George A. purchased a large tract of land from the
government. He donated a parcel of the land to the Apple
River Mission, later known as the Mt. Carroll circuit, and
now known as the Woodland United Brethren Church,
with provisions that a fence be built and maintained
around the cemetery. Jacob attended the Common
Schools in Mt. Carroll along with his brothers and sisters.
In 1861, during the call to arms for the Civil War,
Jacob and his brother, Harlan, played the fife and drums
at the Court House Square to arouse the patriotic fervor of
other young men. They became so enthusiastic they ran
away to Galena (the County Seat of JoDaviess County) to
enlist; only to find they were much too young. Before
returning home, they purchased a statuette of a soldier to
give their mother as a peace offering. George A. Jr., a
brother, who was seven years older than Jacob enlisted in
1864 and served his Country. He was honorably
discharged, then married, and settled in Grundy County,
Iowa. Jacob and Harlan remained at home to help their
father on the farm.
In 1877, Jacob married Anna Durham, a school teacher,
who had attended Shimer Seminary, and taught
Henderson School near the Woodland Church. To this
union was born two children, George Ernest and Ethel
Tone. Tone never married and devoted her life to her
parents. She was an excellent seamstress and a fine
needlework artist. She was active in the Woman's Relief
Corp, the Royal Neighbors of America, and the First
Baptist Church in Mt. Carroll of which she was a member.
Ernest was a carpenter-contractor by trade. He built
many barns in and around Mt. Carroll and designed and
built many homes of the Frank Lloyd Wright style of
architecture. An example of his woodwork finishing can be
found in the dining hail interior of the Caroline Mark
Home in Mt. Carroll. He designed and built the power
plant at Shimer College. Later he was employed by the
T.D. Hobson & Son, Contractors of South Chicago, who
built McKee Hall on Shimer Campus. Mr. Hobson was so
impressed by his ability to draw and read blue prints that
he persuaded him to assist in building the Dalton School
in Chicago and other schools and churches. His hobbies
were photography, bookkeeping, truck farming and
upholstering.
Ione and Ernest were both accomplisted musicians. In
addition to playing for many celebrations and dances, he
was pianist for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of
which he was a member. He was also first violinist in the
IOOF orchestra.
In 1910 Ernest married Cora M. Somerville of
Berreman Township, JoDaviess County. They were the
parents of six children. Helen and Jeannette, who reside
with their mother in Freeport, Mrs. Wayne (Thelma)
Frederick of Stockton, Iffinois, Mrs. Don (Irma)
Berkbigler of Freeport, Mrs. Thomas (Virginia) Fritz, Mt.
Carroll. and Ernest M. Moore of Elroy, Illinois.
Source: A Goodly Heritage Supplement #1 Spring 1975
Jacob M. Moore, son of George A. Moore, one of nine
children, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and
was brought to northwest Illinois at the age of six weeks
in a covered wagon. During the long journey, his mother
cradled him in her arms sitting in a rush-woven rocker
built for the occasion by the father. The last stop for the
wagon train was at Knox's Mill (now Milledgeville) to rest
and to feed and water their teams. They settled in Carroll
County just north of the former Harry Brudi farm where
