Hugh C. Moore (1874-1956)

MOORE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/27/2022 at 15:14:28

Hugh C. Moore
(January 8, 1874 – May 27, 1956)

This well known and popular business man of Knierim, Iowa, is one of Calhoun County's native sons and a worth representative of one of her most prominent and honored families, whose identification with her history dates from an early period in the development of the county. His father, Thomas Moore, was born in New York about
1845 and when three years old accompanied his parents on their removal to Wellington County, Canada. Two years later his mother died and the father only survived her three years. Thus Mr. Moore was left an orphan at the early age of eight years. In 1865 he and L. Kidder, now a resident of Cedar Rapids. Iowa, left Detroit, Michigan, and came west. For some time they were in the government service as scouts on the plains, and led the life of frontiersmen for four years. They were known on the plains as Little Buckskin and Big Buckskin. Mr. Moore being six feet nine inches in height, while Mr. Kidder was only five feet, six inches. The friendship between these two was much like that of Jonathan and David, and when they separated and settled down on homesteads in Iowa they agreed that when either should die the other would attend the funeral if possible to do so. This pledge was faithfully kept by Mr. Kidder, who responded in person to a telegram announcing the death of Mr. Moore, October 19, 1899, and was one of the six men to bear the body of his old comrade to the grave. On his return from the west in 1868 the father of our subject first settled at Cedar Falls, but the following year came to Calhoun County and secured a homestead in Center Township, where he engaged in fanning throughout the remainder of his life. While on the plains he once walked from Nebraska City to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a distance of fourteen hundred miles, its requiring three months to make the trip. He drove an ox-team hauling supplies, and on his arrival in New Mexico worked on a government fort. He was also employed as a woodman for a time and the hardships he was forced to endure in those early days would require, a whole chapter to relate. When he homesteaded land in this state he walked from Fort Dodge to his farm. He was one of the most prominent and influential men of his community, and was frequently solicited to become a candidate for important official positions, but always refused, though he served as trustee of Center township from 1891 to 1895, and was again the nominee of his party for that office at
the time of his death. He always affiliated with the Democratic party, and his friends tried in vain to persuade him to become a candidate for representative just before his death. In childhood he had but limited opportunity for acquiring an education, only attending school for a few months, but he always kept abreast with the times and was well-read and thoroughly informed on the questions and issues of the day. He was also a good conversationalist and his mental qualities were much above the average. He was not only kind and charitable, but was the soul of honor and truth. His funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Calhoun County, many coming from long distances to pass their last tribute of respect to the departed. These included his brother, William Moore, from Anselmo, Nebraska. The service was a very impressive one and was performed by Rev. Father Hehir at the Catholic church in Manson, Iowa, of which Mr. Moore was a communicant. Politically he was a stalwart Democrat and a standard bearer of his party. On the 22d of May, 1871, Thomas Moore was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Clarke, a daughter of Hugh G. and Ellen Clarke. Her father died in August, 1881 and her mother now makes her home with Mrs. Foley in Manson, Iowa. Mrs. Moore is now making preparations to locate on her claim in Oklahoma territory. She is the mother of seven, children, who in order of birth are as follows: Clarence J., who is now married and engaged in the drug business in Lohrville, Iowa; Hugh C, our subject; F. W.. who is engaged in clerking in Manson; Nellie, a bookkeeper at Grinnell, Iowa; Frank, who is operating the home farm; Frances, who is teaching school in this county; and Joseph, who is now ten years old and is with his mother. The children have all been afforded good educational advantages and the family is one of prominence in the community where they reside. The father had one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher, who was drowned in Lake Erie. Reared in this county, Hugh C. Moore attended its public schools throughout his boyhood and youth, and on leaving home at the age of eighteen years went to El Reno, Oklahoma, where he served as deputy county clerk under W. J. Clarke for two years. He next went to Wichita, Kansas and entered the business college of that place, from which he was graduated in June, 1895, having pursued a commercial course in that institution. He then returned to El Reno and worked in the clerk's office until November, 1895, when he came to Manson, Iowa, and for a short time was in the employ of T. E. Maiden, a grain dealer. In the spring of 1896 he commenced working on the home farm, and the following winter taught school in Sherman Township, resuming agricultural pursuits when warm weather came again. Mr. Moore next accepted a position in the drug store of his brother, Clarence J., at Lohrville, where he remained until March, 1899, and then attended the Highland Park School of Pharmacy for three months, after which he returned to Lohrville. In February, 1900, he became a registered pharmacist, having passed the required examination before the state board, and on the 5th of the following March bought the stock of general merchandise and drugs of J. H. Kelly at Knierim in partnership with T. O. McDermott, and they are now doing a successful business under the firm name of Moore & McDermott. They carry a large and well-selected stock, and by fair and honorable dealing have built up an excellent trade. In religious belief Mr. Moore is a Catholic, and in political sentiment is a Democrat. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeoman, and socially is quite popular. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.488]