John H. Moores
Encyclopedia
John Henry Moores was an American
businessman and politician in the state of Oregon
. The son of Isaac R. Moores
, he was born in Alabama
and moved to the Oregon Territory
in 1852. In Oregon, he would serve in the Oregon State Senate
and as the mayor of Salem
.
, on June 26, 1821. He was the oldest child of Isaac R. Moores
and Jane Alexander. He grew up in Danville, Illinois
, before moving to Benton, Missouri
, where he began working. Moores married Virginia Lafayette Lamon (July 14, 1825-June 9, 1897) on May 11, 1847.
to the Oregon Territory
in March 1852. John joined his family in this trek, and all arrived in November 1852 in Portland
. He then moved to Salem
in March 1853. In 1856, he went into business with his younger brother Isaac R. Moores, Jr.
, operating a mercantile store in Salem until 1865. They would build the brick Moores block in that city, now site of the Pioneer Trust Building.
In 1858, Moores served as mayor of Salem for a brief time prior to the city charter legally passing the state legislature, after he had already served on the city’s first city council. He returned to the post of mayor in 1864, and then served three consecutive terms from 1866 to 1869. In 1870, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate
. He served four years, representing Marion County as a Republican. John Moores also served as Marion County Treasurer and on the board of trustees at Willamette University
. Additionally, he was on the board of directors for the Salem school district and the Oregon State Agricultural Society.
Moores would buy the South Salem Flour and Lumber Mills, selling off part of it in the 1870s while combining the timber interest with the Capital Lumbering Company. He worked as manager and secretary of the company beginning in June 1876, until his death. Along with George H. Atkinson
, he selected the site of the Oregon State Insane Aslyum (now Oregon State Hospital
) and the Oregon State Penitentiary
as part of a special commission.
, Albert, Gertrude, Bertha, Carrie, and Althea. Charles would later serve in the Oregon House of Representatives
and was Speaker of the chamber in 1895. The couple were also members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church
in Salem. John Henry Moores died on December 16, 1880, at the age of 59 in Salem. He was buried at Salem Pioneer Cemetery
where many in his family are buried.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and politician in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The son of Isaac R. Moores
Isaac R. Moores
Col. Isaac R. Moores was an American soldier and politician in Illinois and Oregon. A native of Kentucky, he would serve in the Seminole War and the Black Hawk War before immigrating to the Oregon Territory. In Oregon, Moores served in the Territorial Legislature and at the Oregon Constitutional...
, he was born in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and moved to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
in 1852. In Oregon, he would serve in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
and as the mayor of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
.
Early life
John Henry Moores was born in Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, on June 26, 1821. He was the oldest child of Isaac R. Moores
Isaac R. Moores
Col. Isaac R. Moores was an American soldier and politician in Illinois and Oregon. A native of Kentucky, he would serve in the Seminole War and the Black Hawk War before immigrating to the Oregon Territory. In Oregon, Moores served in the Territorial Legislature and at the Oregon Constitutional...
and Jane Alexander. He grew up in Danville, Illinois
Danville, Illinois
Danville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is the principal city of the'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Danville and Vermilion County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 32,467. It is the county seat of...
, before moving to Benton, Missouri
Benton, Missouri
Benton is a city in Scott County, Missouri, United States. The population was 732 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Scott County.-Geography:Benton is located at ....
, where he began working. Moores married Virginia Lafayette Lamon (July 14, 1825-June 9, 1897) on May 11, 1847.
Oregon
In 1851, Moores returned to Danville before heading west over the Oregon TrailOregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
in March 1852. John joined his family in this trek, and all arrived in November 1852 in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. He then moved to Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
in March 1853. In 1856, he went into business with his younger brother Isaac R. Moores, Jr.
Isaac R. Moores, Jr.
Isaac Ross Moores, Jr. was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. The son of Isaac R. Moores, he was born in Illinois and moved to the Oregon Territory in 1852. In Oregon, he would serve in the Oregon House of Representatives, including as Speaker of that body.-Early...
, operating a mercantile store in Salem until 1865. They would build the brick Moores block in that city, now site of the Pioneer Trust Building.
In 1858, Moores served as mayor of Salem for a brief time prior to the city charter legally passing the state legislature, after he had already served on the city’s first city council. He returned to the post of mayor in 1864, and then served three consecutive terms from 1866 to 1869. In 1870, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
. He served four years, representing Marion County as a Republican. John Moores also served as Marion County Treasurer and on the board of trustees at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
. Additionally, he was on the board of directors for the Salem school district and the Oregon State Agricultural Society.
Moores would buy the South Salem Flour and Lumber Mills, selling off part of it in the 1870s while combining the timber interest with the Capital Lumbering Company. He worked as manager and secretary of the company beginning in June 1876, until his death. Along with George H. Atkinson
George H. Atkinson
George Henry Atkinson was an American missionary and educator in what would become the state of Oregon. In Oregon, he served as a pastor for several churches, helped found what would become Pacific University, and pushed for legislation to create a public school system in Oregon Territory...
, he selected the site of the Oregon State Insane Aslyum (now Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, United States, is the primary state-run psychiatric hospital in the state of Oregon since Dammasch State Hospital closed in 1995. The facility is best known as the filming location for the Academy Award-winning film based on Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over...
) and the Oregon State Penitentiary
Oregon State Penitentiary
Oregon State Penitentiary , the first state prison in Oregon, United States, was originally located in Portland in 1851. In 1866 it was moved to a site in Salem and enclosed by a reinforced concrete wall averaging in height...
as part of a special commission.
Later years and family
John’s wife Virginia was a founding member of Salem’s Children's Aid Society in 1865. Children of John and Virginia were Charles B.Charles B. Moores
Charles Bruce Moores was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Missouri, he came from a family of politicians including his father John H. Moores, his grandfather Isaac R. Moores, and uncle Isaac R. Moores, Jr. who all served in the Oregon Legislature...
, Albert, Gertrude, Bertha, Carrie, and Althea. Charles would later serve in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
and was Speaker of the chamber in 1895. The couple were also members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church
Salem First United Methodist Church
Salem First United Methodist Church is a Methodist congregation and historic church in Salem, Oregon, United States. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under its original name, First Methodist Episcopal Church of Salem, in 1983...
in Salem. John Henry Moores died on December 16, 1880, at the age of 59 in Salem. He was buried at Salem Pioneer Cemetery
Salem Pioneer Cemetery
Salem Pioneer Cemetery is a cemetery in Salem, Oregon, United States.-Overview:...
where many in his family are buried.