The office of county superintendent of schools is one of great
importance, and fortunate are teachers and pupils when the place is
filled by an individual who is in full sympathy with the public school
system and amply qualified by education and experience for the
responsibilities involved. The people of Macoupin county may truly be
congratulated so far as the superintendent of schools is concerned, as
the present incumbent is a man of large and practical experience, whose
principal interest is centered in the schools. The fact that he is now
serving a second term of four years is evidence of appreciation on the
part of taxpayers.
Robert Christian Moore is a native of
Carlinville township, Macoupin county, born August 4, 1870, a son of
Thomas Guthrie and Sarah Ann (Villman) Moore, The father was born in
Macoupin county and the mother in Ohio. In their family were six
children, four of whom are now living: Robert Christian, of this review;
M. Bessie, who is assistant county superintendent of schools; Nellie
Isabel, the wife of Harry Bolinger, of Newton, Illinois; and George
Wilbur, a mining engineer of Gillespie.
The father of our
subject was reared in Carlinville township, and is still living there,
having passed his entire life of seventy-three years on the same farm.
He has taken an active part in the promotion of the best interests of
the township, and has served as supervisor and also as school trustee
and school director. Mrs. Moore came to Macoupin county when she was
about fifteen years of age, and she has spent fifty-five years in this
county. She is a consistent member of the Methodist church. The paternal
grandfather of our subject was Robert Moore. He was born in Kentucky and
was a pioneer of Macoupin county, arriving in this section in an ox
wagon when the country was still open and largely unoccupied. His wife
was Elizabeth Williams. Her parents moved from Maryland to Virginia and
then to Kentucky, where they spent the remainder of their lives. She was
married to Mr. Moore in Kentucky. Her husband died from cholera in 1851,
but she lived to an advanced age. In their family were five children:
Thomas G.; James; Henry, who died in the Union army at the time of the
Civil war: Martha; and Nancy. The great-grandfather of our subject was
Thomas G. Moore, who married Edith Trent. The grandfather on the
maternal side was Christian Villman, a native of Germany, his mother
being of French parentage. He came to America and married Mary Fisher,
who was born in Ohio. They arrived in Macoupin county in the early days,
where he gained quite a reputation as a hunter. He started for Pikes
Peak on a hunting expedition and was never heard of again. There were
three children in his family, Joseph, Jacob and Sarah Ann.
Mr.
Moore of this sketch was reared on his father’s farm, four miles
northeast of Carlinville, and in the district schools he secured his
preliminary educational training. Later he attended the state normal
school, and he has largely extended his knowledge by private study and
observation. He taught school for three years in the rural districts,
one year as assistant principal at Girard, two years as principal at
Plainview, six years as principal at Palmyra, one year as principal at
Manchester, and for three years served as city superintendent of schools
at Staunton. The entire period of sixteen years was spent in Macoupin
county except one year at Manchester. In 1903 he was awarded a state
certificate, which is granted only to teachers of recognized standing
and high scholarship. He was elected county superintendent of schools of
Macoupin county in 1906, and discharged his duties so acceptably that he
was reelected in 1910 and is now occupying the position.
On the
12th of July, 1894, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Pauline C. Werse, a
daughter of Daniel and Dorothea (Lentz) Werse. Three children have been
born to this union, Dorothy Ann, Paul Robert and Harold Guthrie. Mrs.
Moore is a native of Carlinville and her parents were born in Germany.
Her father is deceased, but her mother is still living. In their family
were seven children, Annie, William, Minnie, Pauline, Zena, Edward and
Theodore. Mrs. Werse had been previously married to a Mr. Hundredmark,
and to this union three children were born, Dora, Mary and Henry.
Mrs. Moore is a stanch member of the Lutheran church. Fraternally
Mr. Moore belongs to Staunton Lodge, No. 177, A. F. & A. M., and
Macoupin Chapter. No. 95, R. A. M. He is also a member of the Eastern
Star, Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. P., the Modern Woodmen of America and the
Court of Honor. Although an adherent of the democratic party he is not
strictly partisan, as his interest is centered in his life work. He
served as township assessor one term in Staunton township. From the
beginning of his active career he has shown an energy and
progressiveness that have been highly creditable; he also shows a
knowledge of human nature which is an essential requisite of the
successful teacher. As a school manager he has succeeded admirably, and
today it would be difficult to find in Illinois a more capable or
conscientious educator than the gentleman whose name introduces this
review.
Extracted 20 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 215-217.
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