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         REV. WILLIAM TURNER MOFFETT was born near Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind., July 27, 1837. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and removed from South Carolina some years previous to the birth of Mr. Moffett, because of their views on the question of human slavery. His early education was obtained at the Indiana State University, from which he was graduated in 1858. Desirous of preparing himself for the ministry, he entered the Theological Seminary of the Northwest, located at Monmouth, Ill., and controlled by the United Presbyterian Church, with which body he had identified himself. He completed his theological course in the spring of 1861, and in April of the same year was ordained and installed pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, of Somonauk, De Kalb Co., Ill. In the same month he was married to Miss Jennie M. Robb, of Monmouth, Ill., a young lady of great natural ability and a thorough classical education, having been graduated from Monmouth College but a short time before her marriage. She soon fell a victim to that dread disease, consumption, and in February, 1869, died, leaving a family of five small children to mourn a mother’s loss.

In February, 1872, Mr. Moffett was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Shepherd, of Xenia, Ohio, who is still living. The pastorate of the Somonauk congregation was a very successful one, and when that relation was dissolved in 1878 the organization contained over 200 members, and was one of the strongest of that denomination in the State of Illinois.

In the spring of 1879 Mr. Moffett received a call . . .

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. . . to the United Presbyterian Church, of Morning Sun, Iowa, which he accepted, removing to his new home in February of the same year. He remained in charge of this congregation until 1882, when he resigned, and located anew near Montrose, McCook Co., Dak., upon an unimproved farm, which he, with the aid of his two youngest sons, began to improve and cultivate, at the same time continuing to preach as opportunity presented. While here he was appointed General Missionary by the Home Mission Board of the United Presbyterian Church, and his sons having obtained other employment, removed to Woonsocket, Sanborn Co., Dak., where he could enjoy better railroad facilities for carrying on his work. Woonsocket is his home at the present writing, and he is laboring as pastor of the United Presbyterian Churches of Woonsocket and Bonilla, in addition to his mission work.