John Moore
If a lifetime of business activity terminating in success, from every standpoint, deserves to be remembered in these pages, then are we doubly justified in inserting a brief sketch of John Moore. Of his ancestry, we know nothing, but his name evidently signifies his Irish origin. He was born near Richmond, Va., in 1780, at a time when the colonies were struggling against the tyranny of England, in that bitter contest for independence. We learn that in early manhood, he was in the habit of making periodical trips to the Northwest Territory, on hunting expeditions and in this way became familiar with the country, now embraced in Madison County. At what particular date he located permanently here is not even known by his only surviving child, but we are convinced it was early in the present century, as he was instrumental in finding the relatives of Jonathan Alder, who was then living with his Indian wife on Big Darby, and went to Virginia with John Moore, where he found his mother and brothers whom he had not seen since his early boyhood. Upon the organization of Madison County in 1810, Mr. Moore was elected Sheriff, and served from 1810-13; was County Collector in 1810-11, and Clerk and Recorder, respectively, from June and July, 1815, until his death, June 27, 1839. He married Dorcas Phifer, of London, who became the mother of two children—Eliza and Caroline. The latter died in childhood, the former married Joseph Chrisman, a leading merchant of London, who died leaving no issue. His widow still survives him and resides in Topeka, Kan., although the owner of a large estate in this county. Politically, Mr. Moore was a stanch Democrat and an ardent admirer of Andrew Jackson. He was one of the pioneer merchants of London, which business he carried on in later years, in the present residence of Stephen Watson, which he erected in 1833. He was also an extensive stock-dealer and one of the largest land-owners of Madison County. As already stated, he died June 27, 1839, his widow surviving him until November 2, 1870, aged seventy years. Both are sleeping side by side in Oak Hill Cemetery, where free from the cares of a life of activity and usefulness devoted to the welfare and prosperity of his adopted county, rest the remains of an honest, successful citizen, a Christian and a patriot.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]