The shattered tombstone still stands mutely awaiting its ultimate fate. It was vandalized in the 20^th century, just as the man whose grave it marks was abused in the 19^th century. The ground beneath it firmly holds the remains of Gabriel Bibbard Moore, an Arkansas slave whose masters brought him to California where he became Fresno County’s first black cattleman.

   Gabe Moore’s forgotten grave came to the attention of our class when our teacher took us out to Trimmer Springs Road, near the pioneer town of Centerville, California.

   As we stood looking at the broken monument, it told us very little. The name of the deceased had been broken off, and the only information remaining was the rest of the inscription: “Died May 25, 1880—Age 67yrs, 10 mo., 23 days.” We wondered why we had been brought to this neglected, weed-filled cemetery to view a tombstone that carried no name. Then our teacher supplied the answer—an answer that would set us on our journey into the past.

   Our teacher told us that many years ago, while doing historical research in the archives of the Fresno County Library, he had come across a newspaper article dated January 4, 1871, which told of an African-American by the name of Gabe Moore who was refused the right to vote in Fresno by the County Clerk. This stuck in our teacher’s mind.

   Then on that same day he discovered another article about Gabe Moore. The newspaper reported that in 1880, he was drowned while attempting to swim his cattle across the Kings River. The article also said that Gabe left an estate worth 15,000 dollars. That meant that in 1880, Mr. Moore was a very rich man.

   Later, our teacher accidentally found a third document about Gabriel Moore. While searching in the “Ash Tree Echoes,” he found an article written by June English in 1965. In her article, she told of finding a grave in the old Aker’s cemetery on Trimmer Springs Road that had been vandalized. The top portion containing the name of the deceased had been knocked off and was lying on the ground in front of that part of the tombstone that remained. It told her that this was the grave of Gabriel Moore.

   Ms. English recorded what was left on the inscription. It read “Died May 25, 1880—Age 67yrs, 10 mo., 23 days.” These were the words that our teacher would read 41 years later. One week after her first visit to Gabe’s grave, Ms. English returned to the cemetery only to find that someone had taken the broken part of the tombstone away—the part that told who was buried there.

   Now fast forward to 2006. Fresno County was celebrating its Sesquicentennial, and at the heart of that celebration was the Madera Method Wagon Train, which was carrying young students from town to town reminding the grownups that Fresno County was now 150 years old. As it neared the end of its 13 day journey, the wagon train, of which our teacher was a part, pulled up for lunch at the Akers Cemetery. Since he loves old cemeteries, our teacher left the wagon train and went to explore the tombstones. That is when he came across the remains of Gabe Moore’s tombstone.

   Upon entering the cemetery, our teacher went immediately to the broken tombstone and read what was left of the inscription, and he knew immediately who was buried there. June English’s 1965 article told him.

   Armed with this basic information, when the 2007-2008 school year began, our teacher told us about Gabe Moore’s tombstone. He also told us about the refusal of Fresno County’s Clerk to allow Gabe to vote. This injustice that occurred during Gabe’s lifetime and the sacrilege that was perpetrated upon his tombstone struck our class in a powerful way.

   First we agreed with our teacher to resurrect Gabriel Moore in the only way humanly possible. We decided to research his life and write his biography. In addition to this, at the end of the year, our class would give Gabe a new marker—not to replace the old one—but to add to it. We plan to put a plaque beside Gabe’s tombstone to tell who he was and why he was important.

The Gabe Moore Project

 Of

 Valley Prep Academy Charter School

8^th/9^th Grade Class

A Beginning Chronology of Gabriel Bibbard Moore’s Life

Discovered from the archives by Mr. William Coates' 8/9 grade class at Valley Prep Academy Charter School.

Sources: U.S. Census Reports—County tax rolls—Voter Registration List—Old Newspapers—Various Secondary Sources

1812      Gabe was born in Alabama.

1850      Gabe was a slave in Arkansas. He was owned by the Glenn family in Crawford County, Arkansas.

1853      Gabe’s owners brought him to the Kings River in the Akers Wagon Train. Gabe was set free and began to farm.

1850s    Gabe was accused of attacking an Indian woman. He was tried and found not guilty. Gabe became more prosperous and began to raise cattle in a big way.

1871      Gabe was refused the right to vote in Fresno County.

1872      Gabe and his son, Ephraim registered to vote in Fresno County.

1880      Gabe was drowned trying to cross the Kings River with his cattle. His horse threw him and he fell on a rock and broke his shoulder. When he was found, he was still clutching a branch.

PHOTO-JOHN WALKER / THE FRESNO BEE

Valley Prep Charter School students, from left, Hind Arafi, Daniel Richards and Robert McGaha, look for clues into the life of former slave Gabriel Moore.