Samuel Moore From History of Grant County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 914.

PLATTEVILLE

SAMUEL MOORE, Platteville. Mr. Moore was born near Mt. Vernon, Ind., Nov. 19, 1814; he came from Kentucky stock, his parents having removed from that State to Indiana some time previous to his birth. He remained at Mt. Vernon until he had attained his 20th year, obtaining a good common-school education, and afterward learning the trade of gunsmith, besides attaining a proficiency in iron-working, which stood him in good stead when, later, he came to the then Territory of Michigan; this move was made in the spring of the year 1834. Young Moore came at once to what is now known as Grant Co., and located at Platteville, and, during the several decades which have blazed forth and burned for their brief space then faded away only to be forgotten, Mr. Moore has remained a resident of this, the first place of his selection. Young Moore at once started in business, opening a blacksmith-shop, which trade he practiced for the seven years following; ill health caused an abandonment of this trade, and, in 1843, he engaged in the mercantile business; from this time until 1860, Mr. Moore's store was one of the prominent institutions of the kind in the town; Mr. Moore's attention had been early attracted toward manufacturing, and previous to that date, namely, in 1854, he had started a linseed oil mill with fiber works in connection, near the site of his present hotel; in order to devote more attention to this business, he closed out his stock of goods and devoted his whole time to his manufacturing interests; in 1862, after closing out these interests, Mr. Moore was elected County Treasurer, which position he held two terms, giving most general satisfaction, and retiring with honor at the expiration of his second term. Hardly had he shaken off the cares of office before, in connection with Mr. Hamner Robbins, he entered upon the work that resulted in bringing the present "broad gauge" road into Platteville, and giving that village for the first time, after the failure of many schemes, railroad communication with the outside world. To Mr. Moore and his co-worker belongs the honor of having accomplished a seeming impossibility. The first moneys needed in the early beginnings of this line were furnished by these two gentlemen. For the six years following, Mr. Moore was closely connected with the line, but, at the close of that time, injuries which he had received necessitated his withdrawal from active business. Upon the recovery of Mr. Moore from his injuries, some years later, he devoted his time to the supervision of his own private matters until October, 1880, when he took possession of the Gates House, which hotel is owned by him, and is at present engaged in the congenial task of landlord.
     But few men now living in Grant Co. can show a longer continuous residence in the county, and, as one of the "old residenters," Mr. Moore takes a deep pride and interest in everything bearing on the county's welfare. In addition to his service as County Treasurer, he was twice elected President of the village of Platteville, and twice Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors. In 1837, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Ann Snowden, of England; three children were the fruit of this union, one son and two daughters, of whom but one daughter (Mr. McCarn) is still living.

 


This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.