MOSES B. CONDELL. - Moses B. Condell, a retired farmer living in Springfield, was born in Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, on the 10th of November, 1839. His father, Thomas Condell, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and crossed the Atlantic to the United States in his early boyhood with his parents, who settled in Philadelphia, where the grandfather became a wholesale and retail dealer in queensware. In early manhood Thomas Condell removed to Carrollton, Illinois, where he followed merchandising. He married Elizabeth H. Bledsoe, who was born in Kentucky and who, in early girlhood became a resident of Greene county, Illinois, where she grew to womanhood and was married. This worthy couple are represented on another page of this work.

Moses B. Condell was brought to Sangamon county, Illinois, at the age of three years and pursued his preliminary education in the common schools. Subsequently he entered the Illinois College, a Lutheran school, and afterward went to St. Louis, where he attended the Jesuit College, a Catholic institution. Later he matriculated in the Jubilee College, an Episcopal school near Peoria, Illinois, in which he was graduated. After putting aside his text books he began farming in Macon county in partnership with William P. Ousley, remaining there for a year. He then again located in Springfield, and his father gave him an interest in a dry goods store, in which he entered into partnership with his uncle, John S. Condell, under the firm style of J.S. & M.B. Condell, a relation that was maintained for four years, at the end of which time both partners sold out. In 1864 Mr. Condell, of this review, embarked in the commission business, purchasing wool and grain. He followed that pursuit for two years and then disposed of his enterprise, at which time he became bookkeeper in the Marine Bank. After filling that position for a year he went to Kansas, his father having purchased six thousand acres of land in that state. Mr. Condell made his way to the west in company with his two brothers and acted as manager of the business interests for a year. Again he returned to Sangamon county and afterward engaged in farming on a tract of land comprising three hundred and eight acres, belonging to his wife, who received this as a gift from her father. Upon that farm Mr. and Mrs. Condell remained for thirty years. The land is very valuable, being underlaid with coal, while the surface soil is rich and productive, yielding splendid harvests. In 1895 Mr. Condell retired from the farm and again took up his abode in Springfield, where he is now living a retired life. He has rented a part of the farm, however, while the remainder is operated under his personal supervision, and although he has practically put aside business cares he yet superintends his agricultural and general business interests.

On the 25th of September, 1861, in Springfield, Mr. Condell was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Edwards, who was born in this city. August 25, 1840, and is a daughter of Judge B. S. Edwards, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. Eight children have been born of this union, of whom five are now living: Thomas, who resides in Judge Edwards' home; Helen, who is with her parents; Eliza B., who resides at the Judge Edwards' home; Alice, the wife of Theodore S. McCoy, who is the secretary to the secretary of state and resides in Springfield with his wife and two children, Henry C. and Helena E.; and Mary S., the wife of Noble Hudson, a druggist of this city. Mr. Condell gives his political allegiance to the Republican party. He and his family are prominent among the representative residents of Springfield, he being recognized as one of the substantial and enterprising citizens here, and along business lines that any may follow he has gained success, winning a financial return which is a just reward of his labor.