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

1386

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

the vicissitudes of business, and has come to success through the avenue
of difficulties and from beginning in very modest circumstances. Five
years ago when he started as a lumber dealer, his capital was only nine
hundred dollars, and it was his experience, his known ability and integrity which were the most important factors in his successful progress.
Charles E. Moore was born in Ontario, Canada, May 5, I859, and
is a son of Simon P. and Louisa (Keeler) Moore, the former of whom
was likewise a native of Ontario, and of staunch German lineage, and
the latter a native of New York. Simon P. Moore was reared and educated in his native provinces, and acquired the trade of carpenter, and
on coming to Michigan he located near Spring Lake in Ottawa county,
and followed his trade both at Spring Lake and Grand Haven. He is one
of the leading contractors and builders of Ottawa county, was a man
of sterling character, he and his wife were devout members of the Baptist church, in which he is an official and his politics was Republican and
he was devoted to the best ideals of citizenship. Simon Moore was a
son of Peter Moore, a native of Pennsylvania. The Moore family was
established in America by three brothers, who came from Germany, one
settling in Pennsylvania, one in Tennessee, and one in the state of New
York. Peter Moore later moved to the Province of Ontario, where he
was a farmer.
Charles E. Moore when eight years of age, in I867, accompanied his
parents to Ottawa county, Michigan. He was trained in a country school,
worked on the home farm until he was nineteen, and 1878 identified himself with Muskegon. He became a lumber inspector, and followed that
vocation in its various branches until I90o. For nine years he served
as bookkeeper and lumber buyer for the Grand Rapids Desk Company
of Muskegon Heights. The failure of the company resulted in Mr.
Moore being put in charge of the bankrupt affairs of the institution, and
when he had settled the business, he established a lumber yard for himself in Igo9. Since then he has prospered steadily, and has made money
in the lumber trade. He owns a large and attractive residence, situated
in the midst of beautiful grounds, near his place of business.
In I9oo Mr. Moore married Ada S. Lamb, who was born in Canada.
They are the parents of one child, Charles Edwin, Jr., now seven years
of age. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a trustee, his fraternal affiliations are with
the Muskegon Lodge No. I40 A. F. & A. M., of which he was master in
I9IO, with the Royal Arch Chapter, and at the present time he is treasurer of Muskegon Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., having long taken an
active part in Masonic circles. In politics, Mr. Moore is a Republican,
and upholds good government and efficiency and honesty in public affairs, but has little time outside of his private business interests to devote
to politics.
FREDERICK MORTIMER COWLES. Since the founding of Lansing as
the capital of Michigan the Cowles family have been one of the most
prominent in that locality, and the name is still represented in that city
by Mrs. Nelson F. Jenison, Miss Lizzie B. Cowles and Miss Lucy D.
Cowles, daughters of the late Frederick M. Cowles.
Frederick M. Cowles was born at New Berlin, CEhenango county,
New York, February 3, 1824, and died at Lansing, Michigan, January
I6, 191o. He married Delia L. Ward, who was born at Middlebury, New
York, August 13, 1835, and died at Lansing, July I, I895.
In 1833 the Cowles family moved from New York to the Western
Reserve of Ohio, settling at Chardon. In 1842, with his brother, Joseph
P., Frederick M. Cowles came to Alaidon, Ingham county, Michigan,