Santa Clara County
Biographies
FRED W. MOORE
An Enterprising business man, a progressive and helpful citizen, Fred W. Moore left behind him a record which places him among the representative men of San Jose. A native of California, he was born in Santa Cruz December 23, 1858, a son of William H. and grandson of Eli Moore, both natives of Tennessee, and pioneers of the west. Eli Moore was the representative of an old North Carolina family, some of whose members served their country in both the Revolution and war of 1812. His immediate ancestors located in Tennessee, where he made his home until attaining manhood, and there also his marriage occurred. By occupation he was a planter. He brought his family to Missouri in 1837, and ten years later took up the westward march, crossing the plains to California. He was one of the first white settlers in Santa Cruz county, where he engaged in ranching. One of his sons, Alexander, located in Pescadero, where he was also the first white settler. William H. Moore settled on a ranch which became known as the Moore ranch, in Santa Cruz, remaining in that location until his death. He married Lizzie Nichols, a native of New York state, whose father immigrated first to Texas, then to Santa Cruz, where he was numbered among the pioneers. Mrs. Moore also died in Santa Cruz. She was the mother of four children, the oldest being Fred Walter Moore, of this review, the others being Alice, the wife of William C. Hofman, of Santa Cruz; Charles a farmer in Santa Cruz; and Stella, located in Santa Cruz.
Fred W. Moore was reared to young manhood on his father’s ranch in Santa Cruz, receiving his preliminary education in the public schools, and Santa Clara College, after which he attended McClure Military Academy of Oakland and Heald’s Business College of San Francisco. On completing his education he returned to Santa Cruz, where he remained until his marriage, which occurred September 15, 1886, uniting him with Marcella Spring. She was a native of San Jose, Santa Clara county, and daughter of T. W. Spring, the record of whose career is given in detail on another page of this work, and it was in her native city that she received her education. After marriage Mr. Moore engaged in mining in Death Valley until 1887, when he entered upon a mercantile life in his father-in-law’s store, the interests in time passing into his own name and control. In 1898 he went to Alaska on the Australia, going over the Chilkoot Pass and his way to Dawson, and missing the terrible and disastrous avalanche on the pass by just one day. While en route he was taken ill with pneumonia at Lake Lindermann, but after three weeks’ delay was able to again take up the march toward his destination. He remained in the northern country for five months, when he returned home via Yukon river and St. Michaels. He then gave his entire time and attention to his mercantile pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred November 2, 1903. Mr. Moore left four children: Marcella, Mildred, Margery and Frederick W.
Mr. Moore was a man of marked ability, an enterprising and progressive spirit. He was one of the principals in the organization of the Merchants’ Association of San Jose, and acted as director and treasurer up to the time of his death. He was also active in behalf of all movements calculated to advance the general welfare of the community, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce and member of the school board, during one term of the two which he served in the latter capacity acting as president of the board. Politically he was a Democrat and was also active in this line. He was associated fraternally with San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M.; Howard Lodge No. 14, R. A. M.; and San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T.; Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; Knights of Pythias; and Palo Alto Parlor, N. S. G. W., of San Jose. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Moore has continued the business which has passed into her hands. The store is known throughout the city and county as “Springs.”
Transcribed
Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 620. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Joyce Rugeroni.