Edgar G. Moore
Great Falls

History of Montana, Sanders, pg 1773

Having been identified with theatrical matters for nearly 
a quarter of a century, Edgar G. Moore, proprietor of the 
Orpheum Theater, one of the leading places of entertainment 
in Great Falls, is well qualified to cater to the public 
amusement.  Starting out in life a poor boy and in his 
youth experiencing numerous hardships, his early struggles 
served to make him self-reliant and to develop traits of 
character that have been of great value to him.  Mr. 
Moore is a native of Hamilton, Illinois, where he was 
born July 31, 1863, and belongs to an old and honored 
family.  His paternal great-grandfather, James Moore, 
was the founder of this branch of the family in America, 
settling first in Ohio, removing later to Indiana, and 
ultimately making his home in Illinois.  His maternal 
ancestors came to America during colonial days, 
participated in the struggle for independence and the 
War of 1812, and were early settlers in Indiana.  His 
older brother, William Moore, was for three years a 
soldier during the Civil War, being in the army of 
General Grant.  James Hamilton Moore, the father of 
Edgar G., was a native of Indiana and spent his life 
in buying and selling live stock, his death occurring 
when he was sixty-three years of age.  He married 
Hilda West, also a native of Indiana, who died at 
the age of sixty years, and they had a family of 
seven children, of whom Edgar G. is the youngest.

Edgar G. Moore, secured his education in the public and 
high schools of Hamilton, graduating from the latter with 
the class of 1879.  On completing his studies he spent 
several years at home, but at the age of eighteen years 
decided to make his way in the world and struck out for 
the west, settling first in Waterloo Iowa, where for 
three years he clerked in a grocery.  Owing to ill health, 
caused by the close confinement, he was obliged to give up 
his position and subsequently secured employment as a 
traveling salesman for the firm of Dyer Brothers, Minneapolis, 
dealers in musical instruments.  During the three and one 
half years that he was connected with this concern, Mr. 
Moore came into touch with numerous theatrical people and 
it was but natural that he should enter the profession 
himself.  Accordingly, he established what was known as 
the Moore Concert Company, an organization of artists 
that met with great success and was a general favorite 
in twenty-nine states.  Mr. Moore was the active head
 of this company for a period covering more than twenty 
years, but in 1908 decided to settle down and give up 
traveling.  He had seen towns and cities in every part 
of the Union, and it may be termed a compliment to Great 
Falls that he selected this city as the field of his 
activities.  That his faith in this city has been 
vindicated is shown by the large patronage maintained 
by his Orpheum Theater, than which there is no more 
popular playhouse in Great Falls.  He believes in the 
ultimate greatness of the city, is an ardent "booster" 
and has invested a great deal of his capital in real 
estate here , his modern residence being situated at 
No. 1208 Fifth Avenue North.  Mr. Moore ha always kept 
his performances up to the high standard that 
characterized them from the start, and his theater 
has a reputation for respectability.  He is a 
Republican in his political views but has taken 
no active part in public affairs.  He is a member 
of the Eagles, the Board of Commerce and the 
Traveling Men's Association and attends the 
Congregational Church.

Mr. Moore was married at Waterloo, Iowa, January 21, 
1884 to Miss Alma Farr, daughter of Foster Farr of 
Newhampton, Iowa, where the family has been well 
known for many years.  Two children have come to 
Mr. and Mrs. Moore: Harry, born at Newhampton, 
September 12, 1885, married November 2, 1909 at 
Helena to Miss Waneta Short, a native of Montana; 
and Hazel, born at Newhampton, Iowa, November 2, 1887.


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