The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-06
GEORGE z. MOORE.

The people of Austin and of the ell
tire state of Texas are panied to know
that the distinguished citizen and
jurist, whose name heads this article,
no longer lives. He died in the
city of Washington, after but
few hours of sickness, on
Thursday, August 30. He was born
July II, 1922, in Ebert county, Geor-
gia, whence he moved when about six
years of age, to Alabama, in which
state he grew to manhood. He en-
joyed the benefits of q scholastic edu-
cation, completing his higher studies
first in the University of Alabama,
and then in the University Of Yir-
ginia, where the foundation for his
legal acumen was laid. He came to
Texas in 1876. and, after viewing the
field carefully, settled at Nacog-
doches, place noted in Texas
history as the point where
so many legal minds have grown into
solid maturity. While there he was
associated in the practice of his pro-
fession with Richard S. Walker, an
other name grown famous in the an
nails of Texas jurisprudence. In 1856
he settled at Austin, and was
the law partner of Judge Oldham.
He was one of the reporters
for the supreme court, and
from 1859 to 1861 issued vol
umes %, % ond "a of it's decisions.
AT the breaking out of the war be-
tween the states he entered the Con-
federate army, and became colonel of
the Seventeenth Texas Confederate
Volunteers, a cavalry regiment, which
did service west Of the Mississippi, in
Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas. He
served in the army until he became
an associate justice of the supreme
court, November |, 1862, being
named as successor to Judge
o. NJ. Roberts, resigned. He remained
on the bench as associate justice until
August, 1867, when Gov. Throckmor-
ton and the rest of the state officers
were removed as "impediments to re-
construction" From this time until
after the Inauguration of Gov. Coke,
January, 1874, he practiced law, in
partnership with Gen. Shelley, in Aus
tin. Then it was that what was known
as the "semi-colon court" composed of
Judges Evans, Walker and McAdoo,
gave way to the new supreme
court, composed of Judges Roberts,
Moore and Reeves. Judge Moore re-
manned associate justice until October,
1875, when Chief Justice o. NJ. Rob-
erts, the then Democratic nominee for
governor, resigned, when Gov. Hub
bard named Judge Moore as chief JUS
tice. He was elected chief justice by
the people in November and remained
on the bench in this capacity till
November, 1881. when, because of
declining health. he handed in his
resignation to his old associate on the
bench, Governor Roberts. The last
decision he rendered was in the case
Of Russell VS.. Farquhor, reported in
55 Texas. p. 355. One of the last acts
of Governor Roberts, before his term
expired, was to appoint Judge Moore
a regent of the state university, which
position he declined because of his
weak physical condition. In
1872 Governor Davis appointed
Judge Moore to look after
the states interests in the case of
Davis VS.. Gray, receiver, then in the
federal supreme court at Washington.
October 81, 1849, Geo. f. Moore was
married to Miss Susan Spyker, who
survives him, and was at his bedside
when he died. Six children live,
three boys and three girls, all hav-
ing attained manhood and
womanhood. Judge Moore was
attended in his last moments
by his devoted wife and his son, Bal
win, and by other relatives then in
Washington. A son and daughter
live at this time in Austin. Members
of a sorrowing family mourn the loss
of its beloved head. and thousands of
hearts join with them in sorrow at
the departure of one so noble and
true. His death is not only a private,
| but public calamity.