Legislator Details
Joseph B. Moore portrait from Nimmo p.84
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Ella L Bentley, dau. of Jasper and Julia Bentley, 12/3/1872, in Lapeer, MI; no children
Number of Children: 0
Background
Education:
district schools;
attended Hillsdale College in 1866, completed his MA degree in 1879 and LLD in 1903; attended University of Michigan, law dept.
Biographical Sketch:
Of Welsh ancestry. Son of Jacob Jonathan and Hapsabeth (Gillett) Moore. He worked in his father's furniture and spinning wheel factory and sawmill until going to college at 18. He taught while studying law. He taught in Moscow Plains and "Rough and Ready Corners" [about 4 miles from Plymouth] in Wayne County; made principal for the Village of Waled Lake in Oakland Co. He moved to the city of Lapeer in 1869 as deputy county clerk. He was admitted to the bar in October of 1869. He was elected Lapeer County circuit court commissioner in 1870; was county prosecuting attorney from 1873-77; and in spring 1874, mayor of Lapeer. Served as circuit court judge, 1888-96. Elected to the supreme court in 1896, serving nearly 30 years; served as chief justice 1904, 1905, 1912 and 1920. Retired in 1926 at age 80. He advocated for the League of Nations and was one of 3 on a commission to select lands for a permanent reservation for the Mission Indians of California. member of the Rotary Club
Notable Facts:
Attended Hillsdale with poet Will Carleton.
Died of prostate cancer in Grace Hospital, Detroit. Last residence was in East Lansing.