John Henry Moores LAST NAME: Moores FIRST NAME: John MIDDLE NAME: Henry NICKNAME:  MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3:  TITLE:  GENDER: M MILITARY:  BORN: 26 Jun 1821 DIED: 16 Dec 1880 BURIED: 18 Dec 1880 ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Merchant, Salem Mayor, Marion Co. Senator BIRTH PLACE:  Huntsville, Lawrence Co., Alabama DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon NOTES:  BIOGRAPHICAL:  "Among the Oregon pioneers prominent in the immigration of 1852 were Colonel I. R. Moore, Sr., and his two sons, John H. Moores and Isaac R. Moores, who left Danville, Illinois, in March, 1852, and reached Portland, Oregon, in November of that year. In the following year I. R. Moores, Sr., located in Lane county, where he accumulated a large tract of land (1710 acres), midway between Eugene and Irving, and where he spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring April 15, 1861. He was the son of Henry Moores, a soldier of the American Revolution, whose forebears and collateral relatives were numerous in North and South Carolina and Maryland. After the Revolutionary War, Henry Moores moved to Kentucky, where he received a land grant of over one thousand acres on the Kentucky river. Here his son Isaac R. Moores, Sr., was born, March 21, 1796. His youth was spent in the south. He was married in Tennessee to Jane Alexander, who was born in Georgia on December 27, 1793, and died in Salem, Oregon, January 28, 1868. Isaac R. Moores for a number of years was a resident of Alabama, where his oldest son was born. He was a personal friend of Governor Sam Houston of Texas, who offered him very attractive inducements to locate in that state. Except for his aversion to the system of human slavery, these inducements would have probably made him a citizen of Texas and his name and that of his descendants would never have appeared on the roll of Oregon pioneers. He subsequently became one of the pioneers of Illinois, locating in Danville in 1824, which at that time was a more important point than Chicago. Here he was engaged in business continuously until he left for Oregon territory twenty-eight years later. During this period he served under Jackson in the Seminole war in Florida. In the Black Hawk War he served as colonel of the 4th regiment of Illinois volunteers. Later he formed a company for enlistment in the Mexican War, but its enlistment was never consummated. In 1852 he formed a caravan of about 70 wagons for the trip to Oregon. Among the youngsters who served him as chauffeurs on that long and toilsome journey were John R. Curry, father of Bruce C. Curry; Charles Holman, father of Herbert; Rufus C. and Captain Charles Holman, and Joseph Buchtel, all makers of history in the early days of Portland. Colonel Moores lived less than nine years after locating in Oregon, but they were all busy and strenuous years. He died in Lane county on April 15, 1861. He represented Lane county in the territorial legislature in 1855, and was a member of the Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857. In 1860 he was nominated by the republicans of Lane county for the state senate, but faced defeat, as Lane county was at that time one of the Gibraltars of democracy. His wife, Jane Alexander Moores, was a woman of splendid pioneer type and his loyal and efficient companion during their long years of married life. Their children were: John H. Moores, who was born in Huntsville, Alabama, June 26, 1821, and died in Salem, Oregon, December 16, 1880. Martha A. Moores, born in Danville, Illinois, February 1, 1824, and died March 23, 1847. Mary Matilda Moores, born in Danville, Illinois, January 21, 1826, and died in Salem, Oregon, April 20, 1864. Charles W. Moores, born in Georgetown, Illinois, November 2, 1828, and died in a military hospital in Stevenson, Alabama, June 10, 1864. Isaac Ross Moores, born in Danville, Illinois, February 14, 1831, and died in Portland, Oregon, July 25, 1884. John H. Moores spent his youth in Danville, Illinois. He began business in Benton, Scott county, Missouri. He was married on May 11, 1847, to Virginia Lafayette Lamon, who was born in Bunker Hill, Virginia, July 14, 1825, and died in Portland, Oregon, June 9, 1897. John H. Moores returned to Danville in 1851 and in the following spring accompanied his father, Colonel I. R. Moores, across the plains to Oregon. In March, 1853, he located in Salem, Oregon, where he resided during the remaining years of his life. He was there engaged in the mercantile business until the fall of 1865. He later purchased the South Salem Flour and Lumber Mills, which he disposed of in the middle '70s, consolidating his lumber business with that of the Capital Lumbering Company. He was the secretary and manager of the latter company from June, 1876, until his death in December, 1880. During the 27 years and more which he spent in Salem, he was actively interested in various public enterprises. He was treasurer of Marion county for some years. He was about 25 years a member of the board of trustees of Willamette University, and was for several years a member of the board of directors of the Salem public schools and of the Oregon State Agricultural Society, of which he was also treasurer. He was also a member of Salem's first city council, four times mayor of Salem, four years a member of the Oregon State senate, and was with the late George H. Atkinson, named as a commis- sioner to designate the location of the Oregon penitentiary and the Oregon State Insane asylum. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Moores were both members of the Salem First M. E. church, and Mrs. Moores was for years president of the Oregon Children's Aid Society, which erected and maintained an orphans' home on Asylum avenue in Salem, on the location now occupied by the State Nurses' home. Their children were: A daughter, who was born and died in Benton, Missouri, in 1848. Charles B. Moores, who was born August 6, 1849, in Benton, Missouri. Gertrude E. Moores, who was born in Danville, Illinois, September 27, 1851, and died in Salem, Oregon, October 12, 1877. Albert N. Moores, who was born in Salem, Oregon territory, May 12, 1855. Althea and Bertha Moores (twins), who were born in Salem, Oregon. Carrie V. Moores, who was born in Salem, Oregon. Althea Moores, who died April 29, 1883. Gertrude E. Moores, who was married July 1, 1874, to Miles M. Miller. Charles B. Moores was married November 1, 1881, to Sarah E. Chamberlin, a native of Michigan, and daughter of Joseph and Olive Warren Chamberlin, and is of Revolutionary stock on both her paternal and maternal sides. Albert N. Moores was married May 26, 1885, to Cora L. Dickinson, a native of Salem, Oregon, and the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Obed Dickinson. They have three children, all born in Salem, Oregon. The dominant strain of the Moores family on both the paternal and maternal sides, dating back to pre-Revolutionary times, is Scots-Irish. On the paternal side they go back to the Alexanders and the McDonalds, of Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, and on the maternal side to the Lamons, the Bruces and the Chenowiths of Maryland and Virginia. They were essentially pioneers, constantly heading for the west. A hundred years ago they made their appearance in large numbers in Illinois and the states of the middle west and for nearly eighty years a fair contingent of them have been standing to be counted among the earliest of the pioneers of the great Northwest."  