Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 380

HENRY WATERMAN MOORE, Muscatine's pioneer hardware merchant, was born in Gardiner, Kennebec Co., Me., on the 12th of October, 1818, and is of English descent.The history of the Moore family in America dates back to 1639, when John Moore and his wife Elizabeth emigrated from Barchamstead, Hertfordshire, England, and with their four children settled in the Colony of Massachusetts, in Sudbury, Middlesex County. Some land was assigned him in 1639 and 1640, and a few years later, in 1642 and 1645, he purchased the farms owned by Edmund Rice and John Stone of the town. The sixth child of John and Elizabeth Moore, Jacob, was born in Sudbury, Nov. 28, 1645, and was there married, residing in his native town until his death in 1690. Richard, the second son of his marriage, was born Sept. 12, 1671, and he with his wife and family removed to Oxford, Worcester Co., Mass., about the year 1711. He was the first Town Clerk of Oxford, and one of the first Selectman, holding the former office at various times for a period of ten years, and the latter for fifteen years. He was also Moderator and Town Treasurer for several years, and in 1721 was chosen Represenative, the first man from that town to represent the district in the General Assembly. For many years he was a licensed inn-holder, and his third son, Elijah, who was born March 14, 1702, succeeded him as inn-holder, becoming licensed from 1734 to 1759. He also was a Selectman for several years. His wife was Dorothy Larned, a daughter of Col. Ebenezer Larned, who, with his brother Isaac, founded the town of Oxford in 1713.

Ebenezer, the fourth son of Elijah and Dorothy Moore, was born Sept 17, 1751, and soon after attaining his majority followed his cousin, Nathan Moore, to the town of Vassalboro, in what was then the Province of Maine. He settled at Brown's Corners, where he engaged in farming, and shortly afterward married Miss Sarah, daughter of Nathan Moore. He held various offices in Vassalboro, including that of Selectman, and was prominent in town affairs from 1776 to 1800. He also acted as steward for Gov. James Bowdoin, of Massachusetts, who owned much land in the Province. His second son Ebenezer, was born in Vassalboro, Oct.7, 1777, and went to Gardiner, Kennebec Co., Me., in 1800. Four years later the Gardiner Militia Company was divided and a new company was formed, in which Mr. Moore served as First Lieutenant. In 1814 the regiment to which he belonged was called into active service to resist a threatened invasion by the British near the mouth of Sheepscot River, remaining under arms several weeks at Wiscasset and Edgecomb. About 1812 he engaged in the manufacture of paper in Gardiner, Me., afterward Moore, Savels & Co., with which he was connected over thirty years. In 1808 he married Lucy Smith, a native of Wiscasset, Me. Their family numbered three sons and five daughters. The two elder sons, Ebenezer and Asahel, were graduated from Bowdoin College, Me., the former adopting the profession of law, and the latter entering the Methodist ministry. The only surviving members of the family are two daughters : Martha, born Jan 15, 1815, and Mary, born Jan 10, 1817, and the brother Henry W., with whom they both reside.

Henry W. Moore, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in his native town, where he received an academic education. In the spring of 1836 he went to New York City and obtained a situation in the wholesale hat and cap store of W. P. Lyon, with whom he remained until the financial panic of 1837 bankrupted his employer, when he returned home. In the spring of 1838 he visited his brother Ebenezer in Quincey, Illinois., and in June of the same year went to Burlington, Iowa, which was then part of the Territory of Wisconsin. There he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Silas Page, with whom he opened a general merchandise store, and for three years was engaged in the forwarding and commission business, under the firm name of H. W. Moore & Co. The firm failing in 1841, he spent the three succeeding years in setting up his old business and keeping books for Burlington merchants. From 1844 to 1848 he was in the wholesale dry-goods and grocery establishment of W. F. Coolbaugh, late President of the Union National Bank of Chicago, Ill. Leaving that employ in April, 1848, he came to Muscatine, Iowa, then known as the village of Bloomington, where he opened a wholesale and retail hardware and iron store, the capital being furnished by his intimate friend, Lyman Cook, the present President of the First National Bank of Burlington, who, together with W. F. Coolbaugh, also supplied him with letters of unlimited credit. Mr. Cook's interest was purchased in 1852, since that time the business has steadily increased under the efficient and able proprietor.

Our subject has been prominently identified with the business interests of Muscatine since his settlement in the city, and has also aided materially on encouraging the establishment of manufacturing corporations, the building of railways, organization of banks, and the advancement of educational and religious interests of the county. He was one of the promoters of the building of Trinity Episcopal Church, in 1852, and has been a Vestryman in the same for many years. In 1864 he was elected a member of the School Board, serving as President for the ensuing two years, and about the same time he served two years on the City Council. In 1866, upon the establishment of the Merchant's Exchange National Bank of Muscatine, now the first National Bank, of which he was one of the incorporators, he became a member of its first Board of Directors, and in 1868 he was elected Vice President, which office he still holds. He has also been President of the Muscatine Savings Bank, one of the most prosperous banking institutions of the county from its organization in 1880 to the present time, 1889. He held the office of Treasurer in the Iowa Construction Company, which in 1873 and 1874 built the Muscatine Western Railway. He was one of the original stockholders of the Muscatine Waterworks Company, and has been Treasurer of that corporation since its inception in 1875. He has also been a stockholder and director in the Hershey Lumber Company, since its organization in 1875. When the Muscatine Oatmeal Company was formed in 1879 he was one of the incorporators, and continued his connection with it until the spring of 1888. He was one of the organizers and directors of the Muscatine Island Canning Company, established in 1879, the pioneer canning industry of the county. When the Muscatine Fair Ground and Park Association was formed, Oct. 13, 1886, he was made its President, which office he resigned early in 1888, preferring to act simply as one of its directors. He has led an active and useful life, and during the last forty years few have contributed in a larger measure or in a greater variety of ways toward the steady advancement of his chosen city.

Our subject was married in Muscatine, on the 12th of September, 1853, to Ellen Stone, daughter of Calvin R. and Susan ( Fitch ) Stone. Mrs. Moore was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., March, 21, 1830, and came to Muscatine with her brother, Charles Stone, in the fall of 1852. She died on the 5th of February, 1859, leaving two sons : Henry Stone, born Dec. 21, 1855, and George, Jan. 27, 1859. A daughter, born Nov. 17, 1854, died in infancy. Our subject's wife was a member of the Episcopal Church, and was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends.


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