John Mooers was the son of Hazen Mooers, a trader, and a Dakota woman. John was born in 1826 near Red Wing’s village at the mouth of the Cannon River [near Red Wing, Minnesota] and lived there with his mother, Margaret (Mar-pi-ya-ro-to-win or Grey Cloud) Aird until he was nearly fifteen years old. He then joined his father at Black Dog Village.

In late April of 1853, the Clarion left Fort Snelling, heavily loaded with two or three barges in tow. Agent McLean with Mr. Prescott, the interpreter, and Andrew Robertson, Indian farmer at Kaposia, and his son, plus Hazen Mooers, Indian farmer at Black Dog’s Village, and his son, were on board with a large load of lumber and other supplies for the new fort and agencies. All of these men were headed for the Lower Sioux Agency to help build the two new agencies on the reservation. In 1855 John Mooers was clerking for James W. Lynd.

In 1862, John Mooers was living in the Redwood Valley near the Redwood Crossing. He was active in the war protecting the captives and spent the winter of 1862-63 in the Dakota camp at Fort Snelling.

In May, 1865, John Mooers, Jr., a son of John Mooers was accidently shot and killed. The circumstances of his unfortunate death were nearly as follows: A number of government scouts were encamped, with their families, near Rice creek (Delhi twp. Redwood County), at a point about seven miles northwest of the stockade at Redwood Falls. John Moore, Alexis La Framboise, Joe La Framboise, and Tom Robinson were the leaders and prominent men of the party. Though it is probable that they never had an encounter with the Indians, encamped as they were in a hostile attitude, it is not strange that they were on the alert and sometimes received a scare. One night John Mooer’s son was on guard duty, serving his turn, as guard was constantly kept. Finding it cold he wrapped himself in a blanket and wore it on his beat. Coming into the tents at the end of his patrol, a squaw waking suddenly, screamed when she saw him dressed so much like a hostile Sioux, and Alexis La Framboise, who was lying on his gun, raised it, and, taking him for an Indian, shot and killed him, the charge passing through him from side to side. He was brought to Redwood Falls and buried just outside the stockade.

After scouting for the army, 1863-67, John Mooers settled on a claim in Lincoln County and married a sister of Thomas Robinson’s. He died January 1, 1899 and was buried in the First Presbyterian Cemetery at Flandreau, Moody County, South Dakota.

Note: [The handwritten 1850 census indicates that John Mooers of Wabasha County, MN, was single, 30 years old, an Indian Farmer and born at Blue Fountain, Minnesota. This is assumed to be the son of Hazen Mooers.]

Note: [John Mooers mother, Margaret (Mar-pi-ya-ro-to-win or Grey Cloud) had died in July, 1849 at Black Dog’s Village and Hazen Mooers was living in Dakota County in 1850 with his daughter, Jane Ann Moores, who was then 20 years old. Their location in Dakota County, in 1850, was probably at Black Dog’s Village.]