MOFFET, A. W. [Alfred Wade]

MOFFET, BROCKETT, SMITH, WRIGHT, MADDEN, THOMAS, THOMPSON, MCCOMBS, CARR

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/12/2014 at 18:23:32

Biography ~ A. W. [Alfred Wade] Moffet

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), Pp. 486-87.

A. W. MOFFET, one of the representative citizens, and an old and honored pioneer of Decatur County, now residing on section 16, Hamilton Township, is a native of Ohio, born on the Western Reserve, in Trumbull County, February 9, 1824. His parents, Zelotus and Sophronia (Brockett) Moffet, were natives of New York State, the father being of Scotch ancestry. They were married in Trumbull County, Ohio, and to them were born five children - Erastus, Alfred W., Wealthy Ann, Chauncey and James. In 1835 Zelotus Moffet moved with his family to Hancock County, Illinois, where he died in September of the same year, his body being the first buried in La Harpe cemetery. His widow subsequently married Dr. William Smith, a native of Maine. She died in Henderson County, Illinois, in November, 1843. Dr. Smith served as [a] surgeon in the Mormon Battalion during the Mexican war. He afterward went to Nevada, and was a member of the Legislature for that Territory. Alfred W. Moffet, our subject, spent his youth in working on the home farm. He attended school but thirteen months, but by study at home and close observation he obtained a good, practical education. He was married May 23, 1845, to Miss Lydia Ann Wright, who was born in Oswego County, New York, September 16, 1826 [1825 on her gravestone], a daughter of William and Magdaline (sic) Wright. To her parents were born nine children. The Wright family settled in Kane County, Illinois, in 1847, and in 1849 removed to Whiteside County, Illinois, and subsequently settled in Decatur County, Iowa. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Moffet, of whom only five are living - Mrs. Irene Madden, living in Butler County, Kansas; William, living on the old homestead; Mrs. Mary Thomas, living in Fayette Township; Joseph Judson, of Pleasanton; and, Nettie L., a successful teacher, living with her parents. Wealthy Ann died, aged seventeen months; Jane, at the age of nineteen years; Saraph (sic) died in infancy; James A., aged nine years; Julia Ann, aged seven years; and, Sophronia at the age of eleven years. Besides their own family Mr. and Mrs. Moffet have reared and cared for several orphan and friendless children. In 1840 Mr. Moffet united with the Mormon church and was baptized by Elder Z. H. Gurley, but in 1846, owing to a difference of belief in regard to spiritual wives, which afterward culminated in polygamy, our subject withdrew from the church. In 1861 he joined the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints, when he was ordained an elder in that denomination. In February, 1846, he removed from Hancock to Whiteside County, Illinois, where he lived till 1852. He then came to Iowa by team, before a railroad crossed the Mississippi River, and on arriving in Decatur County, located on the farm in Hamilton Township, where he has since made his home. He had but $9 in cash and his wagon and team when he landed here. His land was in its natural state, entirely unimproved, and here he experienced all phases of pioneer life. He frequently worked withhis team for a bushel of corn a day, which could have been bought for 25 cents. His milling was done at Nine Eagles, Iowa, on a horse mill. Leon had at that time but one log house, the residence of Dr. Thompson. Pleasanton was then unknown. Decatur County was then sparsely settled, the nearest neighbors in many places being ten and fifteen miles distant. The log cabin and log stable of pioneer days have been replaced by a good, substantial frame residence, and a large, commodious barn for his grain and stock, and where the wild-plum and crabapple tree flourish is now a good orchard containing the best variety of fruits. The farm, which contains 167 acres, is now well improved and under fine cultivation. Mr. Moffet has served five years as justice of the peace, has been a member of the School Board and county supervisor under the old law. He has reprsented the Decatur District as elder of his church at the General Conference for ten years, and has presided over the branch of this district about fifteen years. He baptized the first two that united with the church in this county, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker, and has given freely of his time and means for the Master's cause.

NOTE: Alfred Wade Moffet died January 10, 1905, Pleasanton IA. Lydia Ann (Wright) Moffet died in 1908, Pleasanton. They were interred at Dale Cemetery.

Lydia's father, William Wright, Sr., was born December 31, 1798, Herkimer NY, and died September 15, 1869, aged 70 years. Lydia's mother Magdalene (McCombs) Wright was born October 20, 1800, Oswego NY, and died February 5, 1869, aged 68 years, 3 months and 16 days. Lydia's sister, Rachel J. Wright, died at the age of 38 years, 1 month and 12 days on April 27, 1870. Lydia's brother, William Wright Jr., was born in 1830, Otsego County NY, and died at the age of 66 years, 5 months and 3 days on November 12, 1896. They were interred at Dale Cemetery.

Of Alfred and Lydia's eleven children:
Acenath J. Moffet, born 1848, IL; died 05 Mar 1866, Pleasanton IA; interred Dale Cemetery
Irene (Moffet) Madden, born 06 Jul 1849, IL
William Zelotus Moffet, born 01 Mar 1851, IL; died 26 Apr 1907, Shenandoah IA; interred Rose Hill Cemetery, Shenandoah IA
Mary (Moffet) Thomas, born 1853; died 07 Mar 1944, Pleasanton IA
Sophronia M. Moffet, born 1855; died 11 Apr 1866, Pleasanton IA; interred Dale Cemetery
James A. Moffet, born 1858; died 10 Mar 1966, Pleasanton IA; interred Dale Cemetery
Julia Ann Moffet, born 1859; died 25 Mar 1866, Pleasanton IA; interred Dale Cemtery
Joseph Judson Moffet, born Sept 1861
Jane Moffet
Sereph Moffet, born Dec 1863, Pleasanton IA; died 11 Jan 1864, Pleasanton IA; interred Dale Cemetery
Nettie L. (Moffet) Carr, born ca. 1864
Wealthy Ann Moffet, born 1865; died 1866

Transcription and notes by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014