Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-09-10
A Model OF Mercantile Energy, Fndur-
anee, Pluck and Perseverance "A
Lesson Of the Times,
The Work Of Years Fame, Name and
Cre1it Resting on an Enduring Basis
OfPersOnal PrObity.
What Can be Done by an Intelligent Di'
rectiOn Of Business, Despite Civil
Wars and Mercantile Panics.


emporium n. OF manu'sc utes she can
boast compsr 4tively nothing. Her ccm
meTcs is, however, large aud generous,
and for the present aft Jrds compensa-
ton for over xty thousand people.
TIE growth OF that commerce in gen.
Grafton is a pleasant contemplation for
every lover OF Memphis-for every man,
woman and child who feels that he or
she has an interest in it, however re-
stricted or humble. Iti asOurce OF graft
fcation, as well as gratitude, to look back
through twenty five years aud trace, step
by sep, the advance OF the hamlet to
the proportions Of the village, and from
the village to the town, and thence
TO the city which II the admiration OF
all boho. iers; and it is most instructive
while doing this to recall the names OF
those who contributed OF their capital
ard energy to quicken this growth, to
enlarge our trade possibilities, open up
new outlets by rail or riNer, establish
banks, build stoTe-houses, and lay the
foundations OF those noble mercantile
establishments which are the proud in-
dces Of our wealth, progress and status
in the commercial world. 1t is ptCf-
able thus to turn back the pages # OuI
municipal history. and recall the men
whose largenoss oi heart and intellect
anticipated the fature of the central city
Of the Mississippi valley, who resljz3d
its situation as the future entTepot OF fUuI
Siates, limited in its outcome only by
the growth Of population. We could
name scores of such men, some of them
recently gathered to their fathers,h
many Of them ''still to the FORE" We
cottld mention the proprietors and build.
ers Of cur several lines of railroad, of the
owatrJ of the great lines of packets, our
in. ance men and bankers, and the
editors who from day to dsy, through
good and evil report, prompted an eager
public spirit, and fostered and kept
alive the idea: "Memphis against the
world" We could fill all the columns
Of this edition Of the APPEAL with the
struggles, trials and ambitions Of these
worthless who have "gOne BEFORE" or
who still ain upon the stage, active
as ever; but it will suit our present pur-
ose to select one who is fair type OF
The restless energy, untiring Zeal, intel
ligent foresight, and thorough knowl-
eGge OF business which make the MEM
ory and labors Of the fathers OF oar city
precious legacy for Us all. W iiliam
r. Moore, the head OF the firm
of w lliRm r. Moore & Co., is thai one.
Fearle and outspoken on all questions,
living openly and above board manly,
plain life, devoid Of concealments, and
without reason for reserve, he has the
credit OF being one CT the most pro-
nc ICED Of Republicans In politics, and
yet one Of the most ready, prompt, sem
sible, matter. of-fsct merchants in the
State. Buying and selling principally for
flxy hn is al fn
emergency Of the market. Hs know,
where to buy and when to buy, al d
when and to whom to sell. Hs under
stands the wants Of the south, and kno VS.
how to meet them. H. knows the peo-
pie of the south, too, and can adapt him.
self 10 them, without conceding any
thing to their political prejudices, or
surTendering anything of the manliness
that's his distinguishing trait Of charac-
ter. Born at the south, and educated at
the south, he has no aspirations or hopes
separate from those which all entertain
as essential to the general welfare. He
has blszed different road to res 4ch that
welfare; that is all. Mr.. Moore is a
native Of Alabama. Hs was born in
Huntsville, in that State, but, early in
his boyhood, removed to Rutherford
county, in this Sta g, near Murfreesboro,
| where he worked on farm, going to
school on rainy days, to pick up the rudi.
ments of the education which he has
since then turned to SO good an &C
| count. Here he remained until fifteen
" ars of age, when he went to Nashville
and was employed in the dry goods store
cf r G. M'Nairy, and afterward in
that Of E3kin & Co., where he remained
uatil after maturity, removing TO this
city in 1859 with the lamented Joseph
81. Shepherd, with whom he founded
the house OF Shepherd & Moore, of
which William r. Moore & Co. are the
successors. From the first the venture,
new to Memphis, was successful. But
war came on in 1861, Mr.. Shepherd dieE
In 1852, and the firm was dissolved. Mr..
Moore established the present firm, of
which Mr.. John f. Watkins, his half.
brother, is the company. The same un.
varying success has attended him that at
the frat made Shepherd & Moore's the
envy of the wholesale dry goods trade of
the south. Sharp and shrewd, Mr..
Moore hes lost nothing by the frank and
candid expression Of his political views.
Those who differed with him condemned
but admired, and Offering, as he did,
the solid inducement of cash ssles al low
rates. he was always able to command
purchssers-so true is it that trade and
barter never can be controlled by preju-
dice or passion, but by coOl judgment
and self.interest. Severely crlticized by
the press, a mark for detrsction and
envy, he steered hiI course regardless of
const gu snces, occasionally indulg-
ing in political controversies
and heated debates, in which,
as in trade, he always proved himself
entitled 10 the respect Of his opponents
and the confidence of those who agreed
with him. We shall not be understood as
| claiming for Mr.. Moore that he is poll
tician; on the contrary, it is his proud
boast that he is merchant, and under
no circu instances could be induced to
become an office-seeker. His rivals in
business have sometimes sought to take
advantage OF his free expGessilD OF
what to many in this section are dis
tasteful political views, in an uDgener0us
attempt to build themselves up at his
| expeLss. To the credit Of the American
| name ''let 1t be recorded" )" that the peo.
| pie would not lend themselves to 80
| contemplate q purpose, and have al.
= Aays continued TO trade with the mau
whom they have found always to be
|
thorough man OF business, and q gen.
tleman in his intercourse with the
world. While occasionally dabbling il
politics, Mr.. Moore has not been un-
mindiu OF the commercial interests o
the city. His voice has frequently beer
lifted in the chamber OF commerce, and
always on the de of what he deemed
best for Memphis. His talents and ex'
perience have ever been placed at the
service of the city, and he has been 6
generous contributor to every en-
terprise that met with the approval o.
J his guild. AS we have said above, Mr.
| Moore's partner is Mr.. John +. Wat
kins, a gentleman who was reared anC
educated under exactly similar cIrcum
stances, and who, like him, graduated
from Nashville dry-goois house. Mr.
Watkins shares with Mr.. Moore the re
spon Utility of conducting the business
which has gown to proportions r, fleet
ing the highest credit upon the energy
tact and zasl OF both. Mr.. Watkin
served through the war in the Confede
rate army, doing his duty where h,
thought hs could best find 1t, and lik
his half-bi other has opinions outside o
business, aud lives up 10 them. Taksl
together, they form "team" it woult
be difficult TO match aDy ywbeTe-a team
who, during seventeen years, have pait
! all their obligations and never one