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CAPT. JOHN RILEY MOSS. In the death of the honored subject of this memoir on the 2d day of October, 1908, there passed from earth another member of the group of distinctively representative men who were instrumental in building up the material interests of Jefferson county and leaders in those things, which made for the social and intellectual advancement of their respective communities. His name is familiar, not alone to the representative people of the county to whose development and progress he contributed so conspicuously, but to all who are informed concerning the history of Southern Illinois. A pioneer of this state and for many years one of the foremost men of the section of country honored by his citizenship, Capt. John Riley MOSS impressed his individuality upon the times in which he lived and his long connection with the growth and prosperity of his native [???] >From the most reliable data obtainable the Moss family is supposed to be of Norse or Scandinavian origin, although its first representative in America came from England early in the colonial period, and settled at various points along the New England coast. The Captain's immediate ancestors migrated to the South a number of years ago and were among the sterling yeomanry of North Carolina, his father, Ransom MOSS, having been a native of that state and his mother, Anna (JOHNSON) MOSS, of Louisa county, Virginia. Ransom MOSS was twice married, his first wife, Susan AVANT, who came to Illinois from Tennessee in 1818, with her husband and settled in what is now Shiloh township, Jefferson county, being the first woman laid to rest in the old Shiloh cemetery, one of the first places in the county consecrated to the burial of the dead. Mr. Moss and wife were among the first settlers of the above township and figured conspicuously in the early history of the community, which they helped to establish. Anna JOHNSON became the wife of Mr. Moss on his second marriage, the two wives bearing him nine children in all, the Captain being one of the youngest of the family and a small boy when his father died. Capt. John Riley MOSS was born May 13, 1830. on the old home place in Shiloh township, Jefferson county, and, as already stated, was a mere child when his widowed mother assumed the responsibility of the family by reason of his father's untimely death. Reared to agricultural pursuits and early obliged to contribute to the support of his mother he spent his youthful years in close touch with the soil and was enabled to obtain but a limited education in such indifferent schools as the country in those days afforded. On reaching the years of manhood he selected agriculture for his vocation and in due time became one of the leading farmers of his township and perhaps the largest stock raiser of the county, being the first man to introduce Cotswold sheep, Jersey cattle and the Berkshire breed of hogs into this part of Illinois and leading the way to a general improvement in the matter of live stock among the farmers of the county. He was enterprising in all the term implies and as a farmer and stock raiser had few equals and no superiors, cultivating the soil by the most approved methods and taking advanced grounds in arousing and maintaining an interest in progressive agriculture. His financial success was commensurate with the energy, judgment and foresight displayed in his undertakings and in due time he became not only one of the well-to-do farmers of the county, but also one of the leading men of affairs and public-spirited citizens. Consequently it naturally followed that he should become one of the promoters and organizers of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, which for a number of years gave annual exhibitions of live stock and farm products and accomplished much for improvement along those lines. When the safety of the government was put in jeopardy by armed forces of rebellion, Mr. MOSS was among the first Jefferson county's patriotic sons to tender his services to the Union and not long after his enlistment in Company C, Sixtieth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, he was at the front discharging his duty as became a gallant defender of the nation's honor and sharing the fortunes and dangers of war under many trying and hazardous circumstances. Immediately after the organization of Company C he was made its captain and as such served with an honorable record until discharged by reason of disability in 1863. On September 5th of the following year he was appointed Deputy Provost Marshal of the Eleventh District and not long after taking charge of his office was put in command of a detachment of troops and ordered to take a fort on Skillet Fork river, held by a number of disloyal men, and to capture all such who were in hiding or in other ways seeking to evade military service. This duty he discharged in such a manner as to make his name a terror to the disloyal element in his district and as Supervisor of the enrolling and drafting of soldiers throughout his jurisdiction, he also rendered valuable service to the state and earned an honorable place in the category of her brave and loyal sons. He became a member of Coleman Post, No. 508, Grand Army of the Republican, of Mount Vernon, upon its