Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 554.
 
CHARLES W. MOORE

     who has been mayor of Grass Valley since its incorporation, is also one of
the leading business men in north central Oregon. He is president and general
manager of the Citizens' Commercial Company, one of the leading mercantile
institutions of this part of the county.
     Charles W. Moore was born in Indiana, on July 22, 1858, the son of Rufus A.
and Sarah J. (Brown) Moore, natives of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and Indiana,
respectively. The father's ancestors were an old English family of colonial days
and prominent in those times. The mother's parents were also early settlers in
the new world. The family left Illinois about 1859 for Kansas and dwelt there
six years. Then they journeyed to Idaho, settling on Indian creek, about
twenty-four miles from Boise, where they remained two years. Then came a trip to
Cherokee, Butte county, California, where they rented until 1882, they then came
to Sherman county, Oregon, and our subject, his brother and the father all took
government land about five miles north from Grass Valley. The father remained on
the farm until his death in 1893. The mother died in August, 1898, at Moro,
Oregon. Our subject was educated in the various places where the family lived,
completing this important part of life's training in the Pacific Business
College at San Francisco. He was with his parents until coming to Oregon when he
and his brother, Henry, preceded them to the fertile region now embraced in
Sherman county.  In 1889 Mr. Moore rented his land and came to Grass Valley,
where he engaged in the general merchandise business with Dr. C. R. Rollins. For
several years they did business together and then our subject's brother, L. K.,
bought the doctor's interest. Two years later the brother resold to the doctor
again, and later John Karlin bought Dr. Rollin's interest. Five years later
Karlin sold his interest the Citizens' Commercial Company, which Mr. Moore and
his associates organized. They started with a capital of seventy-five thousand
dollars, incorporating under the laws of Oregon. They purchased considerable
property and erected a fine, two-story brick building, eighty-eight feet square.
They carry a stock of merchandise of fifty thousand dollars or more and they own
the most complete mercantile establishment to be found in Oregon. They are the
general agents for the John Deering implements, Daniel Best combined harvesters,
Moline wagons and carriages, and also handle a full line of agricultural
implements besides. They have a large stock of groceries, clothing, boots and
shoes, dry goods, hardware, crockery, and so forth. L. R. French is secretary;
Samuel H. Baker is treasurer, and as stated before, our subject is president and
general manager.
     On November 21, 1886, at Portland, Oregon, Mr. Moore married Eva L.
Rollins, who was born in Minnesota, the daughter of Dr. Charles R. Rollins, who
is now retired and dwells in Grass Valley. Mr. Moore has three brothers, Walter
H., a real estate man at Moro; Henry A., retired in Portland; and Lawrence K., a
real estate man at Moro. Mrs. Moore has three brothers and one sister. To our
subject and his wife two children have been born, Mabel and Ray, aged fourteen
and twelve, respectively.
     Fraternally, Mr. Moore is quite prominent, being past grand of the I. O. O.
F., past M. W. of the A. O. U. W., past C. P. of the Encampment, and a member of
the Foresters. He has several times been delegate of the grand lodge of the Odd
Fellows, and he and his wife are members of the degree of honor of the A. O. U.
W.
     Politically, Mr. Moore is a Republican and has frequently been delegate to
the county conventions. He is a sterling and progressive business man and one of
the leading citizens of Sherman county.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.