John More Association

Biography

Jonas, the fourth son of John and Betty Taylor More, was born in Catskill, where the family lived through the Revolutionary War. When he was eight years old, they returned to the mountains, and lived in the new settlement that was later named Moresville.

He married Deborah Person of Pleasant Valley, whose father was one of the first settlers in that section. Soon Jonas purchased land just above the village of Roxbury, which is still known as the Jonas More place. The large house built in 1818 was so sturdily built that time has had little effect on it. The house was moved to the Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown, NY. It is an example of the Federal-style that was popular in that time. Pictures of the house can be found here.

Jonas and Deborah had many business ventures in the area, beginning with their dairy farm and extending to gristmills, sawmills, real estate ventures, and various businesses. They also established the Dutch Reformed Church of Roxbury which had its first services in their barn.

Sources: ”Chronicles of the More Family”, and the Farmer’s Museum website.