From: Steeves, Sarah Hunt, BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE OF MARION COUNTY, OREGON, PIONEERS 1840 - 1860, Portland, Oregon, The Berncliff Press, 1927, (Source: A. N. Moores, Salem, Oregon, 1927.) pp 236-238. NOTE - Photograph of John Moores courtesy of Al Jones.  Original source unknown. OBITUARY:  MOORES -- The death of Hon. John H. Moores, which occurred at his residence in Salem yesterday morning, though a sad, was yet not an unexpected event. His illness has been of a lingering character, promising no hope of ultimate recovery and covering a period of several years. He was one of the oldest and most influential citizens of Salem, having resided there since 1852, and we may add, was one of those most universally esteemed. Faithful in every respect to every interest entrusted to his care, whether of a public character or of a private nature, he departed from a long life of usefulness and successful endeavor honored by his associates, beloved by his family and respected by all. He reared a large family of sons and daughters, who have grown to honored places in society, and together with his estimable wife survive to mourn his loss. His funeral will take place to-morrow at 1 oÂ’clock under the auspices of Anniversary Lodge, No. 18, I.O.O.F., of which he was a charter member.  (undated, unnamed clipping in Moores scrapbook)  DEATH OF JOHN H. MOORES.  Special correspondence of the Oregonian, Salem, Dec. 16.  Hon. Jno. H. Moores, on of our oldest and most influential citizens, died this morning, after a lingering illness. He has occupied various positions of trust and was a man very highly esteemed by all who knew him, he having resided in Salem for many years and has been instrumental in advancing not only its interests, but has in public life guarded with zealous care the interests of the state at large. JOHN HENRY MOORES: Today the last sad rites of sepulture were paid to all that was mortal of our honored friend and citizen. A large concourse of sincere friends and sorrowing mourners followed his remains to their final resting place in the Odd FellowsÂ’ Cemetery near this city. J. H. Moores was born in the State of Alabama, June 26, 1821. At an early age he removed with his parents to Danville, Illinois, where he grew up to manhood. On May 11, 1847 he was married to Miss Virginia L. Lamon. His widow and five children survive to mourn his loss. In their sore bereavement they have the sympathies of many friends. In 1852 Mr. Moores, in company with his father, the Hon. I. R. Moores, Sen., late of Lane county, emigrated to Oregon, bringing their families, by the slow and toilsome travel of ox-teams, a journey both tedious and perilous, which occupied seven months, arriving in Portland, Oregon, in November of that year. In March, 1853, Mr. Moores moved to this city and engaged in merchandising. By fair dealing and strict attention his business prospered, increasing with the growth of the country. After two years of successful business he took into partnership his younger brother, the Hon. I. R. Moores, Jr., of this city. The firm at once became one of the leading business houses of the city. During these years of business prosperity the firm built the then expensive brick block known as the "Moores’ Block". In 1865, the firm, after years of prosperity, withdrew from mercantile pursuits, since which time Mr. Moores has been actively engaged in various other enterprises, in all of which he has ever maintained his high character for urbanity, strict integrity and generosity. Not alone as a man of business was Mr. Moores honored and respected. For many years he was called to assist in the management of city affairs, as Councilman and Mayor, and in the State Senate he served with great acceptability as a Senator from Marion county. Taking a deep interest in whatever tended to promote the welfare of the country, he gave of his time and means liberally. He was one of the founders and promoters of the State Agricultural Society, for many years acting as its Treasurer. He also acted with discretion and honor as one of the State Commissioners for the purchase of grounds for State buildings, the Penitentiary and Insane Asylum. But his noblest characteristics were brought out in his loyalty and devotion to the benevolent institutions of our city and state. The Willamette University had no truer friend and supporter, from the infancy of that institution to the present he has acted as trustee and gave liberally of his time and means. In all his relations in life as husband, father and friend, as citizen and Christian, he has been faithful, true and loyal; and his memory will be warmly cherished by those who knew him best. The funeral services were held at the M. E. Church, of which he has for many years been an efficient member. The resident pastor, Rev. J. N. Dennison, officiating. [assisted by Revs. Van Scoy, Dickinson, Knight and Parrish’ The fraternity of Odd Fellows paid their accustomed tribute of respect to their departed brother and friend. The services throughout at the church and the cemetery were impressive. Truly, a good man has gone to his rest.  (Moores’ scrapbook, From the Daily Oregon Statesman, Saturday, Dec. 18)  Exempt From Duty--The late J. H. Moores was an exempt fireman, having served seven years in the company. During the funeral procession do-day the firebell was tolled and the flags over the engine houses placed at half mast. INSCRIPTION:  Father  John H. Moores  Born i n Lawrence Co., Ala.  June 26, 1821  Died  Dec. 16, 1880. SOURCES:  DAR pg 32  Steeves, BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE, pp 236-237 CONTACTS:  LOT: 019 SPACE:  LONGITUDE:  LATITUDE:  IMAGES: