"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 790.
 
HON. JESSE CLEMENS MOORE

     occupies a substantial place among the developers of Oregon, the
opportunities and resources of which he has so well understood and utilized.  Of
rugged agricultural stock, and Irish-German ancestry, he was born on his
father's farm near Fayetteville, Ark., September 3, 1830, his parents being
Thomas and Eliza (Wilson) Moore, natives of Kentucky, and born respectively in
1804 and 1810. The father lived to be fifty-four years of age, and with his wife
reared a large family of children, six of the ten surviving at this writing.
     The second child horn into his father's family, Hon. J. C. Moore passed an
uneventful life on the paternal farm, attending the district schools during the
winter months, educational facilities in those days and in that section of the
country being very limited. By the time he had attained his majority he had
picked up a great deal of stray information not bearing directly on farm life,
and the limitations of the farm were becoming more and more apparent.
Accordingly he planned to come west with his brother, James H., and together
they started out for the new Eldorado in California. Their destination underwent
change as the journey across the plains progressed, for, owing to scarcity of
food for their cattle, it was decided to go to Oregon instead of California.  In
the train were about seventy-five wagons and three hundred people. They
experienced considerable trouble with the Indians, who appropriated the stock to
their own use, and in other ways made themselves unwelcome. After a six or seven
months' trip Mr. Moore found himself in a new country with no friends and little
money, but he was equal to the task of supporting himself, and
willingly accepted whatever was offered in the way of employment. He started out
to split rails in Oregon, having contracted with his cousin, William Wilson, to
supply him with ten thousand rails. Mr. Wilson had preceded Mr. Moore to Oregon,
coming in 1843, and was located on a claim on the Tualatin Plains.
     Enriched in both pocket and muscle, Mr. Moore departed from his cousin's
home at the expiration of two years, during which time he had been employed in
splitting rails, and went to California, where he mined and prospected for three
years. Returning to the Tualatin Plains he served for two years as county
assessor, and then bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, one and a half
miles northwest of Greenville, of which about thirty-five acres were improved.
In 1862 he married Miss Rachel Wilson, who was born in Missouri and who crossed
the plains with her father, William Wilson, and his family in 1843. For two
years following his marriage Mr. Moore lived on the farm, and in 1864 removed to
Hillsboro, the better to fulfill his duties as sheriff of Washington county, to
which office he was elected for three successive terms. In August, 1870, the
family went back to the farm, and seven years later purchased property in
Greenville, where Mr. Moore engaged in the mercantile business on a small
scale. His business grew apace under good management and sound commercial
tactics, and in 1889 he again entered the arena of politics, being elected
representative in the legislature for Washington county, and serving two terms.
During his absence in legislative halls his son managed the mercantile business,
but upon his return he assumed the chief responsibility. Three partners have
assisted at times in the management of the store, the first being J. F. Pierce,
the firm name being Pierce & Moore, an association dissolved in 1885. In 1892
Walter Foster became associated with Mr. Moore, and thereafter the firm name was
Moore, Foster & Co., the company being Mr. Moore's son. The firm carry a
complete line of commodities in demand in cosmopolitan communities, and it is
the policy of the management to deal only in superior goods and to exercise
towards their many patrons that consideration and tact which insure good feeling
and a desire to return. William T. Moore, one of the partners of Moore & Son, is
also postmaster.
     The first wife of Mr. Moore died in 1880,  leaving four children: Edward B.
and Mary E., both deceased; William L., who is his father's partner; and Fred
C., a resident of Seattle, Wash. For his second wife Mr. Moore married Jennie
Wilson, who was born in Oregon, and who has become the mother of two
children, Jesse C., Jr., and Max. At the present time Mr. Moore owns three
hundred and ninety acres of farming land, all in Washington county. Mr. Moore is
a man of broad and liberal tendencies, as evinced particularly in his political
attitude. Though born in the hotbed of Democracy, and for years surrounded by a
hatred for the north, he stepped out of the blighting atmosphere into the more
tolerant and humane Republican party. His official life has been characterized
by a fine regard for the best interests of his constituents and has resulted in
the elevation of the tone of political service in Washington county.   In many
ways he has been a benefactor to his adopted state, and his influence for
progress and right living is unquestioned.  No name hereabouts carries with it
in a greater degree the good will and appreciation of their friends and
associates.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.