Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-06-30
GENERAL ANDREW MOORE

GFNEhAL ANDhEW MOOhE
address OF Mr.. Frank Moore on tn,
occasion Of the presentation OF por
. traits in the Courthouse, May s, 1909
General Andrew Moore whose hand
;, some likeness we see yonder, was thu
l son of David Moore, whose ancestors
came to this country from Ireland, be
: tween the years 1740 and ITO. Davit
Moore was on intelligent and progres
sive fsrmer, and lived at place called
"Cannicello," in the northern part Of
Rockbridge, then Augusta county,
near the present village Of Midway, OF
q Steele's Tavern.
General Moore's mother was Miss
: Evans Of Welsh descent. He was born
5 at Cannicello in the year 1852, received
!, his early training at what was then
known as the Academy, later Liberty
Hall, and now Washington g. Lee Uni
versity.
He taught school for short time and
then took trip to the West Indies,
which proved a very eventful voyage.
as the vessel in which he took passage
was wrecked and he and his compan.
ions were cast away upon desert Is
land, and they were compelled to live
upon a species OF lizard which were
plentiful. After while they succeed.
ed In hailing a passing vessel and fn-
ally reached home in safety. Having
thus seen enough Of the sea, Gen.
Moore took up the study OF law at
Williamsburg, and was licensed to
practice about tho year TIA.
The Revolutionary War came on
shortly after his admission to the
bar, and he entered the Army as
Lieutenant, in 177s. 1t Is said that as
soon as he received his commission az
Lieutenant he went to a log rolling in
the nsis hborhood, at which were pres.
emit 10 men capable Of bearing arms, all
OF whom he enlisted for bis command.
Shortly thereafter he secured his com.
plement OF 100 men and was ordered
to march towards the North. He
served with distinction In this war,
participating In many Of Its most i'm.
portant battles, and was promoted to
Captain. After several years. service
be resigned his commission and came
home. Still imbued with his never
failing patriotic spirit and love for his
country, he saw that now the time was
ripe for serving 1t In the capacity OF .
statesman and he entered practically
upon his public career.
His first office was as one OF the
representatives OF Rockbridge in the
House OF Delegates OF Virginia, where
he took prominent part In the de-
bates on the many important questions
of the day. He was a member Of the
Convention which met In Richmond in
June, 1888, to discuss and ratify the
Federal Constitution. He and his
colleague, Mckee, voted for the adop-
ton Of the instrument, the platform
on which they were elected being in
favor Of the adoption OF the Constitu.
tion. While the debates on the Consti-
tuition were In progress, number OF
the freeholders OF the county who
were opposed to the Constitu tion, drew
up and sent to them instructions, re- 8
curing them to vote against the iati-
fication Of the Constitution, but this
they declined to do. as the platform
on which they were elected was favor
able to the Constitution, and they felt
that instructions subsequently given
given were OF no effect. This action on !,
the part OF Gen. Moore, showed again =
nis fortitude, strength of character a. d q
Upon his return from the
he gave his constituents
IN opportunity OF expressing their r
aith In him, by becoming a candidate 6
It the next election, whsn he was
,lected over his competitors by vote !,
II 3 to /. .
He was the first member OF the I.
House OF Representatives under the IT
lew Federal Constitution, chosen from o,
aockbridge and was successfully I,
elected 10 this important office until
7e7. Decling the reelection to Con.
,ress, he was again returned to the :.
House of Delegates Of Virginia, where :.
lie served for some years, with much
lonor. Upon the election Of Thomas a
jefferson as President of the United .,
tates, he was again returned to Con-
'ress and took his seat Ia 1903 where -,
Ie remained for one year and wes then n
husen United States Senator by the N
ieneral Assembly OF Virginia, which r.
flee he held until 1909 when be with =,
rev and was soon thereafter appointed q,
J. y. Marshall for the District OF Vir- =,
inla, which Office no held until his death, ~
u the 1sth day OF April, 1921, at the
pe old age Of 70,
Thus we have seen that Gen. Mo ores r,
ublic service covered period OF
bout IS years, which can be said Of b,
wv men. In edition to the numerous NJ
ositions OF public trust held by him, q,
o was an honored trustee Of Wash -
lgton and Lee University, and rend- "a
red to that institution lasting services,
nd was largely instrumental In secur- NJ
,g the first endowment Of $4,000 for T,
lat inetiution from George Washing .,
IN. Gen. Moore was also most sue ~,
,ssful lawyer, and 1t Is said that when
8 would return from distant oourts, he ~,
ould have his saddle bags full of coin, Y,
ould empty Its conteuts and leave 1t