REV. G.H. MOON, minister and farmer, P.O. Fairfield. The reverend gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Petersburgh Township, Rensselaer County, N.Y., on July 26, 1814. He is a son of James and Anna (Dodds) Moon. The father was a native of Rhode Island, the mother was born in New London, Conn. Subject is the ninth of twelve children, of whom only two are now living. When he was almost six years old, his father moved to Somerset Township, Windham County, Vt. In that county the former was permitted to attend school but eighteen months; his father was a farmer and he was compelled to lend what assistance he could upon the farm.
Since his arrival to manhood, Mr. Moon has educated himself to the extent of his abilities, and is truly what might be called a self-made man. On September, 1832, he with his elder brother left the parental roof, and starting out in life for themselves, came to Lorain County, Ohio, and worked around for the farmers for upward of eight years.
At an early age, our subject was led to identify himself with the Free-Will Baptist Church. Determining to give his life service to the cause of his Master, he began to preach, and coming to Marion County in August, 1840, was ordained as a regular minister in October of the same year. He was immediately appointed as the shepherd over three charges in taht locality, namely, the churches of Pleasant, Big Island and Pawpaw. For upward of thirty years he preached in this field of labor, and then in 1871 came to pastures new in Wayne County. He, until 1879, preached in Bone Gap Church, Edwards County, and Jeffersonville and Big Mound Churches, this county.
He was finally, by outside matters, compelled to retire from the active ministry, and at present his mantle has fallen upon his son, William R. Moon, who is at present supplying the churches. So far, he has been engaged forty six years in active ministerial work, and in the prosecution of his labors he has traveled some 65,000 miles. In Ohio, a part of that travel was spent in going to and from the different quarterly meetings, to which he always would go as a delegate, and since his residence in this State he has traveled a good deal in organizing the yearly meetings of his denomination. In his ministry, he has probably baptized upward of 300 converts.
In the last four or five years, he and his sons have been engaged in farming. He at present owns 200 acres in Sections 9 and 16, of Township 2 south, Range 7 east. Of that there are about 176 acres in cultivation, and about three and a half in orchard.
In Marion County, Ohio, on May 6, 1841, he was married to Mary B. Smith, and in a minister's many trials and tribulations she has proven a loving and helpful companion. She is a daughter of Reuben and Judith (Springer) Smith, natives of Maine, and was born in Licking County, Ohio, on April 18, 1820. This union has resulted in ten children of whom six are now living ---
In politics, Mr. Moon is a stanch Republican.
In our subject's life we can see a true example of what perseverance may do for a man. Having no educational advantages, but possessed of more than ordinary ability, and an immense amount of energy, he has given himself a good education. He is an omniverous reader, and today he is possessed with one of the finest libraries in Wayne County. In the education of his children he shows an unflagging energy, placing in their reach every advantage that is within his power.
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