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Note: Portrait & Biographical Album of McLean County, Ill Chicago, Chapman Bros., 1887 Page 809 William D. Moore, who is well-known throughout McLean County as one of her foremost citizens and successful agriculturists, has his residence on section 5, of Towanda Township. His parents were Thomas and Martha (Dodson) Moore, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively. Prior to this union the elder Moore had been married in Pennsylvania to a Miss McCorkle. They moved to Ohio, where she died. The removal of Thomas Moore to Ohio was during the early settlement of that state, and taking up his residence in Champaign County, he at once entered upon the duties of an active farm life. These he continued to discharge with his usual energy until in April, 1828, when, returning home from a trip to Cincinnati, where he had taken a load of flour, which had been ground at Springfield having first taken the wheat there, he was seized with a fatal illness and died on the 24th of the month, before reaching his family. His widow subsequently came to this county, and after surviving her husband for over forty years, died December 22, 1870, in the village of Towanda. The father of our subject was a Major in the State Militia at the breaking out of the War of 1812, and held his commission in that conflict under the command of General Hull. He was taken prisoner, together with the entire command, at Detroit, Michigan, and transported to Canada. He was afterward paroled and returned home, but had determined to re-enlist, and was upon the point of so doing when the war closed. The parents of our subject had six children, three sons and three daughters, William D. of our sketch being the third in order of birth. Mr. Moore was born in Champaign County, Ohio, December 27, 1821. He was reared on a farm, and for some years during his early life engaged in milling. When about seventeen years of age he left the old homestead, and after working out for a short time and obtaining a little money he attended school. In fact he took the first money he ever earned for himself and used it for the purpose of obtaining an education, and consequently he claims today that he has the first money he ever earned stored away in his mind. After attending school for a while, he made such good progress that he was engaged as a teacher, and continued to perform the duties of a pedagogue for about three years. Judging from his life history, it is obvious that he must have always fully availed himself of all privileges of instructions to which he found access, and a distinguishing characteristic of his is the possession of quickness of mind and talent. Mr. Moore came to this county from Champaign County, Ohio, in the fall of 1851, and settled in Money Creek Township, where for one year he worked rented land. In the winter of 1852, he purchased eighty acres of land on Section 5, Towanda Township, where he has since made his home. He is the owner of blocks 3, 4, 5 and 6, Towanda Village, and also 240 acres two and one-half miles west of Gilman, Illinois, in Iroquois County. He has good improvements on his farms and has the satisfaction of knowing that there has never been a mortgage upon his property or a judgement against him. Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Miss Mary J., daughter of Charles and Mary Moots, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Her parents after marriage first settled in Logan County, Ohio, whence they removed to Champaign County, the same State. The father died in the former county, and the mother in the latter. Of the children, five sons and four daughters, Mrs. Moore was the fourth in order of birth. She first saw light In Champaign County, Ohio, January 25, 1825. Of her union with our subject eleven children have been born, four of whom died in infancy. The living are Mary E., William T., Warren, Rhoda, John L., Charles and Raphael. Mary is the wife of George J. Rexroth, and they are living in Napoleon, Ohio; William T. married Ellen Cary, and they are residents of Iroquois County, Illinois; Warren became the husband of Miss Mary L. Knowlton, and they live in Onarga, Iroquois Co., Illinois; Rhoda and H. S. Ford were united in marriage and are residents of Atlanta, Illinois; John married Miss Kittie Johnston and they live in Iroquois County, Illinois; Charles and Miss Luella Leach were married and are at present residing at Ft. Scott, Kansas; Raphael is the only one of the children living at home. Mr. Moore was appointed the first Postmaster of Towanda, under the administration of President Pierce. He assisted in laying the township out into school districts, and served as Trustee for eight years. He also held the offices of Township Treasurer and Justice of the Peace for four years. He has settled eight different estates during his life, all of them in this county. About 1857, Mr. Moore formed a partnership with Edwin Reeves, a brother of Judge
May have been living in Fountain, Indiana in the 1850 Census
1860 United States Federal Census about W D Moore Name: W D Moore Age in 1860: 38 Birth Year: abt 1822 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1860: Towanda, McLean, Illinois Gender: Male Post Office: Towanda Value of real estate: View image Household Members: Name Age W D Moore 38 Mary J Moore 36 Mary Moore 12 Thomas Moore 10 Warren Moore 7 Rhoda Moore 5 John Moore 2/12
1870 United States Federal Census about William Moore Name: William Moore Birth Year: abt 1822 Age in 1870: 48 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1870: Towanda, McLean, Illinois Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Towanda Household Members: Name Age William Moore 48 Mary J Moore 45 Mary E Moore 22 Warren Moore 18 Rhoda Moore 13 John E Moore 12 Charlie Moore 7 Rapp Moore 3
1880 United States Federal Census about William Moore Name: William Moore Home in 1880: Towanda, McLean, Illinois Age: 56 Estimated birth year: abt 1824 Birthplace: Ohio Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Mary J. Father's birthplace: Wales Occupation: Farmer Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age William Moore 56 Mary J. Moore 56 Charles Moore 17 Raphael Moore 13
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