MOFFETT-William L. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

William L. MOFFETT, farmer and stockraiser, is numbered among the most useful and estimable citizens of Fountain County of which he is a native. He is pursuing his calling on Sec 28, Cain Twp, where he has a farm of 180 acres of land, which by extensive drainage, there being 6 or 700 rods of tiling on the place and by careful cultivation by methods best adapted to the soil, has been brought to its present high state of productiveness, making it one of the most fruitful farms in the neighborhood. The buildings are of a good class and are all well kept up and everything aroundt his pleasant homestead has an air of thrift and excellent management. Mr. Moffett devotes it to general farming and has it well stocked with a stock of standard breeds. Our subject was born October 18, 1841 on the old family home place in Jackson Twp and is a son of one of the earliest settlers of the county, Henry Moffett, who was a prominent and influential citizen of this part of Indiana for many years. When he was a very small boy, Henry Moffett's parents had taken him with them from their old home in the state of New York to Tennessee, whence they emigrated to Fayette County this state when he was 13. Four years later the family came to Fountain County where the father entered Government land in Jackson Twp as early as 1827. The grandfather of our subject died a few years after coming here and his land fell to Henry Moffett, who energetically took up the work his father laid down. He married Rebecca GLOVER, the daughter of a prominent man in the public life of the county, and much of the county business was entrusted to his care. At the time of his demise he held the office of County Commissioner, which he had filled 7 years, that being his third term. He was a leader among the Democrats of his township and exerted a wholesome influence in local politics. He was a man of high religious principles, who earnestly south the good of the community of which he was so important a member. He belonged to the Christian Church of which he was Deacon and bore an active part in the establishment of the Scott Prarie Church as one of its charter members. Mr. Moffett began life in Indiana in a log cabin, with a puncheon floor and from humble circumstances rose to a position of wealth among his neighbors. He was a sound and energetic farmer and he left a valuable farm of 120 acres which he had developed by persistent and well-directed toil. He and his good wife were the parents of 9 children, six of whom grew to maturity; two died in infancy and Zachariah died at the age of 7 years of milk sickness. The children living are Thomas, who is engaged in the drug business at Crawfordsville; Martha who lives with our subject; James, who is in the banking business at Covington; Christiana Elizabeth wife of Thomas Austor, a carpenter and contractor of Anderson; Winfield Scot, a resident of Crawfordsville and the Prosecuting Attorney of Montgomery County; and William L of whom we write. Our subject received a very good practical education in the public schools of his native township which he attended until he was past the age of 21, his first experience at school being in a little log schoolhouse characterisitc of pioneer times with its low ceiling and slab seats. When he attained his majority he adopted the profession of teacher for a while and taught successfully six winters. After his marriage he resided with his father in law three years, that is on the farm, and then took up his adobe on the place where he now lives and where he has since given himself to agricultural pursuits, he has since given himself to agricultural pursuits with the exception of some 18 months, when he was engaged in business as a merchant at Hillsboro. He is a popular and well known man, standing well as a shrewd, progressive farmer, as a citizen who has the best interests of the community at heart and as a considerate neighbor. He encourages the organization of socieites for the protection of man's property, for the preservation of law and order and for the advancement of the interests of his fellow farmers. He is a member of the National Horse Theif Detective Association and is President of the Fountain County Association, organized for the same purpose. He also occupies the same position with regard to the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. He is a Democrat with decided views on political questions and is one of the leaders of the party in his own county. He is a conscientious and valued mnember of the Christian Church being a charter member of Ingersoll Chapel and for 16 years he had held the office of Elder and Leader having been a member since 1857. Mr. Moffett is blessed with a good and true wife, who bore the maiden name of Mattie Cade. She is a daughter of Henry Cade, who was a prominent citizen and an early settler of Cain Township, where his father and located land when henry was 13 years old. Her parents, who were natives of Ohio were the parents of 5 children, four living. The mother's miaden name was Harriet McBroom and she and her husband are both deceased. Harriet, the wife of Manson Wilkinson who lives on her father's farm; and Rebecca and Henry, who are at home with their parents. The wife of our subject is a member of the Christian Church, she having become a member of 14 years of age; the children belong to the same church.