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John Matthew Moore

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John M. Moore
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 8th district
In office
March 13, 1905 – 1913
Preceded byJohn M. Pinckney
Succeeded byJoe H. Eagle
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 41st district
In office
January 12, 1897 – January 10, 1899
Preceded byArthur C. Tompkins
Succeeded byArthur C. Tompkins
Personal details
Born(1862-11-18)November 18, 1862
Richmond, Texas, C.S.
DiedFebruary 3, 1940(1940-02-03) (aged 77)
Fort Bend County, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Lottie Dyer
(m. 1883)
Children6
Alma materState A&M College of Texas

John Matthew "Jaybird" Moore (November 18, 1862 – February 3, 1940) was an American rancher and statesman from Texas who served in the United States House of Representatives from District 8 from 1905 to 1913.[1] He was engaged in Fort Bend County's Jaybird–Woodpecker War and affiliated with the Jaybirds. Moore was also present during the fighting at the Battle of Richmond on August 16, 1889.[2]

Early life and education[edit]

John Matthew Moore was born on November 18, 1862, in Richmond, Texas, during the American Civil War as the son of Dr. Matthew A. and Henrietta (née Huddlestone) Moore. His family owned a farm and many slaves near Oyster Creek.[3] He was educated at the State A. and M. College of Texas in College Station,[4] which is now Texas A&M University.[5] He attended the university from 1878[6] to 1880.[7]

Career[edit]

E. H. Loughery wrote in 1897 that Moore was engaged in merchandising and farming from 1880 to 1883, and that Moore was primarily interested in stockraising, banking and farming in Richmond after 1883. He was Chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Fort Bend County in 1888, and from 1890 to 1892 Moore was the president of the Jaybird Democratic Association of Fort Bend County. Prior to being elected as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, he had been a delegate to several minor and state conventions.[4]

During the Jaybird–Woodpecker War, a man was killed across the street from his home.[8]

John Matthew Moore has often been confused for John Marks Moore, who was the Secretary of State of Texas during Lawrence Sullivan Ross's administration.[9] John Matthew Moore has been erroneously claimed to have been a Secretary of State of Texas by the Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster,[10] the Houston Chronicle,[11] and the University of Texas at Austin.[12]

Personal life and legacy[edit]

The John M. and Lottie D. Moore House in Richmond, Texas, currently serves as the Fort Bend Museum.

John Matthew Moore married Lottie Dyer, daughter of J. Foster Dyer, on July 30, 1883, in Nashville, Tennessee. J. Foster Dyer was a wealthy farmer and stockman of Fort Bend County.[4] Mrs. Moore was an excellent musician and was educated in Virginia and at Baylor University at Waco. Moore was a member of Houston Lodge, No. 151 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.[3] Moore's son, John Jr., served as a two-term Mayor of Richmond, Texas, and a two-term judge in Fort Bend County, Texas.[13] John Jr.'s son, Hilmar, was the Mayor of Richmond, and the longest-serving elected official in the United States, having served 30 terms from 1949[14][15] until Moore's death on December 4, 2012.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "John Matthew "Jaybird" Moore". Texas Legislators: Past & Present. Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  2. ^ Frances, Joan (July 30, 2013). "Moore House: The Epitome of the South". Absolutely Brazos. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Hardy, Dermot H.; Roberts, Ingham S. (1910). Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders Leaders and Representative Men of its Commerce, Industry and Civic Affairs. Vol. II. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 606, 607. ISBN 1-58103-432-6 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c Loughery, E. H. (1897). Texas State Government; A Volume of Biographical Sketches and Passing Comment, by E. H. Loughery. with Rules and Standing Committees of the Senate and House of the Twenty-Fifth Legislature, etc (PDF). Austin, Texas: McLeod and Jackson, Printers. pp. 144–145. Retrieved November 20, 2023 – via Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  5. ^ "Moore, John Matthew (1862-1940)". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Catalogue of the State Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Session of 1878-9. Bryan, Texas: Pilot Job Printing Establishment. 1879. p. 14 – via Texas A&M University Libraries.
  7. ^ Fourth Annual Catalogue of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Session 1879-80. College Station, Texas: Railroad Depot and Postoffice. 1880. p. 15 – via Texas A&M University Libraries.
  8. ^ Wharton, Clarence R. (1939). Wharton's History of Fort Bend County. Houston, Texas: The Anson Jones Press. p. 199 – via HathiTrust.
  9. ^ Daniell, Lewis E. (1887). Personnel of the Texas State Government with Sketches of Distinguished Texans, Embracing the Executive Staff, Heads of Departments, United States Senators and Representatives, Members of the XXth legislature. Austin: Press of the City Printing Company. p. 19. LCCN 19016834.
  10. ^ "Hilmar Guenther Moore". Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster. December 6, 2012.
  11. ^ Stottlemyer, Cory (August 21, 2013). "UT scholarship named in honor of former Richmond mayor". Houston Chronicle.
  12. ^ "The Honorable Hilmar G. Moore Endowed Scholarship". University of Texas at Austin. June 12, 2013. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Adams, Denise (May 6, 2005). "Moore's headstone to get historic marker". Fort Bend Herald. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013.
  14. ^ Connolly, Kevin (November 27, 2008). "Texas mulls defeat in battle of ideas". BBC News.
  15. ^ "60-year mayor running for re-election". KLTV. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2010.

External links[edit]

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 41 (Richmond)
1897–1899
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 8th congressional district

1905–1913
Succeeded by