SAMUEL A. MOORE, of Lee township, was born in the State of North Carolina, in 1820. His father was William Moore, a farmer and blacksmith, who emigrated from North Carolina to Indiana when about sixty years of age. He settled on a farm in Monroe county, where he resided some fifteen years, when he again sold and moved to Illinois, in the fall of 1852. He died on his farm near Kingston, when about eighty-five years old. His wife was Margaret Summers, born near Baltimore, and died when nearly eighty years old. They left what was considered a good estate at that time.

Samuel had but little schooling, as there were no public schools where he was reared. His parents had but a small farm, but did the best they could for their children. He worked by the day and month for some years, and was married at twenty-six years of age, in Indiana, to Sarah, daughter of John and Agnes (Jones) Goodnight. They were farmers and moved to McDonough county, Illinois, about two years after Mr. and Mrs. Moore came to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Moore started with no means when they were married and they worked rented lands three years near Bloomington, the county seat of Monroe county. They then started with a pair of horses, a covered lumber wagon, bedding, furniture and clothing, all that they could draw for a new home. They camped nights in their tent, which they brought along. They drove two milch cows, and had a pleasant journey of some three weeks. They settled in Adams county where they now have a good farm of 240 acres and other lands there, making 720 acres in this part of Illinois. They have seven living children: A. W., of Chicago, a stock dealer in the Exchange building; Elizabeth, at home with her parents; Esther Ann, wife of J. H. Amran, a farmer of Lee township; Sarah M., wife of I. M. Sout, of Ripley, Illinois; Paris D. is on the old homestead; S. D. remains on the old farm, and Mary E. is still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Moore, with most of the children, are professors of the Christian faith. Mr. Moore is a Democrat. He never sought office, but was made Supervisor of the township, and for sixteen years a director of the County Agricultural Society.