Biography of Gov. Zenas Ferry Moody, 1882; State of Oregon *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: W. David Samuelsen - August 2002 ************************************************************************ Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon Frank E. Hodgkins & J. J. Galvin Published: Farmer and Dairyman Publishing House; Portland, Oregon; 1882 Governor Zenas Ferry Moody Zenas Ferry Moody, Governor of the State of Oregon, was born on the 27th day of May, 1832, iin Granby, Mass. His fathe rwas Major Thomas H. Moody. His mother was Hannah M. Ferry, an aunt of Senator T. W. Ferry, of Michigan, formerly Vice-President of the United States. Gov. Moody comes of good old New England Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Gideon Moody, having borne arms as a soldier during the Revolutionary w. He has proven himself worthy of lineage, and the principles which he imbibed on New England soil have been the guide of his whole subsequent life. The sturdy virtues of that stock are too well known to require comment; they have become historical. The public men of New England have led the van in every reform, and have taken a most prominent part in molding all of that history of which the American people are most proud. New England ideas have been infused throughout the whole of our national life, and we have come to expect from men of that nationality those sturdy qualities, which have contributed so largely to our happiness and prosperity as a people. Mr. Moody's childhood was spent in Granby. In 1848 he removed to Chicopee, Mass., where he remained the ensuing three years. On the 13th day of March, 1851, he sailed from New York for Oregon via the Isthmus, with a company, among whom was Hon. Samuel R. Thurston, the first Delegate to Congress from the Territory of Oregon. He came direct to Oregon City, then the principal town of Oregon, landing there on the 21st day of April, 1851. From this time until 1853 he was engaged on the United States Surveys as one o fo the "Freeman party," so called after James E. freeman, who stuck the first pin in the United States Surveys in Oregon, established the initial point of the willamette Meridian, and extended this Meridian to the Canyon Mountains. In 1853, Mr. Moody removed to Brownsville, Oregon, where he engaged in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1853 he was married to Miss Mary Stephenson, his present wife. Four sons and one daughter now constitute the family group. In 1856 he was appointed Inspector of United States Surveys in California. After completing his duties as such Inspector he went to Illinois where he remained four years, during a portio nof which time he was the Surveyor of Morgan county. He happened to be in Washington, D.C., when Fort Sumter was fired upon in 1861 and enrolled as one of a company formed to protect the city until the arrival of the regular troops. In the year 1862 he removed to The Dalles, engaging there in the mercnatile business. In 1863, though still continuing ins residence at The Dalles, he removed his business to Umatilla, the development of the Boise mines having contributed towards making this an important business point. Here he remained in business until the fall of 1865. In the spring of 1866 he built the steamer "Mary Moody" to operate on Pend d'Oreille Lake, and aftewards aided in organizing the "Oregon and Montana Transportation Company." This company built two other steamboats, constructed portage roads, established Cabinet Landing and projected other enterprises with the object of securing the trade of the Kootenai mines, and diverting, if possible, the trade of Montana towards Portland, just as is now being done by the committee of merchants operating under the auspices of the Portland Board of Trade. The route selected by mr. Moody in 1866 is the same as that over which the line of the N.P.R.R. Company now runs. This venture, however, was in advance of the times and resulted in heavy financial loss. In the fall of 1867 he engaged in the mercantile business in Boise city, where he remained for two years. In 1869 he disposed of his business interest there and returned to The Dalels, where he took charge of the extensive business of Wells, Fargo & Co. In the fall of 1873 he resigned this position, and in March, 1874, he was awarded the contract for carrying the United States Mail between Portland and The Dalles, and in connection with this contract, established a line of steamers to operate between the points named. In 1875 he withdrew from the management and control of the transporation line, and in the following year resumed business at The Dalles, where he resided until called to the executive chair. Since his accession to the Governship, his extensive business interests at The Dalles have been under the control and general management of his sons. Prior to the late civil war, Gov. Moody was a Whig. Since that time he has been an active an dpronounced Reupublican, his first Presidential vote having been cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. While always active in the Republican ranks, he has not sought office, though he has for many years been prominent in the Republican councils, and has been frequently urged for high stations to be filled by the State Convention of that party. In 1872 he was nominated by the Republicans in the Democratic county of Wasco for State Senator, and after an active canvass was elected by an undoubted majority. His election, however, was contested by his Democratic competitor, whose party friends, havinga majority in the State Senate, awarded him the seat. In 1880 he was nominated by the Republicans of Wasco for Representative, and although this county is Democratic by an average majority of nearly 200, Mr. Moody was elected by a majority of 150. At the session of the Legislature immediately following this election he was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives. So satisfactory was his discharge of duties of this position that his name was from that time forth prominently mentioned in connection with the nomination for the Governship. The next Republican State Convention was held in Portland in April, 1882, and on the 21st day of that month, just thirty-one years from the day upon which he first landed in Oregon City, he was nominated as Governor of the State. On the 5th day of June following he was elected Governor over his Democratic competitor, Hon. Joseph S. Smith, by a majority of 1,452 votes, although his opponent was one of the strongest and most popular Democrats in the State. On the 13th day of September, 1882, just thirty one years and one-half years from the day upon which he sailed from New York for Oregon, he delivered his inaugural message as Governor of the State. Governor Moody is a man of business capacity, whose executive ability has been tested for many years in the management of an extensive wholesale business in Eastern Oregon. He brings to the executive office a well-trained mind, exact business methods, and a keenness of perception in financial matters that qualify him to make at once a successful and popular Executive. With a courteous manner that prompts him to accord a respectful hearing to all, he combins discrimination and firmness of purpose. Physically he is of a splendid type. He is of compact build, with a handsome, ruddy face that indicates sound health, a keen, sparkling eye, through which is displayed the cheerful and sociable nature, determined to extract all the good things from life consistent with sobriety, and an elastic step and a rapid movement that bespeak the busy man of affairs. One who lives well, appears well, and, in all, promises to do well, he brings to his office a popular manner, with a dignity and reserve such as the station demands. He is one who will make it his sole business to attend to the duties of his office, and will not use it as a stepping stone to secure a greater prize. Judging from the nature of the man, from the habits which have characterized his business life, and from disposition he has shown since entering upon the duties of the executive office, we are justified in predicting for him one of the most successful administrations known in the history of the State of Oregon.