Representative Malcolm Adelbert Moody

Malcolm Adelbert Moody (November 30, 1854 – March 19, 1925) was an American businessman and Republican politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Oregon from 1899 to 1903. His congressional service occurred during a significant period in American history at the turn of the twentieth century, when he participated in the legislative and democratic processes on behalf of his constituents in Oregon’s 2nd congressional district.

Moody was born on November 30, 1854, near Brownsville in the Oregon Territory, the eldest child of Zenas Ferry Moody and Mary Stevenson Moody. His father later became governor of Oregon, and the family’s movements reflected the mobility of many frontier-era families. In 1855, when Malcolm was still an infant, the Moodys moved to Illinois. They returned to Oregon in 1862 and settled in The Dalles, an important commercial and transportation center along the Columbia River. Growing up in this developing community, Moody attended the local public schools, receiving the foundational education that prepared him for later business and political responsibilities.

After his early schooling in The Dalles, Moody pursued higher education at the University of California, Berkeley. Following his studies, he returned to Oregon and entered the world of commerce. He joined his father’s mercantile business in The Dalles, gaining practical experience in trade and local enterprise. In addition to his work in the family firm, he was employed at The Dalles National Bank, where he further developed his understanding of finance and local economic affairs. These business and banking roles helped establish his reputation as a capable businessman and community leader.

Moody’s public career began at the municipal level in The Dalles. He was elected to the city council in 1885, marking his first formal entry into elective office. Building on this experience and local support, he was elected mayor of The Dalles in 1889 and served two terms in that position. As mayor, he was involved in overseeing the affairs of a growing city that served as a regional hub for commerce and transportation in north-central Oregon. His municipal service helped solidify his standing within the Republican Party and among voters in the region.

In 1899, Moody advanced to national office when he was elected as a Republican United States Representative for Oregon’s 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1899 to 1903, completing two terms in Congress. During these years he contributed to the legislative process and represented the interests of his constituents during a period marked by national expansion and economic change. He was handily re-elected to a second term, defeating Democratic challenger William Smith. However, amid internal party struggles within Oregon’s Republican ranks, Moody lost the Republican nomination in 1902 to John N. Williamson, which brought his congressional career to a close at the end of his second term.

After leaving Congress in 1903, Moody returned to The Dalles and resumed his mercantile business. He did not return to public office, instead focusing on his commercial pursuits and private affairs. Although no longer in elected positions, his earlier service at the municipal and national levels left a lasting imprint on the political history of The Dalles and Oregon’s 2nd district.

Moody never married. Local lore in The Dalles held that he was romantically attached to two sisters, Anne and Bessie Lang, but could not choose between them, and that his affection remained unrequited. At his death, he willed his house—the oldest home in The Dalles, later known as the Rorick House Museum—to the Lang sisters, linking his personal story to one of the community’s historic landmarks.

Malcolm Adelbert Moody died in Portland, Oregon, on March 19, 1925, after a long illness. He was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery in The Dalles, the city where he had grown up, built his business career, and launched his life in public service.