he returned to "Greenwood," where he engaged in farming for a few years. But soon became deputy for his father in the office of the High Sheriff, where he remained for twenty years, first as assistant and later as High Sheriff. He was the first man to fill that office under the New Constitution in 1850, his predecessor having been Lyttelton Waddell.
The title of Colonel came to him because of an appointment to drill yearly the Militia Regiment of the county according to the old style which was observed in all the Southern States.
Besides a liberal education in that day, he was a great reader and possessed a wonderful memory, which next to health is the most acceptable temporal blessing. Col. McCue delighted in the respect and esteem of many friends and was a staunch friend in return. Literally speaking he would remove his coat on a wintry day for a friend if he thought he needed it more than himself.
He acquired an unusual amount of knowledge, which mixed with a liberal portion of "common sense," made his conversation sought on every hand and his views respected. Dr. W. W. McFarlane of Missouri said he was the best posted man on State and National affairs he ever listened to and that he was unable to bring up a subject which the Colonel could not discuss in a manner that displayed a mind deep and well stored. He was also a good speaker; Eev. John C. Tate, D.D., of Tennessee, said of him: "He bore a strong likeness to Senator Stephen A. Douglass (of 111.), and as a reader might have made a sensation on the stage. ' ' He preferred a quit life, and though he delighted in the company of educated men, he enjoyed most his own hearth-stone and the company of his family, in which were seven sons and three daughters. He was fond of saying that in this latter respect he was like the patriarch Job.
Prior to the building of the Virginia Central R. R., and when Col. McCue was farming, his wheat was hauled to Christian Creek (as was the custom of the community) to be ground. Then it was necessary to convey the flour to Scottsville in order to dispose of it. This was all done by wagon; in returning the wagons "back-hauled" merchandise for the Staunton merchants. In 1874 the railroad came to Staunton and in 1883, to Lexington.
From a Staunton paper of 1856, we read that Col. McCue was a Delegate to the State Convention. The next year (1857) he came with his family and a dozen slaves, to Missouri. Mr. Jacob Van Lear and his son, James, accompanied the party. Because of the feeling existing between the slave and non-slave States, it was necessary to travel south of the Mason and Dixon Line, which made the journey more tedious and trying. The party safely reached Callaway county with all their slaves, wagons and teams, that fall, stopping the first winter with Col. Isaac Tate (grandson of Capt. Jas. Tate of the Revolution). Col. McCue intended to locate in the south-western section of Missouri, but was so favorably impressed with the people, the land and the climate that he settled near *the Old Auxvasse church in Callaway, which church he united with in 1859, was soon elected ruling elder and continued in this office until his death which occurred in 1885.
*The Auxvasse church was organized in 1828 in Callaway county, it being the first Presbyterian organization west of St. Charles and alleged to have been the second west of the Mississippi River. Its name was taken from the small muddy stream which bounds the cemetery on the north. As early as 1823, this little band of hardy pioneers, comprised largely of Virginians and Kentuckians, held religious meetings in their cabins and under the massive oaks. The eleven charter members were: William Mateer, David Kenedy, Mary Kenedy, James Tate, Clarinda P. Tate, John Hamilton, Peggy C. Hamilton, Reuben Scott, Mart T. Scott, Ann T. Hart and Betsy Patton. The church grew rapidly, since that day almost a thousand
names have been added to the roll. Six churches have sprung out of the original organization and one or two of different denominations, so that the name "Old Auxvasse," has been well applied to the mother. In Nov. 1911, the congregation, swelled by the daughter churches and many visitors, celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Rev. John F. Cowan D. D.'s connection with the Old Auxvasse as pastor, when an interesting program was rendered. Such an occasion is most unusual as it is believed no other church west of the 90th meridian in America has ever held a pastor for fifty years. In a meeting of Synod held in Boonville, when the division between the North and South took place, a discussion arose after the Northern brethren had withdrawn, as to what steps should be taken to secure the control of our educational institutions. Dr. Faris was talking in his usual open manner when Col. MeCue stepped to him and said, "Doctor, I do not think it wisest that we show our hand." The Doctor's face became a broad smile, laying his hand on the Colonel's shoulder he said, "Look here, old fellow, you have played seven up." The Colonel intimated that probably they both had, but the passage cemented their friendship. ...
