Source: The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois
Originally published 1896
S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., Chicago, IL
Reproduced on CD purchased from OLD GLORY ACCENTS

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 165-166

David Moore. No country affords greater opportunity to the poor man than our own; it is, indeed, the poor man's country. Here an industrious, frugal man has a chance to accumulate wealth. Many fail to do so, but the best of our population lay by some of their earnings and soon find themselves in possession of a handsome property. Among them is the gentleman whose name heads this article, and who is now living a retired life in Wenona.

His parents, David and Mary (Brown) Moore, were born, reared and married in New Jerey, and about 1815 removed to Ohio, settling in Waynesville, where the father worke at his trade of a tailor for four years. He then located on a farm n Preble county, that state, in the midst of the forest, which he at once began to clear and improve, and there made his home until 1855. In that year he came to Illinois to live with his son, and there made his home until his death, at the age of ninety-eight years. His wife passed away in Ohio at the age of fifty-seven years. In their family were five children: Samuel, deceased; David, of this review; Nathaniel, of Chicago; Mrs. May Lintner, deceased, and Sarah Bell, also deceased.

Our subject was born November 15, 1813, in Glouchester county, New Jersey, but was reared upon a farm in Ohio until seventeen years of age, when he began learning the trade of a shoe-maker, which he followed for about fifteen years. In Ohio, on the 17th of March, 1836, he married Miss Ann Boradail, also a native of New Jersey, and they became the parents of five children: Rebecca, the oldest, is deceased; Arthur, who became sergeant in the Light Artillery under Captain Vaughn, died near Bolivar, Tennessee, March 7, 1863; Mary Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of George G. McAdam, by whom she had three children, Ulyses, Arthur and William; Martha Sarah and Anna are also deceased.

After his marriage, Mr. Moore continued to engage in shoemaking, and in connection with his brother also conducted a store in Israel township, Preble county, Ohio, for four years, after which he removed to Kokomo, Indiana, and started a grocery and bakery. He also had a slaughter house and steam sawmill at that place, but most of his property was later destroyed by fire, leaving him in limited circumstanes. He next removed to a farm near Fairfield, in Howard county, Indiana, which he operated three years, and in 1857 came to Illinois, locating upon a partially improved farm in Evans township, Marshall county, where he made his home until 1865. He then purchased a farm on Sandy creek, which he continued to improve and cultivate until 1891, when his wife died, and he removed to a farm adjoining that place, which he bought of his brother. In 1894, however, he came to Wenona, where he now finds a pleasant home.

On the 14th of August of that year, Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Mrs. Carrie Lezear, who was born January 27, 1828, in Tyler county, West Virginia, and is a daughter of James C. and Sarah L. (Musser) Williamson, the former a native of Wellsburg, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Lancaster, the same state. Her parents both belonged to old Pennsylvania families, were married in that state and later removed to West Virginia, where they made their permanent home and thre died. The father, who was educated at Wellsburtg, Pennsylvania, became a physician, but later devoted most of his time to agricultural pursuits. His father had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

Mrs. Moore is one of a family of twelve children, who, in order of birth, are as follows: John M, Alex and James, all deceased; William and Elbert, twins, the latter of whom is deceased; Theodore A., who lives in Sardis, Ohio; Eliza Jane, deceased; Adeline, who is the widow of Samuel Cox and lives in Sisterville, West Virginia; Theodosia, deceased; Mrs. Moore, Philip Dodridge, deceased, and Henry R., who also lives in Sisterville. One son, John M., was a soldier in the civil war, Mrs. Moore was educated in West Virginia, and on reaching womanhood married Frank Lazear, by whom she had four children, James, Elbert, Leroy and Eliza Jane. The father of these children is now deceased.

Mr. Moore still owns three hundred and thirty-one acres in Evans township, eighty acres in Bolivar county, Missouri, two houses and lots in Wenona and one-third interest in forty-five lots in Streator, Illinois, all of which property has been gained through his own individual efforts, although he received some assistance from his father, but he has given away more than he ever received. In politics he is a stanch republican, and religiously is a member of the Society of Friends, while his wife has for forty-five years been an active member of the Methodist church.