Rev. Robert Moffett1

b. 9 November 1835, d. 11 January 1908
The Rev. Robert Moffett
photo from the coverleaf of his book titled "Seeking the Old Paths"
FatherGarner Moffett1 b. 18 Jan 1807, d. 5 Oct 1856
MotherMary Jane Beaty Davis1 b. 13 Sep 1814, d. 28 Jun 1894
Birth9 Nov 1835 Robert Moffett was born on 9 Nov 1835 in Rolling Prairie, La Porte County, Indiana.2,1 
Education1854 He entered Hiram College in 1854 followed by Bethany College (Virginia, now W. Virginia) from which he graduated in June 1859.3 
Occupation  Robert had not yet chosen a career, when in the summer of 1859 he unexpectedly found himself speaking at a church meeting in Pennsylvania. Finding his calling, he was ordained not long after as a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).4 
Marriage13 Sep 1859 Rev. Robert Moffett married Lucy Ann Green, daughter of Almon Beach Green and Mary Bennett (?), on 13 Sep 1859 in Norton, Summit County, Ohio.2 
Residence1859 After their marriage Robert and Lucy lived briefly in Carroll County llinois with Robert's parents before settling in Wooster, (Wayne Co.) Ohio where Robert served as a pastor for 5 years.5,6 
Residence1865  In Jan. 1865 they moved on to serve another church in Mount Vernon, Ohio, where their 4th and 5th children were born.7,6 
Cens-187010 Aug 1870  By 1870 the family had again moved, this time settling in Bedford, Ohio. The census enumerated them that year living in a household headed by Rev. Almon Green [Lucy's father]. Robert and Lucy had 5 children including a six year old son named Almon.8 
  The family had probably just returned from a visit to Robert's mother in Indiana. Three years later Mary Jane would journey to Bedford for the summer and fall.9 
  The families years in Bedford cannot have been easy. Though 2 more children (Lucy and Burnett) were added to the family they both died at a young age. A third child, Robert, born in 1869, died within a few days of his sister Lucy in 1874. 
Residence1875  In 1875 Robert and Lucy moved to 1830 E. 97th St. in Cleveland, Ohio.6 
  During these years in Cleveland Robert served as corresponding secretary of the Ohio Christian Missionary Society. He traveled the midwest doing missionary work on behalf of the Christian Church. His mother made a notation in her journal: "Robert Moffett at home to dinner March 16th 1883 a short visit on his way to Iowa on a Missionary Tour".

In 1882 Robert became the corresponding secretary of the General Christian Missionary Convention [at that time the church's national governing body], and helped guide it through a period of transition and subsequent growth. In 1895 he returned to his position with the Ohio society.6,10,11 
  The years in Cleveland also saw the death of three more children: Nellie, Wilbur and Almon. All 3 were young adults at the time of their death. Son Charles married in 1896 but his wife died the following year after giving birth to a son named Robert Lauren Moffett. Rev. Robert and Lucy appear to have raised their grandson following his mother's death. 
  Rev. Moffett was an inspirational speaker. He compiled a book of sermons which was published under the title "Seeking the Old Paths". He also authored hundreds of articles for Christian papers.6,12 
Death11 Jan 1908 Robert died on 11 Jan 1908 at his home at 1830 E. 97th St. in Cleveland at age 72. He had been ill for nearly a year.13 
Burial13 Jan 1908 He was buried on 13 Jan 1908 in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, following a funeral at Euclid Ave. Christian Church in Cleveland. The funeral address was given by Prof. E. B. Wakefield of Hiram College.3 
Obituary30 Jan 1908 Professor Wakefield, in his funeral address and subsequent obituary of Rev. Robert Moffett stated in part.....

"For thirty years, giving all the prime of his life, he strove to build up missionary and co-operative work among the Disciples of Christ. It was the day of small things and the work was difficult, but it was vital to us. It called for tact and breadth of view and indomitable purpose. In a brotherhood like ours there were, of course, workers who stood with him, but he had a rare ability at once to make the world feel the force of our plea, and our brethren to feel the vital importance of practical and united effort."3 
Obituary1908  Dr. Charles Moffett, Robert's son, also wrote an obituary. He commented that Robert was offered the presidency of both Hiram College and Bethany College twice, but remained in the work in which he was then engaged. Charles also told how his father always used a crutch, his knee having been crippled by an accident in childhood, but that he traveled around very spryly in spite of his condition.6 

Research Comment:

Robert's son stated that the family moved to 1830 E. 97th St. in Cleveland in 1875. This is the same address listed for the family on the 1910 census. It is also the address Robert used in 1907 when he submitted family data to the Clan Moffat Society and it is referenced as his place of death in a 1908 obituary.

However the 1880 and 1900 census enumerations record the family living at 715 Logan St. (or 715 N. Logan St.) in Cleveland. Logan St. does not appear on current Cleveland maps. However a Logan Ct. is shown and appears to be a cul-de-sac off of E. 97th St. about 2 blocks from 1830 E. 97th. Lucy was enumerated at 9722 Logan Ct. in 1920. That house appears to be on the corner of Logan Ct. and E. 97th St.

