Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-13


very soil of the old district. His quick
sympathies attached him deeply to the
people with whom he was in touch, his
infinite humor and lively imagination
stored rich memories Of much more
connected with York than he gave in
his articles. It was with difficulty he
was persuaded to allow them to be
written. The appreciation shown for
these memories Of an old man was the
happiest incident Of his latter years.
In 1888 DR.. Moore married Sophonis-
ba, the eldest daughter Of Judge Mott.
After his marriage he removed to I'm
ION county, and from that time did not
practice his profession; but devoted
himself principally to agriculture. The
third year after his residence in Union
he was solicited to be a candidate for
the legislature and was elected by a
very handsome vote to represent his
adopted district.
Perhaps an incident Of this campaign
may not only throw light on the per-
sonality Of the man whose character
we've undertaken to sketch; but also
convey an idea Of the time methods
Of electioneering. DR.. Moore having so
recently come into the district was, Of
course, personally an entire stranger at
many of the precincts. A "big MUSTER
was always attended by the candidates
as good opportunity to form the ac-
quaintance Of the people and try to
gain votes. He, with two other candi-
dates-one a native of the district the
other a prominent lawyer, longer a res
ident of the town-were riding together
late one evening near the point where
the next day "the muster" was to take
place. They came to the forks in the
Mnnro f,,r 0ff !,
path taken by the others.
Where are you going, DR.. Moore 2"
asked one of the candidates.
II don't know; but there are too
many of us together to thrive. I'll
strike out for myself"
After some chatting on their side,
each took their own way. Presently he
overlook man riding along the road.
He checked his horse and began to
chat. After awhile he told the man
who he was. I'm sorry I can't vote
for you, DR.. Moore" said the man can
didly, "but I've promised Herndon and
Thomson to vote for them"
Dr. Moore showed a proper amount
of regret, but did not let it lessen his
good companionship. When they came
in sight Of the mans house. he said:
"Dr. Moore, as I said, I can't vote for
me. There's a corn shucking at one Of
my neighbor's tonight. You'll meet ev-
cry body there and get acquainted"
1t was a golden opportunity. DR..
Moore went. He sang corn shucking
songs; he shucked corn on bets Of GIN
ger-cake and persimmon beer, to be
paid next day at "the muster" He
worked honestly; but as the farmers
were experts, he always lost. He told
jokes, he laughed peals Of merry laugh
ters at the jokes of others; he ate
heartily of the supper and Dragged on
how good everything was. In short he
captured the crowd. men and women.
The next morning he was the first
candidate on the ground. He bought
out the gingercake and persimmon beer
wagons. and when bets were claimed,
lost at the "shucking" the night before.
he was readyto pay up. When the rival
candidates. sure Of the field. came,
tide Of good fellowship with the crowd.
On the day Of election he had every
vote but one, at that box.
DR.. Moore served two terms in the
legislature: but afterward never allow
ed himself to be persuaded, although
often solicited, to be a candidate for
any office.
His plantation in Union was subject
to malarial fevers, and he got into the
way of summering for healths sake, at
Glenns springs. The place then was
little known to the state at large. Not
ing the therapeutic action Of the water
on different diseases. he became i'm
pressed with the great medicinal value
of the water. In 1888, he was the chief
person in forming a stock company,
with a capital stock of $4,000, to pur-
chase the spring Of Mr.. Glenn and de-
velop it. DR.. Moore was elected presi-
dent Of the company. At once a large
hotel was built and opened for the ac-
commodation Of the public. The sea-
sons were too short to make the invest
ment a paying one. In a few years
the company went into liquidation.
The outlay, however, was a boon to
suffering humanity and DR.. Moore new
er regretted the financial loss incurred
in the development of the springs.
In 1S41 DR.. Moore was elected cashier
Of the "Bank Of South Carolina" loca-
ted in Columbia. He went to that city
to live; but at the end Of two years he
found that the confinement Of bank life
was impairirg his health and he re-
signed his position.
After this he fixed his residence at
Glenn Springs. To the invalids fire.
quenting that resort he was helper,
comforter, encourager. 1t was said
that no one could be so Ill, but DR..
Moore could tell them of case similar
to their own, only a little worse, VINO
had come to Glenn Springs, persevered
in the use of the water and recovered.
His lively sympathy, medical profess
sion and fund of humor made him
factor hard to depict by pen and ink
in the life of the watering place.
Dr.. Moore was a splendidly hand
some man, with magnificent ply
siuue. He was six feet two inches in
height, weighed 225 pounds, and was
perfectly proportioned. His step was
elastic and his carriage erect even in
old age. He was a fine horseman,
beautiful dancer, made superb bow,
always wore the ruffied shirt of the old
regime, had dark hair and piercing
eyes, almost black.
To give an idea of what an athlete he
might have been, one day at Glenn
Springs, while watching some young
men who were jumping, he remarked:
although l am now so years old
believe 1 could jump as far" The
Young men insisted that he should try.
He consented. The elevation from
which they jumped was step seven
inches above the ground. His jump,
measured, was II feet and l inch,
which was thought to be so remarkable
a one that two young men marked 1t
with q peg of heart pine driven into the
ground. The narrator of this fact
writes, 1.-The peg could probably be
found now if one were to scrape away
the sand which has washed over the
spot"
When the eventide Of life set in, he
began to read for recreation, but in
systematic manner. When interested
in a subject he read all he could find
written from every point Of view. In
reading Smollett and Hume's History
of England, he became interested in
the history Of the Church of England.
Further reading convinced him of the
Historic Church." the Church Iden-
tified," and of Apostolic Succession"
Until then he had been a Presbyte-