Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Hugh Moffitt

Hugh Moffitt, eldest son of Charles and Elizabeth Moffitt, was born in Randolph County, N.C., March 21, 1806. His father, Charles Moffitt, was born in North Carolina, and in 1798 removed with his father, Hugh Moffitt, Sr., to Ohio, where the latter died in 1799. Charles Moffitt returned to Randolph County, N.C., where he was married in 1804 to Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah and Margery Cox. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom six still survive — Hugh; Tacey, widow of William Cloud; John, of Indianapolis; Ruth, widow of Dr. J. J. Perry; Abijah; Anna, wife of Eli Stubbs, of Richmond, Ind. Jeremiah, Eunice, Hannah, Mary, Nathan and Elizabeth are deceased. In 1811 Charles Moffitt removed with his family to Richmond, Ind., and settled on a quarter-section of land, a portion of which is owned by our subject. In 1816 he erected a grist-mill on the present site of the Stafford, or Quaker City, Mills, which he operated till his death, together with farming. He also owned a saw-mill where Aiken's Woolen Mill now stands. He died in his seventy-second year. His widow survived till Nov. 30, 1860, and died in her seventy-seventh year. They belonged to the Society of Friends, both being Elders of the society. Hugh Moffitt was five years of age when his parents moved to Richmond. His youth was spent in helping his father clear the farm and in taking charge of the saw-mill, and his education was obtained at the subscription schools. In 1828 he was married to Sarah, daughter of William and Martha Childre, who came from Ohio to Wayne County, Ind., in 1827, and in 1830 they, with Mr. Moffitt and wife, removed to Boon County, Ind., where Mr. Moffitt followed farming till 1840. He then carried on the trade of cabinet-making in Thorntown, Boon County, till 1845, when he and his brother Nathan purchased the mill and a part of the homestead, where he still resides, and where Nathan Moffitt died in 1846. He has since sold the mill, but still owns the farm, and also owns some fine land in the county. Mr. Moffitt and wife have no children, but have reared the following from childhood — Mary Barker, wife of William Baxter, of Richmond; John Moffitt's children — Ann, Elizabeth and Charles; Martha Tyler, wife of Orin S. Mote, of Richmond; Ann McFerreor, wife of Albert S. Hunt; and Alice Maud Thomas, now living with them. Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt are members of the society of Friends, and he has served as Elder many years. Mrs. Moffitt's parents also belonged to the same society till their death. They had three children — Sarah, Phoebe and Uriah (deceased).

Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2