Is it possible that what is now Logan Ct. was at one time called Logan Street? Did the family maintain 2 residences? Or were the homes on E. 97th renumbered at some point? Did Robert and Lucy's home sit on the corner of Logan St. and E. 97th and actually carry both addresses?14,15,16

Related Links and Images:

Inside cover of Rev. Robert Moffett's book
See Mary Jane's Journal for images and text from the journal of Robert's mother, Mary Jane (Davis) Moffett
Text from an article about Rev. Robert Moffett's church work written in 1904 by John R. Gaff and published in John T. Brown's 1904 Churches in Christ7

Family

Lucy Ann Green b. 7 Jul 1838, d. 1920
Children
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Descendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited18 Jul 2008

Citations

  1. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 20.
  2. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "John Moffett-Isabella Davis family group sheet". This family group sheet was submitted by Rev. Robert Moffett.
  3. [S302] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Obituary - Robert Moffett". This obituary was published in the Christian Evangelist dated Jan. 30, 1908. It was taken from the funeral address at Euclid Ave. Christian Church, Cleveland, OH, Jan. 13th by Prof. E. B. Wakefield.
  4. [S2077] Joseph R. Jeter Jr., "The Secretary: Robert Moffett of Ohio," Discipliana, volume 39, No 1 (1979): 8. Rev. Jeter cites Robert Moffett, Christian Standard, XXXI (Nov. 30, 1895) 1145.
  5. [S1030] Wm D. Moffett household, 1860 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Freedom, p. 870 (added script), dwelling 317, family 306, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 12 of 22. Enumeration includes: Wm D. Moffett, 27, farmer, owns real estate: $19,000, pers. prop: $2,000, b. IN; John, 25, laborer, b. IN; Robert, 24, preacher, b. IN; Margaret D., 20, b. IL; Sally, 22, b. OH; Howard, 1/12, b. ?; Mary J.B., 44, b. VA; Frank Smith, 40, farm laborer, b. ?; Lucy Moffett, 22, b. OH.
  6. [S302] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Rev. Robert Moffett of Cleveland, Ohio". This obituary was written by his son Dr. Charles C. Moffett; it is not clear if it was published or not.
  7. [S2029] John R. Gaff, "Robert Moffett", in John T. Brown, Churches of Christ, 1904, Hans Rollman, The Restoration Movement Pages (http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/jtbrown/coc/… : accessed Jun 2008).
  8. [S2027] Almon Green household, 1870 U.S. cens, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, pop. sched., Bedford, p. following p. 15 stamped, dwelling 51, family 54, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2008, image 30 of 45. Household includes Almon Green, 63, Disciple clergyman, owns real estate: $10,000; pers. real estate of: $1,500; Robert Moffett, 38, Disciple clergyman, owns real estate valued at $2,500, b. IN; Lucy, 32, b. OH; Wilbur 10, Mary 8; Almon 6, Charles 3, Robert 1; all b. OH.
  9. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 49.
  10. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 22.
  11. [S2077] Joseph R. Jeter Jr., "The Secretary: Robert Moffett of Ohio," Discipliana, volume 39, No 1 (1979): 9-11.
  12. [S16] Copies of Rev. Robert's book are still available through interlibrary loan.
  13. [S2030] "Former Disciple Minister Is Dead", undated & unidentified (Cleveland, Ohio) newspaper clipping.
  14. [S2028] Robert Moffett household, 1880 U.S. cens., Cuyahoga Co., OH, pop. sched., Cleveland, ED 51, page 1A (p. 234 stamped), dwelling 1, family 1, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2008, image 1 of 39. Household includes: Robert Moffett, 44, minister, b. IN, parents b. VA; Lucy A., 41, wife, b. OH; Wilbur G., 19, son; Mary, 17, dau; Almon G., 15, son; Charles, 13, son; Nellie, 3, dau; Roy, 1, son; all children b. OH; resid 715 Logan St.
  15. [S1955] Robert Moffett household, 1900 U.S. cens., Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, pop. sched., Cleveland, ED 88, sheet 11B, dwelling 234, family 247, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2008, image 22 of 32. Household includes: Robert Moffett, 64, b. Nov. 1835, marr 41 yrs, owns home, is mortgaged, minister, b. IN, parents b. VA; Lucy, wife, 61 (?), b. Jul 1838, marr 41 yrs, mother of 9 children, 3 are living, b. OH; Roy R., son, 21, b. April 1879 OH; Lauren R., grandson, 9, b. Nov. 1897 OH; also two boarders; resid at 715 N. Logan St.
  16. [S2031] Lucy A. Moffett household, 1910 U.S. cens., Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, pop. sched., Cleveland (Ward 25), ED 385, sheet 3B, dwelling 102, family 118, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2008, image 10 of 30. Household includes: Lucy A. Moffett, 71, wid, mother 9 children, 3 living, owns home, no mortgage; Roy R., son, 31, sgl, lawyer; Lauren R., grandson, 13; also 2 boarders; resid 1830 E. 97th St.