MOORE, SAMUEL. - Mining and mines represent such a large share of the interests of Sangamon County, that no review of it would be complete without the names of some of the men identified with this vast industry. An experienced mining man is Samuel Moore, manager of the Springfield Co-Operative Mine, who is living at No. 1619 North Eighth Street, Springfield. He was born in St. Clair, three miles from Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pa., June 17, 1854, the fourth son of John and Grace (Lamb) Moore, natives of Durham County, England, the former born August 14, 1810, and the latter in 1816.

John Moore started to work in the mines in his native country when very young, was there married to Grace Lamb, the family coming to the United States in 1836 and settling in Schuylkill County, Pa., but a few years later removing to Mahonoy City, where Mr. Moore helped to open up the mines of the St. Clair Valley. At that time there were no railroads, but after a railroad had been constructed between that point and Port Carbon, the miners loaded their cars and sent them to the canal boats, where the product was disposed of. Mr. Moore rose to be a mine boss, a coal contractor and the owner of a small mine, and during his later years made a trip to Iowa and Illinois, mining in these States for a short time. His death occurred in 1897, he having survived his wife some twenty years. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children were Thomas, a member of the Second Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War, died at the age of fifty-two years; Frank, deceased; John, in Colorado; John; and Mary, George and William, deceased.

Samuel Moore had little chance to secure an education, as the Civil War had taken so many men away that teachers were hard to secure, and, as a consequence, he is self-educated. At the age of nine years he went to work picking slate at the mines, and at the age of twelve years began working inside the mines, pumping air to the men. He then became a mule driver, later a laborer, and finally a full-fledged miner. In February, 1876, he came to Springfield and went to work in the old North Mine, and after one year there began traveling through different States, but in 1880 again came to Springfield, where he has since resided. In 1888 he took the contract for sinking the Capitol Mine, and in 1892 sunk a mine at Selbytown. He sunk the mine for the Junction Coal Company, and opened up the big Jones and Adams mines near the Fair Grounds. At this work he is an expert, but has also done much mine repair work. In September 1908, he accepted his present position as Manager of the Springfield Co-Operative Mine.

Mr. Moore was married in Springfield, September 7, 1882, to Miss Rebecca Roy, of Springfield, daughter of John Roy, and to this union children have been born as follows: Grace, William R., Elsie, Elmer, twin of Elsie, Arthur, John, Samuel, Anne, George, Clifford and Walter. Mr. Moore is a Presbyterian in his religious belief. He is a stanch Republican in politics and his fraternal connection is with the Knights of Pythias.