Moon, Robert B.

MOON, PEILE, HOWARD, TILLOTSON

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/24/2006 at 07:44:11

MOON, ROBERT B.

Robert B. Moon, a noted horseman of Rock Rapids, was born in Hamilton County, Iowa, September 17, 1865, and is a son of Charles H. and Ellen (Peile) Moon. His mother was a sister of R.M. Peile, whose sketch appears on another page. Her birthplace was in Ireland, and she died in Rock Rapids about 1895, at the age of sixty-nine. She was one of the very first teachers in Lyon County, and is remembered as a lady of character and attainments.

Charles H. Moon was born in Vermont, and came to Iowa in 1864; five years later settling on a homestead farm in Lyon County, where Robert B. now resides. As a far seeing businessman he went extensively into land, and Moon's addition to Rock Rapids is in the northern part of the city.

As the first mayor of Rock Rapids and the first postmaster of the city he was naturally one of the prominent men of the early times, and had much to do with the making of local history. He died in California when fifty-nine years old.

Robert B. Moon was reared on the homeplace and received his education in the Rock Rapids schools. Practically he has spent his entire life with his parents, and is now living on the old homestead in a fine and modern house. From its site they could often see at an early day large bands of Indians, sometimes as many as five hundred at once, camped out on the prairies. He remembers seeing Indians kill an elk on the ground where now stands the home of Mr. Bradley.

Mr. Moon was married in 1890 to Miss Rose, a daughter of A.T. and Mary (Tillotson) Howard, and a native of Lyon County. Her parents are still living in South Dakota. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Moon are four lovely little girls: Ellen A., Eva R., Leona M. and Marguirete. Mrs. Moon received her education in the Rock Rapids schools, and is a lady of culture and refinement, popular in society, and is noted as a devoted wife and mother. Three of the little girls are now attending the school from which the subject graduated.

Mr. Moon erected a fine building, which was intended for a home, before he built the one he now occupies. His business is principally that of stock dealing and raising, and his leading specialty is breeding roadsters and trotters.

Always active like his father, for five years he was Marshal of Rock Rapids, and did much in the early days to impress an orderly and law abiding character upon the young and growing town. Always Republican, he cast his first vote for General Harrison, and has since trained with the party. Our subject is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Yeomen.

Mr. and Mrs. Moon, and their parents as well, were always glad to contribute to church building, and have had a hand in the construction of about every church in Rock Rapids. He is personally of a striking physique, and is a fine example of genuine worth and manhood.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson