John Marks Moore Explained

Office:	Secretary of State of Texas
Governor:	L. S. Ross
Term Start:	January 22, 1887
Term End:	January 22, 1891
Predecessor:	Joseph Wilson Baines
Successor:	George W. Smith
State House3:	Texas
District3:	42nd
Term Start3:	January 9, 1883
Term End3:	January 13, 1885
Predecessor3:	Lafayette L. Foster
Successor3:	Joseph T. Webb
Birth Date:	23 January 1853
Birth Place:	Houston County, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:	Edna, Texas, U.S.
Module:	Embed: yes Burial Place: City Cemetery, Austin, Texas, U.S. Alma Mater: Washington and Lee University Cumberland University Law School

John Marks Moore (January 23, 1853 – September 28, 1902) was an American attorney, Democratic politician from Texas, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, and the Secretary of State of Texas during the term of Lawrence Sullivan Ross.

Early life

John Marks Moore was the son of George Fleming Moore, who was a chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. His uncle was John Marks Davenport Moore (March 21, 1811 - August 20, 1892), a member of the Texas House of Representatives between 1875 and 1876.^[1] John Marks Moore attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and then attended law school at Cumberland University Law School in Lebanon, Tennessee.^[2]

Career in public service

Moore's public life began when he was elected district attorney of the Twelfth Judicial District.^[2] He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1883 and held the position until 1885.^[3] Moore was the Secretary of State of Texas during Ross's term as the 19th Governor of Texas, from 1887 to 1891.^[2]

Death and legacy

Moore died on September 28, 1902, at his home in Edna, Texas.^[4] He had three children, including George Fleming Moore. Moore financed the building of the Moore-Flack House in Austin, a historic building built in 1887, during his term as Secretary of State.^[5] He sold the property in 1901 to Laura A. E. (née Metz) Flack. The house is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark,^[6] which it was designated in 1984.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: John Marks Davenport Moore. Texas Legislators: Past & Present . Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
2. Book: Daniell, Lewis E.. Personnel of the Texas State Government with Sketches of Distinguished Texans, Embracing the Executive Staff, Heads of Departments, United States Senators and Representatives, Members of the XXth legislature. 1887. Press of the City Printing Company. Austin. 19016834. Legislative Reference Library of Texas. October 28, 2023. 19. The Secretary of State, was born in Houston county, Texas, on the twenty-third day of January, 1853. His education was begun in the common schools of the State. He was for a time a student of Washington and Lee University, Virginia, and graduated from the law school of Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee. In his chosen profession, he has attained a good degree of success and prominence. His public life began by election to the office of district attorney of the Twelfth Judicial District. He was also a member of the Eighteenth Legislature of the State of Texas, from the Forty-second Representative District. His present position is Secretary of State under Governor Ross, in which office he gives evidence of adaptability and public approval. Mr. Moore's religious predilections are with the Episcopal Church. He is also a Royal Arch Mason. He was married to Miss Estelle Grace of Eastland county, on the eighteenth day of March 1884. He is five feet eight inches high and weighs one hundred and sixty pounds. His complexion is dark, black hair and eyes, and his person stout and robust. He thinks not for himself, and deals in positives, not negatives. He is not wanting in the elements of a true American gentleman, and does not discard true politeness in the midst of business..
3. Web site: John Marks Moore. Texas Legislators: Past & Present . Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
4. News: September 29, 1902. Hon. J. M. Moore Died at his Home in Edna . live . The Houston Daily Post. XVIIIth Year . 178 . University of North Texas. https://web.archive.org/web/20231028231512/https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth83479/m1/5/?q=moore. October 28, 2023. October 28, 2023.
5. Web site: Moore-Flack House. the Historical Marker Database. October 28, 2023.
6. Web site: Exhibit B-1: City Landmark Sites that are also Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (RTHL) or State Archeological Landmarks (SAL) as receiving the Partial Exemption from Ad Valorem Taxes for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. City of Austin. October 28, 2023.
7. Web site: Moore-Flack House. Texas Historical Commission. Texas Historic Sites Atlas.