"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. ******************* 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.