From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Frank Gilbert Moore was born in the Parsonsfield/Newfield area of southwestern Maine, November 5, 1847, the fifth of six children. He left the family farm as a young man and found employment in a shoe factory in Topsfield, Massachusetts. While there he met Susan Silver Averill, daughter of Thomas and Ruth Carr Averill.
In 1872 Frank left Topsfield, traveled overland to the Ohio River, then by river to New Orleans where he obtained passage to Galveston, Texas. An older brother, Charles H. Moore, had established a lumber business there. Frank’s intention in coming to Texas was to become a rancher. However, a Mr. E. P. Cowan persuaded him and his brother, Charles, to form a partnership with him to establish a building material business in Dallas, which was then the end of the recently completed H. & T. C. Railroad.
Mr. Cowan and Frank Moore arrived in Dallas early in 1873 and opened E. P. Cowan & Company on the north side of Elm Street in the block presently occupied by the InterFirst Two building. The E. P. Cowan sign is clearly visible in an early picture of Elm Street looking west. Their ad is also on page 132 of the 1875 Dallas City Directory. Frank Moore was an alderman of the City of Dallas for one term during the 1880s. He was also a director of the National Bank of Commerce.
After several years in Dallas, Mr. Cowan, lured to Colorado to seek his fortune in silver mining, sold his interest in the building supply partnership. C. H. Moore also sold his interest and the firm became Frank G. Moore & Co. The firm name became Moore & Rawlins when Mr. Rawlins joined Frank Moore in the business which finally became Moore & Company when Mr. Rawlins left and Ira T. Moore joined his father.
In 1875 Frank Moore married Susan Averill from Topsfield, Massachusetts. They established their home on the south side of Young Street second door east of Akard Street, which is now part of the Dallas City Hall site. They had two sons, Ira T. Moore born March 3, 1878 and Alfred Averill Moore born June 6, 1881. Frank G. Moore died March 31, 1906 and Mrs. Moore died June 5, 1920.
Ira Moore married Lillie Bassett June 6, 1906. They had three children: John Frank, Mrs. Ben (Martha Moore) Boren, and Mrs. W. L. (Virginia Moore) Todd, Jr. Lillie’s father was John M. Bassett, chief engineer of the Dallas Water Department from 1891 until his death in 1919. During his tenure both Bachman Lake and White Rock Lake were built as well as the Turtle Creek Pump House which is located between Hines Blvd. and the Dallas North Toll Road.
By John F. Moore, Dallas.
