JOHN W. MOORE. - John W. Moore, who at one time was actively associated with the development of the coal interests of this portion of the state and is now living retired, was born in County Durham, England, in the year 1842, his parents being Martin L. and Mary (Wear) Moore. It was in the year 1844 that they crossed the Atlantic to the United States, arriving in New York city, whence they made their way to Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Moore was employed in the mines.

John W. Moore at the early age of ten years also began work in the mines and followed that pursuit in connection with his father until he had attained his twenty-fourth year. His school days therefore were few. He acquired a fair education in the night schools and has always been a reader of good literature, so that his knowledge has thus been continuously increased and today he is a well informed man. Both his father and mother died while residing in the mining region of Schuylkill county, and in 1866 Mr. Moore of this review came to the west, settling in Will county, Illinois, where he was also engaged in coal mining. In 1867 he came to Springfield and soon afterward was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Erisman, a daughter of Jacob Erisman, who was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania.

Following this important event in his life, Mr. Moore became interested in a co-operative coal company which was organized in 1874, at which time he was chosen its secretary and superintendent, and in the former post he continued to serve until 1884. The following year he leased the mine known as the Black Diamond mine, situated two miles south of Springfield, and operated it successfully for ten years under a lease, but when that decade had passed and the lease expired he purchased a half-interest in the property and enlarged and extended the business. It was then that he entered into partnership with Robert Saloman and there coal mining operations were continued under the firm name of Moore & Saloman, this partnership being maintained until May, 1902, when Mr. Moore sold his interest to Mr. Saloman and withdrew from business, as far as the active control of mining properties is concerned. However, he is financially interested in the Wilmington & Springfield Coal Company, and also owns other property in and around this city.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born two children: Robert G., who is employed as a collector in the First National Bank of Springfield, and Estelle, who is the wife of Professor Thomas M. Kilbride, who is principal of the Stuart School of Springfield. They have three children, a son and two daughters.

While Mr. Moore has never sought or desired office he is a stanch Republican with firm faith in the principles of the party and in its ultimate success. he has prospered in his business career and owes his success in no small degree to his close application to the business in which as a boy he embarked. He gained thorough knowledge of coal mining in all its departments, became able to recognize the possibilities of yield in coal mines and his investments being thus judiciously made he realized handsomely from his property and is today one of the substantial men of the city. There has been no element of chance or of fortunate environment in his career, his dependence being placed upon the substantial qualities of industry, energy and diligence.