Butte County
Biographies
HARRY S. MOIR
HARRY S. MOIR.--A self-made man of a thoughtful turn of mind, who is especially interested in young men, and is glad to lend a helping hand for their uplift and advancement, is Harry S. Moir, cashier of the People’s Savings and Commercial Bank of Chico, and a former postmaster of the town. He was born fifteen miles out of Lynchburg, Va., of an old Virginian family, on July 3, 1872, and was educated at the public schools in Virginia, remaining there until he was fifteen, when he moved to Nebraska. The next year, in May, 1888, Mr. Moir came to California. He began on the Albert Wahl ranch at fifteen dollars a month, and soon thereafter entered the employ of John W. Bowers, receiving from the start ten dollars more in wages, and being soon advanced to thirty dollars a month. He saved his money, intending to finish his education, and was fortunate in becoming a protégé of Victor David, who was a friend to many young men and helped them to lay a solid foundation for their life work. It was Mr. David’s idea that Mr. Moir should study practical mechanics, in order to take up civil engineering. In line with this purpose, he finally entered the blacksmith shop of Mr. Canfield in Chico as a helper, for one winter. He next attended Heald’s Business College in San Francisco, and was graduated therefrom in 1892, after which he returned to Chico.
Mr. Moir had spent some time in the employ of the Sierra Lumber Company, and was familiar with the business to some extent. When B. C. Drescher succeeded C. E. Tinkham as manager of the company’s plant at Chico, having met Mr. Moir on the street in San Francisco at an earlier date, and become much impressed with his personality and ability, he remembered him, and upon his return to Chico offered him a position in the lumber yard here. He later acted as shipping clerk in the box department, and still later was taken into the office, where he was assistant bookkeeper under Mr. Tinkham, who had returned to work with the company. When the latter resigned, Mr. Moir became head bookkeeper and assistant to the manager, W. B. Dean. About 1904, Mr. Lusk offered Mr. Moir the position of bookkeeper in the Bank of Butte County, now the Butte National Bank; and for four years he filled the position of head bookkeeper and also assisted the cashier. When Mr. Rideout died, Mr. Moir was made a bank director. On account of the close confinement in the bank, however, he resigned his position and sought other employment. He then became a representative of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and for eighteen months looked after their interests in Northern California. He then took the agency of the Travelers’ Insurance Company, of Hartford, and he had hardly established that on a prosperous basis when his many friends induced him to become an applicant for the postmastership. To the office of postmaster of Chico, therefore, he was appointed by President Taft on April 18, 1911, and he continued the incumbent of that office until 1914. His term would have expired in April, 1915; but in May 1914, he resigned to become cashier of the People’s Savings and Commercial Bank. His resignation was not received, however, by the government until December 1, 1914.
When the People’s Savings and Commercial Bank was organized, Mr. Moir was tendered the position of cashier, which he accepted, fully conscious of both the honor and the responsibility connected with the office. The bank was incorporated on April 22, 1914, and opened on July 25, of the same year. Its location is at the corner of Fourth Street and Broadway, in the Morehead building, and as it is a savings and commercial bank, it is the most complete bank in the county, and one of the most substantial. Its vaults are protected by the American Burglar Alarm System. The bank has gained over $121,000 in deposits in the last year, undoubtedly as a result of the special efforts made to accommodate the public. Mr. Moir maintains a bureau of information, and has on file railroad circulars and other data concerning farms, the educational opportunities at the University, and various facts likely to be of service to the public. He is a stockholder in the bank, and is cashier, secretary and treasurer. He has studied expert accounting, and has a thorough understanding of office work. He is interested in science, art and literature, and has a good library of banking books, as well as works on agricultural and horticultural subjects.
On
December 20, 1893, Mr. Moir was married at Chico to Miss Nellie A. Dean, a
native of Illinois. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moir belong to Josephine Chapter, No.
104, O. E. S., in which Mr. Moir is a Past Patron and Mrs. Moir a Past Matron.
Mr. Moir was made a Mason in Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A. M., and served
as secretary of the lodge. He belongs to Chico Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M.; and
to Chico Commandery, No. 12, K. T., in which he has been an officer; and he is
a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., in San Francisco, is secretary of
the Shriners Club at Chico, and belongs to Chico Lodge, No. 423, B. P. O. Elks.
He is a director of the Chico Chamber of Commerce. In national politics he is a
Republican.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 2/15/08.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 733-734, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Vicky
Walker.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies