Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

HORACE D. MOORE

Among the gentlemen prominent in the early business circles of Saugatuck may be mentioned H. D. Moore, whose birth was at Ryegate, Vermont, in 1821 and who lived to the venerable age of ninety-three years.

He began his career as a tanner but not liking it, at the age of eighteen with all his worldly goods wrapped in a small bundle, he crossed one of the green mountain ridges and found work in a saw-and-shingle mill, he then in 1841 found a more lucrative job but the work was arduous; breakfast was eaten at half past three, dinner at one and supper at nine o'clock, but with untiring perseverance he endured this ordeal for four years, and in 1846 was a manager of milling interests at Monroe, N. H., in 1847 starting a lumbering business, called Richardson and Moore, in which they made large profits. 1855 found him a traveler in the West and in 1856 he invested his capital in Allegan County and in 1857 he opened extensive lumber interests and bought pine lands at Saugatuck (The Flats), where he continued until 1875, having cut many million feet of lumber and employed many tugs and sailing vessels to transport it.

In 1864 he was married to Miss Tamar Phillips and they lived to celebrate in Allegan their golden wedding, in 1914. Four daughters were born to this couple, Maude, dying of scarlet fever in childhood, Winnie Moore Sherwood of Allegan, Pearl Moore Gray of Washington, D. C., and Pansy Moore Fulton of Washington, D. C.

While in Saugatuck the Moores had a pretentious home (now the Mamerow property) on the Kalamazoo river and many were the social gatherings held under their hospitable roof.

The family were members and promoters of the All Saints Episcopal church.