Moro Township

Moro Township

Started with the building of the railroad through here in 1853. It was first called Hampton, and was laid out on the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 32, and blocks 34 and 35, on the southeast quarter of section 31, by James H. Smith and James Montgomery, and plat recorded March 7, 1855. August 23 of the same year, the same parties made a small addition, replatted the town, and named it Moro.

Hugh and James F. Smith built a frame store-house soon after the road was completed, and put in a general stock of goods. The next house was a residence, built by Samuel Smith, a frame two story and a-half dwelling.

Lowder Tatman, Peter Hassinger, Mrs. Matilda Dorsey, and several others began building about the same time, and, in a year or two, quite a nice little village had sprung up. A large general warehouse, for shipping purposes, was also soon erected by James Montgomery.

In 1856, James Montgomery and Hugh Smith erected a large frame three story steam flouringmill, with a run of three burrs. It did a good business until the winter of 1870- '71, when it was destroyed by fire.

The old school Presbyterian church, a frame structure erected in 1852, was the first and only house of worship built in the village. It stands just across the township line in Fort Russell. There is a good one story brick district school-house located about three-quarters of a mile north of the town. It was built in 1880, and cost $2500. First black, smith was Mr. Skiles.

Present Business

Brick Yard- - Henry De Werff. about three quarters of a mile north from the village, manufactures a very fine quality of brick. Has a well arranged yard with kiln, and burns about 140,000 brick per year.

There are two or three coal mines, operated by horsepower, in the vicinity of Moro. The vein is about five feet thick, and coal is found about thirty feet from the surface.

Biography

Was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 28th, 1833, being the son of Samuel and Eliza Forman. When an infant, his mother died. His father married again, and in 1845 emigrated to America, with his wife and two children, William C. and Alfred. Samuel Forman came directly to Madison county, and settled in Fort Russell township, where he still remains, having followed the profession of farming since the period of his arrival in this country. The subject of this sketch remained at home with his father until his nineteenth year; he then went west, and for nine years was principally engaged in mining ope>-ations in Nevada, which proved very successful. Immediately after Mr. Forman's return from the mines he sought an opportunity for investing his capital, and became the owner of the farm he now occupies, in Moro township, formerly known as the Nimrod Dorsey farm. An illustration of the same can be seen on another page of this work. Mr. Forman has confined himself exclusively to fiirming operations since his return from the West, and has his land in an excellent state of cultivation. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Tipton, daughter of Elijah Tipton, a former resident of Macoupin county. By this union there has been born a family of fi)ur children, Samuel E , William, Nellie, May and Sarah. Politically Mr. Forman is a staunch Republican.

Source changes here: from Centennial History of Madison County, Illinois, and Its People, 1812 to 1912, by Norton, Wilbur T, published 1912; 36 words in this source stream.

Chapter Lxviii

Floods in Nameoki Township - Famous Prehistoric Mounds - First American Settlers - Meaning of Nameoki - Venice Township - Venice Village - the Village of Madi¬ son - Granite City (Pittsburgh of the West). 572