organization and was active for many years in its councils, serving as commander of the same. At the time of his demise the honorary pallbearers at his funeral were selected from among his old comrades. At the close of the war Captain MOSS resumed the peaceful pursuits of civil life on his farm in Shiloh township and as stated in a preceding paragraph rose to conspicuous place among the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of the county, becoming influential in public affairs and taking a active part in the political issues of the times. His services to the Republican party made him one of its most influential leaders in the county of Jefferson, but when its policies were in his judgment unsatisfactory or failed to meet the demands of the people he did not hesitate to dissent therefrom and appeal to the bar of public opinion as was attested by his election in 1878 to the Thirty-first General Assembly as an independent candidate. His career in that body met the expectations of his friends of all parties throughout the county and proved eminently satisfactory to his constituency as well as creditable to himself. He served on a number of important committees where his judgment, knowledge and wide grasp of public questions were duly recognized and appreciated and in the general deliberations of the chamber he proved a ready and able debater and his opinions always commanded the respect of his fellow members. Captain MOSS always manifested a deep and abiding interest in the early history of his state and county, especially the latter and was one of the best informed men on the pioneer period in his part of the country. At the time of his death and for many years previous he was an active member of the Illinois State Historical Society. In recognition of his researches and other services he was made president of the Pioneers' Association of Jefferson county, in which capacity he was instrumental in arousing an interest in local history which is still maintained and by means of which much valuable information has been collected and placed on record. He also gathered much important data on the early history of Shiloh township and put it in form for future references, besides taking a leading part in promoting the intellectual advancement of the community by means of social and literary clubs, which under his judicious management resulted in considerable enthusiasm and became educational factors of wide influence. One of the most important of these societies was a debating club in which the leading citizens of the township were active participants and through which much was accomplished in developing the art of public discourse and preparing not a few young men for lives of honor and usefulness. Later the organization partook more of the character of a literary society and among its members were a number of men who have since made their mark in the world, to say nothing of the good work done in cultivating a taste for literature among the people of the community, in general. Under the leadership of Captain Moss, Shiloh easily took the lead of her sister townships in literary culture and her citizens have ever since sustained a creditable reputation for general information and a high order of intelligence. In addition to his activity and influence in organizing and maintaining for a number of years the various societies referred to, the captain was also president of the Southern Illinois Fox Hunting Association and always took delight in this means of recreation. He was a true sportsman and a liberal patron of all legitimate means for promoting an interest in outdoor amusements and to him more than to any other member was the above association indebted for its popularity, during the period of its existence. In his religious belief Captain Moss subscribed to the Methodist creed and for many years was an active and influential member of the church, having figured prominently in establishing a number of organizations in his own and other counties and risen to a position of considerable prominence in ecclesiastical circles. In all of his relations his conduct was that of an earnest and sincere disciple whose daily life was consistent with his religious profession and who ever tried to realize in himself his high ideals of Christian manhood and citizenship. The Captain was essentially a man of the people with the best interests of his fellows at heart and there were few in his county who were as universally respected or stood as high as he in the confidence and esteem of the public. Permelia C. ALLEN, who became the wife of Captain MOSS, was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, November 23, 1835. Her father, a native of Tennessee, and a prominent farmer and local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, was one of the leading citizens of the county and for many years an influential factor in public affairs. Her mother, who maiden name was Eliza DANIEL, came to Illinois from her native state of Kentucky and spent the greater part of her life in the county of Jefferson. Mrs. MOSS was a woman of many excellent traits of character, a devoted Christian and like her husband, an active worker in the local Methodist Episcopal church to which she belonged. She departed this life in Mount Vernon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rufus