History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1315

ticipated in the battle of Bennington, on the Igth of July, I777. Of
the twelve children of William and Jane (Holmes) Moore the youngest
was William, who became the founder of the Michigan branch of the
family, as already noted in this context.
William A. Moore was eight years of age at the time of the family immigration to the wilds of southern Michigan, where he was reared
to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm and where he availed himself of the advantages of the common schools. When twenty years of
age he determined to prepare himself for the legal profession, and he
initiated his incidental studies at Ypsilanti, where he remained two
years. He then entered the literary department of the University of
Michigan, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of I850,
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, his having been the fifth class
to be graduated in that now famed institution of learning. After his
graduation Mr. Moore went to Salem, Mississippi, where he devoted
about eighteen months to teaching school. In April, 1852. in consonance
with his original plans for a future career, he began reading law, under
the preceptorship of the firm of Davidson & Holbrook, of Detroit, and
in January of the following year he was admitted to the Michigan bar.
He forthwith engaged in the practice of his profession in Detroit, and
here he continued his labors in this exacting vocation until the close of
his long and useful life. He eventually built up a large and representative
law business, in connection with which he was ever known for his close
application and his broad and exact knowledge of the science of jurisprudence. In the early years of his practice Mr. Moore gave special attention to admiralty law, which then constituted a most important phase
of legal business in Detroit, and he became a recognized leader and authority in this field of practice, in which he figured in nearly all of the
important cases brought before the courts in Michigan, besides which
he was frequently called to Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and Milwaukee
in connection with important admiralty issues. He became known as
an able trial lawyer, but his tastes and inclinations, coupled with his fine
technical knowledge and mature judgment, made him especially strong
as a counselor, in which department of practice his services were much
in demand at all stages of his professional career. Concerning Mr. Moore
these pertinent words have been written by one who knew him long and
well: "He united a judicial and independent character of mind, long
familiarity with the principles of law, excellent foresight, sound judgment and, above all, unquestioned integrity-qualities which admirably
fitted him to act the part of conciliator and harmonizer of conflicting interests. His convictions were not reached without careful investigation
and consideration, but a stand once taken was not abandoned for any
mere question of policy or expediency. All his interest was cast on the
side of morality, good government, obedience to law and the elevation of his fellows. No responsibility laid upon him was ever neglected
or betrayed. Many persons of far less worth have attracted a larger
share of public attention, but few have done more to conserve, in various ways, the best interests of the city."
Mr. Moore was a well fortified and stalwart supporter of the cause
of the Democratic party, though he never sought political office. From
I864 to I868 he was chairman of the Democratic state central committee,
and from the latter year until I876 he represented Michigan as a member of the Democratic national executive committee. From I859 until
I865 he was a member of the Detroit board of education, and for three
and one-half years of this period he served as a president of the board.
He was for many years attorney of the board of police commissioners
of Detroit; in I88I he was appointed a member of the board of park