Abraham Gobble Moffett

b. 4 June 1817, d. 13 June 1903
Abraham Moffett
photo courtesy Misty Morse
FatherCapt. John Moffett1,2 b. 3 Jan 1771, d. 25 Dec 1845
MotherIsabel Davis2 b. 24 Aug 1775, d. 25 Sep 1835
Birth4 Jun 1817 Abraham Gobble Moffett was born on 4 Jun 1817 in Washington County, Virginia.3,4 
Marriage28 Jan 1841 He married Sarah Ann Davis, daughter of John Davis and Jane Ryburn, on 28 Jan 1841 in Smyth County, Virginia.5,6 
Migration Following their marriage, Abraham and Sarah migrated west, traveling with the Pierce family who were from Washington County, Maryland. They settled in Carroll County, Illinois, where Abraham had previously laid claim to a tract of land.7 
Cens-185010 Sep 1850  They were enumerated living in Cherry Grove township in September 1850 with Isabel, age 9, John, age 8, Francis, age 6, Mary, age 4, and Thomas, age two. Unlike Abraham's brother Garner, who had built a large brick house, Abraham and Sarah still lived in the "old cabin."8,9 
  Although the census record gives no indication of it, Sarah was not well. She had given birth to a child in the summer or early fall of 1850. The baby was not healthy and did not survive; family and friends feared for Sarah's life as well.10 
Illness  Abraham and his brother Garner considered a move to Oregon the following spring, but did not go, possibly because by early spring Sarah was sick with "bleeding lungs" [probably tuberculosis].11,10 
ChildDeath12 Nov 1851  That fall son John died from a fever, 12 days after Sarah gave birth to her 6th child. 
Widowed16 Sep 1855  Slightly less than 4 years later Sarah also died, leaving Abraham with 6 children to raise. 
Marriage14 Jul 1856 He married second Caroline Sterne, daughter of George Sterne and Sally (?), on 14 Jul 1856. She was a young widow.3 
Cens-186014 Jun 1860  Abraham and Caroline continued to farm in Freedom township where they were enumerated in 1860. "Abram" [as he was often called] owned land valued at over $9,000. Caroline, at 25, was mother to 18 year old Isabella, as well as 4 younger children. Two laborers helped on the farm.12 
Cens-18703 Aug 1870  However by 1870 Abraham and Caroline had left the farm in favor of the nearby community of Lanark. Abram, at 53, worked in a meat market. He still owned land valued at $3,500 but was apparently not farming it himself.13 
  Also enumerated with the family in 1870 was 3 year old Carrie Hannah (Alexander) Moffett whom Abraham and Caroline adopted as an infant. A few years later they also adopted a young boy, Frank Mason.14 
Cens-18803 Jun 1880  Abram appears to have had a bit of wanderlust. By 1880 he and Caroline were farming again, but this time in Glen Elder, Mitchell County, Kansas, Besides Cara [Carrie] (14) and Frank (5) they had taken in their 2 month old granddaughter, Daisy Shearer, whose mother [Abraham's daughter Ann Elizabeth] died a few days after her birth.15 
Residence1891  But apparently Kansas was not to their liking and by 1891 the family was living in Garden City, Cass County, Missouri.16 
Cens-190015 Jun 1900 They eventually settled in neighboring Lone Oak township, Bates County, Missouri, where they were enumerated at the turn of the century. Abraham was 82 and Caroline 64; they had been married 43 years. Living with them was 8 year old Kitty [Edna Belle] Bowers [daughter of Carrie Hannah (Alexander) Moffett Bowers].17 
Death13 Jun 1903 Abraham died on 13 Jun 1903 in Athol, Bates County, Missouri, at age 86.18,19,20 
Burial14 Jun 1903 He was buried on 14 Jun 1903 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler, Bates County, Missouri.21,22 

Related Links and Images:

Where did Abraham and Sarah settle in Carroll County, Illinois,? See the Carroll County map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
And later where did Abraham and Caroline live in Missouri?
Photo of Abraham with his son Francis Garner, and Francis's son Robert [my grandfather, great grandfather and great, great grandfather!]
Abraham and Caroline Moffett - photo taken in Kansas
Abraham's funeral card
Mary Jane (Davis) Moffett, who was married to Abraham's older brother Garner, left a journal in which she recorded what she knew of the family history. See Mary Jane's Journal for images and text from the journal. In particular see the section titled "The Moffett family"

Family

Sarah Ann Davis b. 22 Feb 1821 or 23 Feb 1821, d. 16 Sep 1855
Children
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Last Edited11 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S1936] John Moffett will (recorded 1846), Rush Co., Indiana Will Book 2: 79. The will was dated 8 Apr 1843 and recorded 8 Jan. 1846. It was witnessed by John McMillin and Azel Griffeth.
  2. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 13. Mary J.B. Moffett was the daughter-in-law of John Moffett and Isabella (Davs) Moffett.
  3. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Abram Gobble Moffett-#1 Sarah Ann Davis; #2 Caroline Sterne Tidd family group sheet". This is a typed family group sheet completed by Francis Garner Moffett.
  4. [S1270] Obituary of A.G. Moffett, Bates Co. Democrat, 25 June 1903. Article states date of birth was June 4, 1827 in Virginia.
  5. [S45] John Vogt and William Kethley Jr., Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1832-50, p. 33. Abstract reads: Abram G. Moffett and Sarah Ann Davis, 28 Jan. 1841; minister: C. Hutton.
  6. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 16.
  7. [S1925] Charles Hostetter, Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Carroll Co., 1822-1879, p. 703.
  8. [S1029] Abram Moffett household, 1850 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Cherry Grove township, p. 342 (stamped), dwelling 6, family 6, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 3 of 8. Enumeration records: Abram Moffett, 33, farmer, b. VA; Sarah A., 29, b. VA; Isabel, 9; John, 8; Francis, 6; Mary E., 4; Thomas M. 2; all children b. IL; Jane McG__, 12, b. OH.
  9. [S1894] Eliza F. Pierce (Plum River, Carroll Co., IL) to Julia Adaline Laird (Linneous, Linn Co., MO), letter, 21 Jul 1850; Laird Family Letters, 1849-1864.
  10. [S1894] Eliza Pierce (Mt. Carroll, Il) to Mrs. Julia Laird (Linn Co. MO), letter, 17 Nov. 1850; Laird Family Letters, 1849-1864.
  11. [S1894] Eliza Pierce (Mt Carroll, IL) to "My dear sister", letter, 1 April 1851; Laird Family Letters, 1849-1864.
  12. [S1030] Abram G. Moffett household, 1860 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Freedom, p. 867 (added script), dwelling 303, family 293, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 9 of 22. Enumeration includes: Abram G. Moffett, 43, farmer, owns real estate: $9,340, pers. prop: $2,000, b. VA; Caroline, 25, b. VA; Isabella J., 18; Mary E., 13; Thomas M., 12; cont. p. 868: Elizabeth, 8; Evadney B., 6; all children b. IL; Asa Douglas, 18, farm laborer; Henry Staley, 20, farm laborer.
  13. [S1031] Abram G. Moffett household, 1870 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Lanark, p. 202 (b) (stamped), dwelling 142, family 142, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2005, image 18 of 25. Enumeration includes: Abram G. Moffett, 53, keeps meat market, owns land valued at $3,500, pers. prop. of $2,000, b. VA; Caroline, 38, keeping house, b. VA; Anne E. 17, b. IL; Evadna, 15, b. IL; Carrie 3, b. IL; Baker Price, 22, clerk in store, b. PA; Geo D. Potter, 30, wagon maker, b. PA.
