The Moore Family

The Moore Family. . , The Moore family left a distinguished mark on Waterloo's history., Some time after settlement at Bellefontaine had been made, Captain James Moore, having established to some degree amicable relations with the Indians, took steps toward founding a business of barter with them. Moore formed a partnership with a wealthy French merchant, Gabriel Cerre, of St. Louis. Just as their efforts were met with success, Capt. James Moore died in 1788, aged 38. , Upon the settlement of his affairs, Cerre was said to have withheld the partnership assets from Moore's wife, who was left with six children, the eldest being fourteen and the youngest an infant. All neighbors and friends came to her help and put in her crop, so her children could stay at Bellefontaine. , Upon the settlement of his affairs, Cerre was said to have withheld the partnership assets from Moore's wife, who was left with six children, the eldest being fourteen and the youngest an infant. All neighbors and friends came to her help and put in her crop, so the her children could stay at Bellefontaine. , The oldest son of Captain James Moore was John Moore, born in Maryland in 1773. He married Elizabeth Whiteside in 1794. He settled north of Waterloo and became a lieutenant in the Illinois militia in the company of rangers during the War of 18 12. Later he became the first treasurer of Monroe County and was the coroner from 1816 to 1818. , William and Benjamin, the two next sons of the pioneer, died early in life. , The fourth son, James Biggs Moore, was born in Virginia in 1780. For some years, he traded on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers between New Orleans and Pittsburg. Realizing financial success, he settled three miles northeast of the present site of Waterloo on what was known as the tanyard farm. Here he invested in the tanning business, which was said to be the largest west of the Alleghenies. He organized a company of rangers in the War of 18 12 under Gov. Ninian Edwards. On his return, Capt. Moore was appointed the first sheriff of Monroe County. Later he represented the county in the State Legislature. After his term, he established a mill on Prairie du Long Creek and a carding factory near his own homestead. He died at the tanyard farm in 1840. , The convention that framed the first constitution of the Town of Waterloo. He died in 1848. Some time after settlement at Bellefontaine had been made, Captain James Moore, having established to some degree amicable relations with the Indians, took steps toward founding a business of barter with them. Moore formed a partnership with a wealthy French merchant, Gabriel Cerre, of St. Louis. Just as their efforts were met with success, Capt. James Moore died in 1788, aged 38. Upon the settlement of his affairs, Cerre was said to have withheld the partnership assets from Moore's wife, who was left with six children, the eldest being fourteen and the youngest an infant. All neighbors and friends came to her help and put in her crop, so the her children could stay at Bellefontaine. The oldest son of Captain James Moore was John Moore, born in Maryland in 1773. He married Elizabeth Whiteside in 1794. He settled north of Waterloo and became a lieutenant in the Illinois militia in the company of rangers during the War of 18 12. Later he became the first treasurer of Monroe County and was the coroner from 1816 to 1818. William and Benjamin, the two next sons of the pioneer, died early in life. The fourth son, James Biggs Moore, was born in Virginia in 1780. For some years, he traded on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers between New Orleans and Pittsburg. Realizing financial success, he settled three miles northeast of the present site of Waterloo on what was known as the tanyard farm. Here he invested in the tanning business, which was said to be the largest west of the Alleghenies. He organized a company of rangers in the War of 18 12 under Gov. Ninian Edwards. On his return, Capt. Moore was appointed the first sheriff of Monroe County. Later he represented the county in the State Legislature. After his term, he established a mill on Prairie du Long Creek and a carding factory near his own homestead. He died at the tanyard farm in 1840. , Enoch Moore, the fifth son, was born at Bellefontaine in 1783 and is said to have been first Caucasian American child born in the State of Illinois. Enoch became a surveyor, and much of government surveying in this part of Illinois was done under his direction. About 1803 he married Miss Mary Whiteside. During the War of 18 12 he was a private in the company of rangers commanded by his brother. He was a delegate to the convention that framed the first constitution of Illinois. In 1818, he platted the town of Waterloo. He died in 1848 , Mary Moore, the sixth child, and only daughter, was born at Bellefontaine in 1784. She was married to Col. David Robinson on December 4, 1806., J. Milton Moore, the youngest son, was born in 1786 at Bellefontaine. While a young boy, he accompanied an uncle, Zaccheus Biggs, to his Virginia home, where he was educated. Soon after he was 16, he was made surveyor of St. Clair County. He served in the rangers in the War of 18 12, married Miss Mary Clarke in 1814 and they lived on the original site at Bellefontaine. The grant of 400 acres, claim 220, survey 394, covering the spring, remained in the possession of the J. Milton Moore heirs to and including the fifth generation.