LOYAL CHAUNCY MOORE

Sacramento County

Biographies

LOYAL CHAUNCY MOORE

LOYAL CHAUNCY MOORE.--One of the most popular of all the brave and devoted firemen of northern California is Loyal Chauncy Moore, ex-chief of the department at Sacramento, in which city he was born on December 17, 1876. His father was the well-known pioneer, John C. Moore, who came across the plains with his parent when a child; while his mother, who was Mary E. Bell before her marriage, also of splendid old pioneer stock, crossed the prairies in her girlhood, and grew up to teach school. The parents, therefore, were married here in California; and ever since they never failed to do their part in helping develop the Golden State.

Loyal Moore attended the excellent public schools of his locality, and encouraged by his broad-minded progressive parents, continued his studies by pursuing courses at the best business college accessible. At the age of thirteen, too, he began to learn the candy-making trade, which he followed for some years; and then, having learned the carpenter trade, he was for sixteen years a building contractor. During these years he studied architecture and in connection with his contracting was a home designer. He made a wide and creditable reputation as both an enterprising and an experienced operator, and had much to do with developing more than one locality and a great deal of valuable property.

In 1900 he entered the Sacramento fire department force as a substitute call-man, and four years later he was appointed to the force. In 1918, he became a uniformed fireman, and on July 1, 1920, he was appointed chief of the fire department of the city of Sacramento by C. A. Bliss, who was then commissioner of public health and safety, serving capably and with credit to himself and the public, until the installation of the new manager form of government, when he returned to the ranks. Soon after this he was promoted to the rank of captain under the civil service, leading the class by standing first at the examination. He is now captain of Truck No. 3 of the department. Mr. Moore is a tax-payer and property owner in Sacramento, and is a member of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, thus being a booster for the city and county. In national political affairs Mr. Moore has always been a Republican. Mr. Moore also has the distinction of having organized the fire protective bureau while chief of the department. He has a good record for fire-prevention work, both in what the department has done and also in what the public has been persuaded to do; and as a gratifying consequence, he has been able to accomplish a good deal towards bringing about a reduction in insurance rates.

At Sacramento, in 1900, Mr. Moore was married to Mary E. Artz, a native of Sacramento, and their union has been blessed with the birth of four children, Leslie F., Edgar L., Bernard and Jeanette L. Moore. He is a member of the Fireman's Relief and Protective Association, also of Owls, and is past president and ex-secretary of the Maccabees of the World. He belongs to the Foresters of America, in which he is a past chief ranger. He is fond of hunting and fishing, and thereby proves the healthy character of his nature, and the naturalness of his character. Years ago he served in the National Guard, and as member of Company E, 2nd Infantry Regiment, rose from private to be captain. On the breaking out of the Spanish-American War, he responded to the first call of troops, and was mustered into service with Battery B., 1st Battalion of Heavy Artillery, California Volunteers, on May 9, 1898. He served until the close of the conflict, and was mustered out on January 30, 1899, at Angel Island with the rank of corporal. He is now a member of the J. Holland Laidler Camp, Spanish War Veterans, in Sacramento.

Sacramento may well be congratulated upon having had as chief of her fire department a patriotic American of such an enviable record in other fields as to commend him heartily to the confidence of every citizen of today.

Mr. Moore is never idle and believes in improving the mind. He is first, last and all the time a student, particularly along literary and historical line and in natural history and scientific subjects.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 833-834. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.