Numbered among the foremost citizens of Fairfield is Dr. Hosca H. Moore, a retired physician, who is now devoting his entire time and attention to his extensive agricultural interests. A native of Illinois, he was born November 18, 1842, in Washington county, being the next to the youngest child in a family of sixteen.

His father, Hartwell Moore, was born in Virginia in about 1797. As a young man he moved to Kentucky, from there coming, in the 'twenties, to Illinois. Locating in Washington county, he took up land and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in 1863. He married Cynthia Wright, a native of Kentucky, and of the sixteen children born of their union ten grew to years of maturity, as follows: Mrs. Nancy (Roundtree) Hawkins, Mrs. Jane Christian, Mrs. Lucinda Wheeler, Mrs. Elizabeth Sawyer, Mrs. Mary Roundtree, John, Nathaniel, Thomas W., Sidney and Hosea H. Mrs Hawkins, Thomas W. and Hosea are the only members of the family now living.

Brought up in Washington county, Hosca H. Moore received good educational advantages, in the spring of 1865 being graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan, with the degree of M. D. Immediately beginning the practice of medicine in Washington county, Illinois, he remained there until 1878, when he entered McKendree College, where in addition to taking the regular course in surgery he studied elocution, in 1882 being there graduated with the degree of B. S. Settling in Wayne county, Illinois, in that year, Dr. Moore purchased land in Massillon township, and in addition to looking after his farming interests was there engaged in the practice of his profession for a score of years, being quite successful as a physician. In 1897 the Doctor removed to Fairfield, and having retired from the active practice of his profession is busily employed in supervising his two farms, one of which, containing four hundred and eighty-five acres, is located in Massillon township, while the other farm of seventy acres lies near Fairfield.

The Doctor is one of the directors of the First National Bank of 1631 Fairfield. He belongs to Fairfield Lodge, No. 206, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of Fairfield, and is the present master, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party, and has filled various township offices, for a number of terms representing Massillon township on the county board of supervisors.

Dr. Moore married, in 1865, Ellen W. Walker, a daughter of Presley Walker, of Washington county. Five children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Moore, namely: Dalton P., publisher of the Olney Times, is married, and has one child, Eugene W. Moore; William Edgar, a farmer, is married and has three children, Nellie, and William and Sarah, twins; Effie deceased; and Mrs. Mary E. Monts, who has one child, George Albert Moats, and Nellie, who died at the age of nine years. Mrs. Moore was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, September 7, 1844, and was reared and educated in St. Clair and Washington counties. She is a member of the Methodist church.