JOHN T. MOFFITT represents an old and pioneer family of Washington county. James Moffitt (grandfather), born in Ireland, November 4, 1766, on the banks of Loch Erin, emigrated to this country in 1789. He was married, September 18, 1791, to Elizabeth Nichols, and reared a family of nine children five sons and four daughters of whom one daughter and two sons are yet living. He was a weaver by trade, but, settling on a farm in West Pike Run township, this county, became successful as a farmer, leaving, at his death, which occurred when he was eighty-six years old, a large amount of property to his heirs. Elizabeth, his wife, died at the age of eighty-eight years, and both are buried on the old homestead. John Moffitt, son of James and Elizabeth Moffitt, was born December 2, 1804, and was engaged during the earlier part of his active life in boating coal and apples, making some trips to New Orleans. He was a strong supporter of the Republican party, and served several years as constable under Ephraim Blaine, the father of the late James G. Blaine. At that time any failure to pay an honest debt was considered a grave crime, punishable by imprisonment. Later in life he settled on the old homestead, and followed agriculture and stock raising. He was married to Hannah Mason. He died September 13, 1878, in the seventy-third year of his age, his wife following soon after; both were members of the M. E. Church.
John T. Moffitt, son of John Moffitt, was born August 14, 1844, and secured a limited education. On May 13, 1869, he was married to Mary E. Hormell, born March 31, 1850, in Guernsey county, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Hormell, who was born December 19, 1825, and on August 26, 1847, he married Minerva Lilley, who was born December 26, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Hormell were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are yet living. John T. and Mary E. Moffitt have had the following family: John H., born June 5, 1870; Victor Noir, born April 10, 1873; Thomas Edgar, born May 10, 1879; Guy, born June 4, 1886; Mary, born May 26, 1889, and Lillian, born April 12, 1875, died in the fourth year of her age.
Mr. Moffitt has taken pride in fine stock. He has been a breeder of Jersey cattle for eighteen years, was early in life engaged in raising fine sheep, and has on the farm (the old homestead), which he now superintends, a flock of thoroughbred Black-Top Merino sheep. He has created on his place excellent buildings. In political opinion Mr. Moffitt is a Prohibitionist, has filled the office of school director for two terms, and is road commissioner. He and his wife are identified with the Disciple Church, in which he is an elder.
Text taken from page 1316 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]