  14. [S1270] Obituary of A.G. Moffett, Bates Co. Democrat, 25 June 1903. Article states that A.G. and Caroline reared 2 orphan children: T. [sic] G. Moffett, Jr. and Mrs. Carrie Bowers.
  15. [S1322] A.G. Moffett household, 1880 U.S. cens., Mitchell Co., Kansas, pop sched., Glen Elder, ED 179, page 49A (stamped), dwelling 42, family 43, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2005, image 5 of 20. Enumeration includes: A.G. Moffett, 63, marr, farmer, b. VA, parents b. VA; Caroline, 45, wife, marr, keeping house, b. W VA, parents b. VA; Cara Alexander, 14, adopted, b. IL; Frank Mason, 5, adopted, b. IA, father b. ? (poss Con.), mother b. IL; Daisy Shearer, 2/12 Mar, granddaughter, b. KS, father b. IN, mother b. IL.
  16. [S302] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Extract of letter from Abram Goble Moffett, Garden City, Missouri, dated Mch 10, 1891 to his son-in-law B. F. Barndollar, Depy Clerk of Court, Kit Carson Co., Colo, at Burlington, Colorado."
  17. [S1268] Abraham Moffett household, 1900 U.S. cens., Bates Co., Missouri, pop. sched., Lone Oak township, ED 10, sheet 8B, dwelling 171, family 172, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2005, image 16 of 18. Enumeration includes: Abraham Moffett, 82, b. June 1817, marr 43 yrs, b. VA, parents b. VA, farmer; cont. next page: Caroline, wife, 64, b. June 1835, marr 43 years, b. VA, parents b. VA; Albert Burpe, servant, 23, b. Jan. 1877 MO, sgl, farm laborer; Kitty Bowers, servant, 8, b. Apr 1892, b. MO, father b. IL, mother IL, attend school 7 months of year.
  18. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Abram Gobble Moffett-#1 Sarah Ann Davis; #2 Caroline Sterne Tidd family group sheet". This is a typed family group sheet completed by Francis Garner Moffett. Francis reported his father's date of death as 13 June 1903.
  19. [S1256] Elizabeth Ellsberry, Cemetery Records of Bates Co., Missouri, Vol III, part I, p. 132. Stone reported to read: "A.J. Moffett, d. June 12, 1903". The author visited the cemetery in 2003 at which time the stone was no longer present. The cemetery groundsperson stated that many stones had been vandalized over the last 10 years. The date of publication of Ms Ellsberry's transcription is not provided in her text but her book was entered into the holdings of the LDS Library in Salt Lake City in 1966. However the date she reports differs from that provided by Abraham's son and from the date on his funeral card.
  20. [S1257] A.G. Moffett funeral card. Card states "A.G. Moffett born June 4, 1817, died June 13, 1903, age 86 yrs, 9 days."
  21. [S1256] Elizabeth Ellsberry, Cemetery Records of Bates Co., Missouri, Vol III, part I, p. 132. Stone reported to read: "A.J. Moffett, d. June 12, 1903". The author visited the cemetery in 2003 at which time the stone was no longer present. The cemetery groundsperson stated that many stones had been vandalized over the last 10 years. The date of publication of Ms Ellsberry's transcription is not provided in her text but her book was entered into the holdings of the LDS Library in Salt Lake City in 1966.
  22. [S1270] Obituary of A.G. Moffett, Bates Co. Democrat, 25 June 1903. Funeral was conducted from home on June 14 with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery at Butler.
  23. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Isabella Jane Moffett-Isaiah Miller family group sheet". This family group sheet was submitted by Isaiah Miller, widower of Isabella Jane Moffett Miller.
  24. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Abram Gobble Moffett-#1 Sarah Ann Davis; #2 Caroline Sterne Tidd family group sheet". This is a typed family group sheet with a notation by the Clan compilers that Francis Garner Moffett (son of Abram Moffett and Sarah Davis) "made this report."