The border vidette., 1933-05-06
ARlZONA's GOVERNOR

Arizona's Governor, Dr.. Ben
! jamin Baker Moeur, was born at
Decherd, Tennessee, Dacembe
22nd, 1869. He attended the
common schools at Hondo. Texas,
then entering the University OF
Arkansas graduated with big b
scholastic honors, receiving
gold medal for the highest aver
age in his class. He attended
Rush Medical College at Chicago
| for post graduate work. For z
generations there have been
physicians in the Moeur family.
DR.. Moeur married Honor Clint
Anderson on June 10Th, 1896.
and, accepting Horace Greeley's
advice, be went west" in real
earnest, to the roaring town of
Tom bstone. where be registered
bis new medical certificate, and
later served for short time as
relief physician at the Copper
! Queen Hospital in Bisbee.
Hospital work. however, prov
ed too narrow for the young,
ambitious doctor and soon resi-
dents of Tempe welcomed to the
college town Dr.. Benjamin Baker
Moeur and bis bride. There be
practiced medicine for thirty.six
years until on November 9Th,
| 1892, be was elected governor of
the state by the largest majority
ever given an Arizona Chief Ex.
ecutive.
Ia Arizona territorial days,
when paved streets and automo.
biles were unknown, DR.. Moeur
drove horses by relay to reach
the sick. A horse was driven
| for fifty or sixty miles then put
to rest and fresh horse taken
on the journey. On very long
trips a team was always used in
relay. When the country was
in flood guide walked ahead
With a lantern to guide the young
! physician riding in an. old buck
board vehicie to make sick calls.
During the construction of the
Roosevelt Dam DR.. Moeur reach
ed sick workers by crossing the
canyon in a cable cage. No trip
was too long or hazardous for
the college-town doctor to make,
even though he knew there was
no money ia sight for the
Tourney or for medicine.
| Upon the entry of the United
States into the World War. when
the young manhood of Arizona
was called to the colors Dr..
Moeur, feeling that it was his
duty to serve bis country to the
utmost, Immediately forwarded to
each and every man entering the
service, and to whom be had
rendered medical attention, re-
ceipt in full for any and all
monies due him for such services.
| Dr.. Moeur did not stop at this.
He then notified the family of
each of these men that he was
ready and willing to render them
medical attent tion throughout the
period. of the war, and for such
attention there would be no
charge. This was his voluntary
uffering to his country.
One particular incident in Gov
error Moeur's life gives a splen
did Insight into the character of
the man 10 all bis personal con.
facts and business dealings. The
Governor owns several ranches
in the Salt River Valley and
few years ago be leased ranch
to local parties for q period of
five years. AS a good business
man be required them to give
him mortgage on their dairy
cattle, implements, etc, to
guarantee the payment Of the
rental. About year after the
execution of this lease the land
covered thereby become water
logged, frequent occurrence in
the Salt River Valley prior to
the installation of the present
pumping system, and was abso
lutely useless for any farming
activities. Dr.. Moeur was not
responsible for this misfortune,
nor were the men to whom the
land was leased. These gentle
men realized that they we're faced
with the certainty of losing
everything they had. A short
time thereafter they received n
telephoned request to meet Dr..
Moeur in his Office. After talk
ing matters over with them a
few moments DR.. Moeur reached
into his desk, pulled out and
handed to them an envelope,
making this comment. Here is