Charles S. Moore
Encyclopedia
Charles Sumner Moore was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon
. A native of the Pacific Northwest
state, he held several elected offices in Klamath County
in the southern part of the state, including county judge. A Republican, he served as Oregon State Treasurer
from 1899 to 1907.
in Marion County, Oregon
, on January 8, 1857, to William S. and Margaret Octavia Moore (née Meldrum). He received his primary education at the public schools of Oregon City
and Salem
before enrolling in college. Moore attended Willamette University
in Salem from 1872 to 1874.
In 1874, he began working at the Klamath Indian Reservation in Southern Oregon
, remaining until 1877. That year Moore worked for his father in Klamath Falls
assisting in the construction of the first saw mill in that community. After briefly studying law in Portland, he returned to Southern Oregon. In 1878, he entered the retail industry as a store clerk, keeping that position until 1886. He married Mary L. Langell of Jacksonville, Oregon
, in 1884, and they had two sons. From 1886 to 1899 Moore managed and was part owner of a mercantile. He also helped build the first electricity plant in Klamath Falls during the 1890s with his brother Rufus.
from 1894 to 1898. His father had been the first county judge when the county was created in 1882. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1896.
In 1898, he was elected to the office of Oregon State Treasurer
. Elected as a Republican, he replaced fellow Republican Phil Metschan who had served two terms. Moore won re-election in 1902 and served in office from January 9, 1899 until January 14, 1907, when George A. Steel
took office. Politically he was against the initiative and referendum, but for the gold standard.
on July 20, 1915, at the age of 58.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
state, he held several elected offices in Klamath County
Klamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
in the southern part of the state, including county judge. A Republican, he served as Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
from 1899 to 1907.
Early life
Charles Moore was born in the Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
in Marion County, Oregon
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
, on January 8, 1857, to William S. and Margaret Octavia Moore (née Meldrum). He received his primary education at the public schools of Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
and Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
before enrolling in college. Moore attended Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem from 1872 to 1874.
In 1874, he began working at the Klamath Indian Reservation in Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
, remaining until 1877. That year Moore worked for his father in Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
assisting in the construction of the first saw mill in that community. After briefly studying law in Portland, he returned to Southern Oregon. In 1878, he entered the retail industry as a store clerk, keeping that position until 1886. He married Mary L. Langell of Jacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, a few miles west of Medford. It was named for Jackson Creek, which runs through the community and was the site of one of the first placer gold claims in the area. It includes Jacksonville Historic District which was designated a U.S....
, in 1884, and they had two sons. From 1886 to 1899 Moore managed and was part owner of a mercantile. He also helped build the first electricity plant in Klamath Falls during the 1890s with his brother Rufus.
Political career
In 1880, Moore earned his first elected office as a school clerk for the Linkville School District (now Klamath Falls). He then served as a school director before winning a seat on the first board of trustees for the town of Klamath Falls. Moore served as county judge of Klamath CountyKlamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
from 1894 to 1898. His father had been the first county judge when the county was created in 1882. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1896.
In 1898, he was elected to the office of Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
. Elected as a Republican, he replaced fellow Republican Phil Metschan who had served two terms. Moore won re-election in 1902 and served in office from January 9, 1899 until January 14, 1907, when George A. Steel
George A. Steel
George A. Steel was an American politician and businessman in the state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he moved to Oregon in 1862 where he became postmaster of Portland and helped build a railroad line among other business ventures...
took office. Politically he was against the initiative and referendum, but for the gold standard.
Later years
After leaving office he returned to his business pursuits which included timber and banking. He also served on the board of directors for insurance company Oregon Life. He and his brother Rufus were large land owners in Klamath County. Charles Moore died in PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
on July 20, 1915, at the age of 58.