The history of the Moon family like every other family is complex. However, the material in this collection provides a glimpse into the history of a rural Midwestern family. The material belonged to several generations of the Moon family and covers over a hundred years. The significance of this collection lies in their position as a typical Midwestern farming family in Illinois and it is crucial in recognizing their importance.
   James Moon was born to John Moon and Dinah Mendenhall, both originally of Guilford Co., North Carolina, on December 28, 1843. The family soon migrated to the area surrounding Madison, Ohio. Including James, they had ten children. James looked to the ‘west' for more lucrative job and farming opportunities, and in 1865 soon found himself in McLean Count, Illinois. He was befriended by a John Gregory, who was originally from Ohio and had settled on the Loving Farm north of present day Towanda, Illinois near Money Creek in 1845. James found work on Gregory's farmstead, In 1868 he married Gregory's daughter, Margaret. John Gregory and James Moon worked as partners on the farm, benefiting from the successful cattle and hog business of the time. After many prosperous years farming John Gregory retired and bought 80 acres on North Main Street in Normal. He soon became a prominent figure in Bloomington-Normal. He served as Vice-President of the Third National Bank in Bloomington and also served nearly ten years on the school board in Normal. After moving into the city, he subsequently allocated his land to his offspring and offered some to James Moon. However, James was determined to own his land, and soon bought 600 acres east of the Gregory property from his wife's uncle, Joseph Houserman.
   James and Margaret Moon's first child was Minnie Mae, born in 1874. Next was Simon Crittendon in 1877, then Byron in 1880. In 1882, James Riley was born but died a short year later, and in 1885 their last son, Alonzo was born. He died suddenly in 1907, apparently of meningitis. In 1895, James Moon died unexpectedly, and the family experienced many changes in the coming years. James' death was a great blow to the family, and all had to make sacrifices to continue their way of life. They soon decided to move into town, and John Gregory purchased for them an eight room house located at 309 Broadway Street in Normal near the Illinois State Normal University.
   The eldest son, Simon Moon, destined to carry on the family business of farming, married Ethel Watts, the daughter of a nearby farm owner in 1897. After living in her hometown of Momence, Illinois for few years, they next traveled to Indiana to farm some Gregory land. The family returned to Normal with a new daughter Hazel, and Simon Moon purchased his own farm near Gridley. Deciding that he was still too far away from his family, he rented some land and farmed this as well as the farm left by his father, and also some of the Norris farm south of Towanda. When John Gregory died in 1902, Simon acquired more land near today's Lake Bloomington. Simon and his wife Ethel had two more children, Mildred in 1909 and Dorothy in 1915.
   Meanwhile, Minnie Mae lived in the Broadway Avenue home with her mother, who was often bedridden over a period of nearly 20 years until dying in 1930. In 1917, Minnie had married Nimrod Mace, a printer who began his own company around 1905. Minnie was active in the YWCA chapter as well as the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Bloomington-Normal. Beginning in the 1930's, the Maces' traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida for the winters, and in 1943-44, they moved there permanently. Both died there, Minnie in 1959, and Nimrod in 1972, just short of reaching 100 years of age.
Byron went into in the advertising business after he completed his education at Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Chicago. In July of 1908, he accepted a post at the United Shirt and Collar Co. as advertising manager in New York. He stayed with this company for several years before starting his own advertising agency. In 1910, he married Bessie Robinson, and he lived in New York with her until his death in 1964. Neither Byron nor Minnie had children.
   Simon continued to farm, becoming active in the McLean County Farm Bureau later in life, and at one time serving as president. He was recognized often for his excellence in farming in McLean County area. He died in 1969 at the age of 92. Little information was found concerning Simon's children. Dorothy remained in the McLean County area and was briefly married in the 1930's. It is also known that she served in the U.S. Coast Guard. She died in 1988 near Lexington, IL. Hazel married V.P. Milliken in 1919, and had two children, Trent and Jane. Mildred married Alfred Kubicek and settled near Davenport, Iowa. The land that Simon farmed, known collectively as the Moon farms, now occupies just a small area near Lake Bloomington in the northwest corner of Money Creek Township. The larger area that Simon farmed has been acquired by the Baker family.