Portraits of Pioneers
William L. Moore

"Dad" Moore was one of the founders of the town of Lone Pine, as well as one of the most 
respected of the old guard of Inyo pioneers.  His residence in Inyo dated from some time 
in the early '60's.  A man of personal bravery, he took an active part in the Indian 
warfare.  He and Tom Passmore led the party which trailed the Indian murderers of Mrs. 
McGuire at Haiwai, after the camp of the murderers was found he led the company which 
all but exterminated that band.

At the second Inyo county election, in 1867, Moore was elected Sheriff over Thos. May.  
In the election of 1869 he was defeated by A. B. Elder by three votes.  He served as 
Under Sheriff for several terms.

When Tom Passmoore was murdered in the discharge of his duty, February 1878, leaving the 
office of Sheriff vacant, "Dad" Moore, his Under Sheriff, was appointed to succeed him.  
A year and half later he too fell from a fatal bullet.  Two men named Tessier and Welch 
were engaged in a row in a saloon in Independence.  Welch had a pistol drawn, and Moore 
stepped in between the men to separate them.  As he did so, the pistol in Welch's hands 
was discharged.  The ball passed through the Sheriff's watch, and through his body, 
severing the aorta and causing death in a few minutes.  Welch used the insanity dodge as 
a defense, and escaped with a ten-year sentence.

"Dad" Moore was a brother of J. J. Moore, also one of the pioneers of the county.

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, September 9, 1909 - Front Page
Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, December 31, 2004