The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-28
OBITUARY..
COL. EDWARD MOORE

A life should be valued by what IL has
accomplished for the world. A death
should be mourned for the loss which Il
has caused 10 q community. Measured
by these standards no life has reached 9
higher value In this community than that
of Edward Moore and no death viii BE-
more sincerely incurred than his. Hi
life for more than thirty years bad been
a constant struggle against the effects OF
disease contracted In the civil war, but
his fortitude and cneerfulness sustained
him until he breathed his last on the
twenty seventh day of January. 1899.
Edward Moore was born ut Portland,
February 18th, 1887. and had he lived
another month would have been sixty
two years of age. His father was William
k. and his mother Agnes A. Moore. I'D
wards early education was limited,
having been confined to the public schools
Of Portland until he was eleven years OF
ag,. when he went to sea as q cabin boy.
but. later in life,-such was his diligence
and perseverance,, acquired an
excellent literary taste and from time TO
time accumulated valuable books until
he had formed large and well selected
library. it being, at least upon military
subjects, one of the most complete In
Maine. At an early age he learned the
last makers trade and was firmly estab-
lished In that business at Portland be-
fore the war broke out, having a regular
ly equipped factory with such appliances
as were in use at that day.
After three years Of service in the war
of the rebellion, OF which more later, Col
Moore returned to his home in Portland.
1t required nearly two years for him to
get his health sufficiently restored to en-
able him to engage in any active pursuits,
but be soon entered into the business Of
railroad bull ling. being engaged in 1868
and 1869 In the construction Of the Knox
and Lincoln railroad in Maine and the
Sugar River railroad in New Hampshire.
Later hs devoted his energies, and most
successfully too, to the occupation OF
dredging and the building Of government
docks and Qualifications His accomplish
ments In his new line attracted universal
attention, some Of the engineering feats
performed by him being really wonderful.
The most noticeable of which was the
removal of the famous "Noonday Rock"
on the California coast which had long
been a menace to navigation. This was
accomplished BY the use of nitro-gly cerine
which was exploded with the use of one
wire only, the return current being sup
piled by the water. The first attempt
was successful and in a single day-in
fact in moment of time after the pre-
liminary preparations designed and die
tated by the skilled operator had been
mcde-this dangerous rock had disap.
peared.
In 1877 Col. Moore formed copartner.
ship with Augustus X Wright of this city
under the style of Moore s. Wright which
existed and continued TO do a very large
and prosperous business as contractors
until the death of the senior partner.
This firm obtained and carried out the
contract to build the Louise docks and
embankme1ts at Quebec, this being one
of the largest undertakings of the kind
ever entered into in North America.
Moore 81 Wright firm have executed n
large number OF contracts for public
works for the U. S. government and
every one successfully.
Colonel III core had ample opportunities
for distinction in public life, but had no
desire for political fame. He had always
been a citizen of Portland until he re-
moved to Deering in 1876, where he had
al and
large farm, both of which he greatly
improved His home was an ideal one,
presided over by his devoted wife, VIII ose
maiden name was Clara A. Webb, daugh-
ter of Nathan Webb of Portland. Hither
had been collected from distant points tine
works of art. including rare old paintings
of which Col. Moore was passionately
fond. The farm had been SO far improved
as to support a large stock OF line horses,
many of which were OF high pedigree ana
of great value. Here Ii was the CUlonel's
custom to receive with gracious welcome
his numerous friends. No business cares.
no matter how pressing. prevented his
giving fun attention to the amenities of
life. Refusing all nvertures for political
office until 1886 he finally allowed himself
to be elected IL this State Legislature as
representative from Deering and filled
creditably that position during tho ses-
State Senator from Cumberland County
in which capacity he became chairman of
the Committee on Railroads. He was al
ways Republican in politics
brilliant as was his career as "a business
man and close as were his friendships
among business men, Colonel Moore's
strongest friendships existed among those
with whom he served in the Civil War.
Under President Linooln's call for 300,
ono more" issued in 1862, Gov. Washburn
of Maine, iss.ed his proclamation, July
4th, 1862, calling for Names quota of
volunteers Steps were immediately
taken to recruit the 18th regiment of
Maine Volunteers, an infantry regiment
which was destined to participate in some
of the hardest fighting of the war. Ed
ward Moore was at that time conducting
large and prosperous business, but he
lost no time in closing up his business
affairs and joining this gallant body of
men, receiving a commission Aug. ~,
1862, as End Lieut.. of Co. ii of which
Almon l.. Fogg was Captain md Dudley
Ii. johnson LIST Lieut. Capt. Fogg fell
mortally wounded at Getty sburg and 1t.
johnson was killed at Charlottesville.
LIT. Moore was promoted to the LIST Lieu