GRANT, on the 16th day of March, 1908, and left to mourn her loss a large circle of devoted relatives and admiring friends. The following are the names of the children born to Captain and Mrs. MOSS: Angus I., a farmer of Shiloh township; Hon. Norman H. MOSS, a leading member of the Jefferson County Bar, whose sketch appears elsewhere in these Pages; Mrs. E.W. NEAL, of Knoxville, Tennessee; Dr. Harry C. MOSS, of Albion, Illinois; Mrs. Rufus GRANT, of Mount Vernon, and Mrs. Addie May MCANALLY, deceased, first wife of Dr. John T. MCANALLY, of Carbondale, Illinois. The death of Captain MOSS, on the date mentioned in the beginning of this review, occurred at the home of his son, Dr. Harry MOSS, of Albion, and caused universal sorrow among his many friends and fellow citizens, especially those with whom he was brought into intimate relations and who had learned to appreciate his splendid powers and prize his many estimable qualities. His was indeed a life fraught with great good to the world and among his fellow citizens of Jefferson county his name will long be honored as one of the leading men of the time in which he lived and wrought. SOURCE: WALL'S HISTORY OF JEFFERSON CO - 1909
SUBMITTED BY: Misty Flannigan Capt. John Riley Moss was born May 13, 1830. on the old home place in Shiloh township, Jefferson county, and, as already stated, was a mere child when his widowed mother assumed the responsibility of the family by reason of his father's untimely death. Reared to agricultural pursuits and early obliged to contribute to the support of his mother he spent his youthful years in close touch with the soil and was enabled to obtain but a limited education in such indifferent schools as the country in those days afforded. On reaching the years of manhood he selected agriculture for his vocation and in due time became one of the leading farmers of his township and perhaps the largest stock raiser of the county, being the first man to introduce Cotswold sheep, Jersey cattle and the Berk shire breed of hogs into this part of IHinois and leading the way to a general improvement in the matter of live stock among the farmers of the county. He was enterprising in all the term implies and as a farmer and stock raiser had few equals and no superiors, cultivating the soil by the most approved methods and taking advanced grounds in arousing and maintaining an interest in progressive agriculture. His financial success was commensurate with the energy, judgment and foresight displayed in his undertakings and in due itme he became not only one of the well-to-do farmers of the county, but also one of the leading men of affairs and public-spirited citizens. Consequently it naturally followed that he should become one of the promoters and organizers of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, which for a number of years gave annual exhibitions of live stock and farm products and accomplished much for improvement along those lines. When the safety of the government was put in jeopardy by "armed forces of rebellion", Mr. Moss was among the first Jefferson county's patriotic sons to tender his services to the Union and not long after his enlistment in Company C, Sixtieth Regiment lllinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, he was at the front discharging his duty as became a gallant defender of the nation's honor and sharing the fortunes and dangers of war under many trying and hazardous circumstances. Immediately after the organization of Company C he was made its captain and as such served with an honorable record until discharged by reason of disability in 1863. On September 5th of the following year he was appointed Deputy Provost Marshal of the Eleventh District and not long after taking charge of his office was put in command of a detachment of troops and ordered to take a fort on Skillet Fork river, held by a number of disloyal men, and to capture all such who were in hiding or in other ways seeking to evade military service. This duty he discharged element in his district and as Supervisor of the enrolling and drafting of soldiers throughout his jurisdiction, he also rendered valuable service to the state and earned an honorable place in the category of her brave and loyal sons. He became a member of Coleman Post, No. 508, Grand Army of the Republican, of Mount Vernon, upon its organization and was active for many years in its councils, serving as commander of the same. At the time of his demise the honorary pallbearers at his funeral were selected from among his old comrades. At the close of the war Captain Moss resumed the peaceful pursuits of civil life on his farm in Shiloh township and as stated in a preceding paragraph rose to conspicuous place among the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of the county, becoming influential in public affairs and taking a active part in the political issues of the times. His services to the Republican party made him one of its most influential leaders in the county of Jefferson, but when its policies were in his judgment unsatisfactory or failed to meet the demands of the people he did not hesitate to dissent therefrom and appeal to the bar of public opinion as was attested by his election in 1 878 to the Thirty-first General Assembly as an independent