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 222-223

Elder Eugene L. Moore, the subject of this sketch, is a native of New Jersey, born in Sussex county, March 14, 1827, but when about eight years of age he emigrated with his parents, Benjamin G. and Mary B. (Cone) Moore, to Illinois and settled in Canton. They traveled by means of horse teams and were nine weeks making the journey. They lived in Canton several years during which time his father superintended the placing of the machinery in the first wooden mill in the city.While here Mr. Moore united with the Baptist church of Canton and has remained a member of the denomination ever since. He later moved to a farm near Monmouth, in Warren county. At this time our subject had already secured a good education, having completed a course in an academy and taken special lessons of Rev. Charles Button, then conducting a school in Canton and who afterward became a noted Baptist preacher in the west. There were eight children in the family, seven sons and one daughter of whom Eugene was next to the youngest. It was the intention that the youngest son, John, should operate the home farm and care for his aged parents, while Eugene should complete his literary course and prepare for the ministry, but the former decided differently and entered Shurtliff college, where he was graduated and became a minister. He had previously served an apprenticeship to the carriage maker's trade.

Mr. Moore of this reveiw was thus compelled to stay at home and look after the farm. However, he did not give up his purpose of entering the ministry, but continued preparatory studies under several leading clergymen, and began preaching to the Union and Young America (now Kirkwood) churches in Warren county. In 1865 he removed from Monmouth to Kewanee and was ordained at that place, becoming one of the leaders of the denomination in the field of his activity.

In 1869 he removed to Neponset where he resided twelve years, seven years of the time occupying the position of pastor of the Baptist church, where he succeeded in building up a good churc and the erection of a substantial house of worship. His fields of labor have been principally withn a radius of one hundred miles of Buda. In nearly every place he has either built a church or repaired one already standing. He has labored long and earnestly in the Master's vineyard, giving his time almost wholly for the betterment of mankind and to advance the moral welfare of the communities in shich he has resided. Not being dependent upon his salary, he has refused to accept many charges where financially, he could have done better, in order to strengthen and give his support to weak and struggling congregations. Being compelled to retire from the pastorate on account of failing health he removed from Neponsest to Buda in 1880, where he has since resided, part of the time supplying pastorless churches.

On the first of January, 1851, Rev. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Osee M. Alward, of Fulton county, Illinois, who was also a  native of New Jersey. Eight children were born to them, three of whom died when young. The others are as follows: Laura E., who received her education in the Kewanee public school and academy, is the wife of Orson P. Bestor, a Baptist minister of Wisconsin, who is a graduate of Brown university and also the Theological Seminary of Chicago. They have two children, Hattie A., educated in Kewanee and Neponset high schools, is the wife of Benjamin F. Waite, a merchant of Buda, Illinois; Emma J. received a liberal education in the high school, spent three years in the old Rock River university of Dixon, Illinois, and afterward pursued special lines of study under private instructors.She successfully engaged in teaching for a short time when she left the work and accepted the position of bookkeeper for B. F. Waite. She now, while holding an interest in the firm of H. M. Waite & Co., is presiding over the home. Carrie S., a graduate of the Buda high shcool, read medicine for two years then entered Wayland academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where she took a literary course. Subsequently she was a student in the University of Chicago, graduating with the class of 1896. She has been elected professor of science at Wayland, where she also holds the position of preceptress, but still intends to complete her medical course; Ida Eugenia, who is a graduate of the Buda high school and also Beloit academy is now attending school in Chicago. Cultured, refine and pleasant, the family is one of prominence, holding a high position in social circles where tru worth and intelligence are received as passports into good society.

The wife and mother passed away in April, 1890, and her death was widely and deeply mourned.

Since voting for Fremont in 1856, Mr. Moore has been an ardent republican, though he was reared a democrat, his father being of that party.