Moses A. Luce
Encyclopedia
Moses Augustine Luce was a Sergeant in the Union Army
and a Medal of Honor
recipient for his actions in the American Civil War
. He went on to become a leading lawyer, Judge and businessman in early San Diego, where he founded the prominent law firm Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps
.
Citation:
and then the Albany Law School
, where he graduated LL.B. 1867. At first He practised at Bushnell, IL, but in 1873 he migrated to San Diego.
In San Diego he helped found the leading legal firm firm of Luce, Forward, Kunzel & Scripps and he went on to become a leading player in business life in the growing city, in particular serving on the boards of several railroads and mining companies. He was instrumental in the founding of the Californian Souther Railroad, connecting San Diego to the Santa Fe Railroad. Moses Luce retired from business in 1922, at the age of 80.
He helped draft the San Diego city charter and was active in Republican politics, including attending two Republican Party national conventions and a number of Californian state conventions. From 1875-80 he was a judge of the County Court of San Diego. For several decades he served as President of the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Church of San Diego and was also a prominent Mason.
He died April 13, 1933 and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park
in San Diego.
A grandson of Moses Luce was Gordon C. Luce of La Jolla who became, President (1969) and later Chairman & CEO (1979) of the San Diego Federal Savings & Loan (later the Great American First Savings Bank), a company Moses Luce had been the attourney for. Gordon Luce served under Ronald Reagan
, first as a member of his cabinet when Reagan was Governor of California, and subsequently as a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (1988–90). Gordon Luce has also had a career as a director or advisor to a number of companies. In 1964 he was a delegate to the Republican National Congress (alternate), and in 1972 served as a presidential elector from California.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and a Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient for his actions in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He went on to become a leading lawyer, Judge and businessman in early San Diego, where he founded the prominent law firm Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP , founded in 1873, is a prominent law firm headquartered in San Diego, California. With over 200 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the U.S. Avery Index ranks Luce Forward as among the country’s most prestigious law firms. The...
.
Background
Born 14 May 1842 in Payson, Illinois to Christopher Sanborn Luce & Sarah Pottle. Though his father he is descended from the Luce family of Rhode Island, making him a distant cousin of Stephen Bleecker Luce and Henry Robinson Luce.Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 4th Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1864. Entered service at: Hillsdale, Mich. Born: May 14, 1842, Payson, Adams County, Ill. Date of issue: February 7, 1895.Citation:
Voluntarily returned in the face of the advancing enemy to the assistance of a wounded and helpless comrade, and carried him, at imminent peril, to a place of safety.
Education and Post Civil War Career
After serving with distinction in the Civil War, Moses studied at Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
and then the Albany Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
, where he graduated LL.B. 1867. At first He practised at Bushnell, IL, but in 1873 he migrated to San Diego.
In San Diego he helped found the leading legal firm firm of Luce, Forward, Kunzel & Scripps and he went on to become a leading player in business life in the growing city, in particular serving on the boards of several railroads and mining companies. He was instrumental in the founding of the Californian Souther Railroad, connecting San Diego to the Santa Fe Railroad. Moses Luce retired from business in 1922, at the age of 80.
He helped draft the San Diego city charter and was active in Republican politics, including attending two Republican Party national conventions and a number of Californian state conventions. From 1875-80 he was a judge of the County Court of San Diego. For several decades he served as President of the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Church of San Diego and was also a prominent Mason.
He died April 13, 1933 and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park
Greenwood Memorial Park (San Diego)
Greenwood Memorial Park is a cemetery located on county-owned land at 4300 Imperial Avenue in San Diego County, California. The cemetery is adjacent to Mount Hope Cemetery.Opened in 1908, Greenwood covers approximately five miles east of Downtown San Diego...
in San Diego.
Family
In 1870 Moses married Adelaide Mantania, daughter of John D. and Olive (Head) Mantania, by whom he had six children including of whom three survived to adulthood, Grace, Mary and Edgar A. Luce, Sr. His son Edgar Augustine Luce, Sr (1881–1958), graduated Sanford University in 1905 and went on to become a senior partner of Luce, Forward, Kunzel & Scripps and judge of the Superior Court of San Diego Co; he was also a Californian State Senator from 1914 to 1918. A son of Edgar Sr was Edgar A. Luce, Jr, graduated from Stanford in 1948 and also became a managing partner in Luce, Forward, Kunzel & Scripps.A grandson of Moses Luce was Gordon C. Luce of La Jolla who became, President (1969) and later Chairman & CEO (1979) of the San Diego Federal Savings & Loan (later the Great American First Savings Bank), a company Moses Luce had been the attourney for. Gordon Luce served under Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, first as a member of his cabinet when Reagan was Governor of California, and subsequently as a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (1988–90). Gordon Luce has also had a career as a director or advisor to a number of companies. In 1964 he was a delegate to the Republican National Congress (alternate), and in 1972 served as a presidential elector from California.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L