candidate. His career in that body met the expectations of his friends of all parties throughout the county and proved eminently satisfactory to his constituency as well as creditable to himself. He served on a number of important committees where his judgment, knowledge and wide grasp of public questions were duly recognized and appreciated and in the general deliberations of the chamber he proved a ready and able debater and his opinions always commanded the respect of his fellow members. Captain Moss always manifested a deep and abiding interest in the early history of his state and county, especially the latter. and was one of the best informed men on the pioneer period in his part of the country. At the time of his death and for many years previous he was an active member of the IHinois State Historical Society. In recognition of his researches and other services he was made president of the Pioneers' Association of Jefferson county, in which capacity he was instrumental in arousing an interest in local history which is still maintained and by means of which much valuable information has been collected and placed on record. He also gathered much important data on the early history of Shiloh township and put it in form for future references, besides taking a leading part in promoting the intellectual advancement of the community by means of social and literary clubs, which under his judicious management resulted in considerable enthusiasm and became educational factors of wide influence. One of the most important of these societies was a debating club in which the leading citizens of the township were active participants and through which much was accomplished in developing the art of public discourse and preparing not a few young men for lives of honor and usefulness. Later the organization partook more of the character of a literary society and among its members were a number of men who have smce made their mark in the world, to say nothing of the good work done in cultivating a taste for literature among the people of the community, in general. Under the leadership of Captain Moss, Shiloh easily took the lead of her sister townships in literary culture and her citizens have ever since sustained a creditable reputation for general information and a high order of intelligence. In addition to his activity and influence in organizing and maintaining for a number of years the various societies referred to, the captain was also president of the Southern Illinois Fox Hunting Association and always took delight in this means of recreation. He was a true sportsman and a liberal patron of all legitimate means for promoting an interest in outdoor amusements and to him more than to any other member was the above association indebted for its popularity, during the period of its existence. In his religious behef Captain Moss subscribed to the Methodist creed and for many years was an active and influential member of the church, having figured prominently in establishing a number of organizations in his own and other counties and risen to a position of considerable prominence in ecclesiastical circles. In all of his relations his conduct was that of an earnest and sincere disciple whose daily life was consistent with his religious profession and who ever tried to realize in himself his high ideals of Christian manhood and citizenship. The Captain was essentially a man of the people with the best interests of his fellows at heart and there were few in his county who were as universally respected or stood as high as he in the confidence and esteem of the public. Permelia C. Allen, who became the wife of Captain Moss, was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, November 23, 1835. Her father, a native of Tennessee, and a prominent farmer and local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, was one of the leading citizens of the county and for many years an influential factor in public affairs. Her mother, who maiden name was Eliza Daniel, came to Illinois from her native state of Kentucky and spent the greater part of her life in the county of Jefferson. Mrs. Moss was a woman of many excellent traits of character, a devoted Christian and like her husband, an active worker in the local Methodist Episcopal church to which she belonged. She departed this life in Mount Vernon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rufus Grant, on the 1 6th day of March, 1 908, and left to mourn her loss a large circle of devoted relatives and admiring friends. The following are the names of the children born to Captain and Mrs. Moss:
The death of Captain Moss, on the date mentioned in the beginning of this review, occurred at the home of his son. Dr. Harry Moss, of Albion, and caused universal sorrow among his many friends and fellow citizens, especially those with whom he was brought into intimate relations and who had learned to appreciate his splendid powers and prize his many estimable qualities. His was indeed a life fraught with great good to the world and among his fellow citizens of Jefferson county his name will long be honored as one of the leading men of the time in which he lived and wrought.
Source: Wall's History of Jefferson Co, IL - 1909 Submitted by Sandy Bauer |
For corrections or additions, please contact me: Sandy Bauer