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Daniel Mooneyharm, of Benton, Ill., was born in White County, Tenn., November 4, 1823, the son of Shadrich and Lucretia (Ogles) Mooneyham. The father and family came to Illinois in the fall of 1838. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation and died here. Daniel was reared on a farm, and secured a common-school education in this county. About 1850 he engaged in the mercantile business in Benton, and following this did stock trading until he enlisted in the One Hundred and Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was elected major of the regiment, serving about six months. He resigned on account of injuries received from his horse. Maj. Mooneyham was also a lieutenant
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in the Mexican war, serving one year, and now the only surviving officer of this war in the county. For two years after the late war he followed farming and stock raising, which he still conducts, and in February, 1882, he bought the Franklin Grist Mills, which he greatly improved. In 1885 he threw out the buhrs and put in the new roller process, having five double sets of rolls and a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day, employing about half a dozen hands. They have the largest and best trade in the county. January 6, 1842, he married Mary A. Ward, of Hamilton County, who died February 24, 1886, leaving three children: Thomas M., a lawyer of Benton; Nancy J., wife of A. D. Weston, of Benton, and Winfield S. He has always been a Democrat, first voting for Polk. He is a Royal Arch Mason, the oldest Mason in the county, a member of that order since 1847. He is also a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and one of the few surviving heroes of two wars.