Garner Moffett1

b. 18 January 1807, d. 5 October 1856
 
Garner Moffett
"The History of Carroll Co., IL"
FatherCapt. John Moffett1,2 b. 3 Jan 1771, d. 25 Dec 1845
MotherIsabel Davis2 b. 24 Aug 1775, d. 25 Sep 1835
Garner Moffett|b. 18 Jan 1807\nd. 5 Oct 1856|p30.htm|Capt. John Moffett|b. 3 Jan 1771\nd. 25 Dec 1845|p24.htm|Isabel Davis|b. 24 Aug 1775\nd. 25 Sep 1835|p25.htm|William Moffett|b. bet 1744 - 1746\nd. 10 Oct 1774|p33.htm|Mary Gardner|b. circa 1749/50\nd. 4 Sep 1811|p34.htm|John Davis|b. 14 Oct 1743\nd. Jun 1810|p239.htm|Mary (?)|b. 14 Feb 1743\nd. bef Oct 1786|p1945.htm|
Birth18 Jan 1807 Garner Moffett was born on 18 Jan 1807 in Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia.3,4 
Marriage15 Sep 1831 He married Mary Jane Beaty Davis, daughter of William Davis and Sarah Ryburn, on 15 Sep 1831 in Washington County. Garner was 24 and Mary Jane was 17. Garner's brother John married Jane Dunn in Washington County the same day.5,6 
  A month after their marriage Garner and Mary Jane headed west, stopping first in Hancock County, Indiana where they settled land abutting the newly opened National Road about 2 or 3 miles east of Greenfield. Their first two children, William and John, were born there in 1832 and 1833.

However, Garner, ever in search of better farmland, moved the family further north to LaPorte County in the spring of 1834.7 
Land-Sell  Before leaving Hancock County Garner and Mary Jane sold their land. In the fall of 1833 they sold 80 acres to James Loehr for $130 and in April 1834 they sold an adjacent 240 acres to John Wolfe for $1,000.8,9 
  When Garner and Mary Jane first arrived in LaPorte County they lived in a hut about 2 miles from their land as they needed to plant a crop before building a cabin. The following fall Mary Jane's father came out from Virginia and along with 2 of Garner's brothers helped finish a cabin for the family. Son Robert was born there in 1835.10 
  But again the family did not stay put long, moving on in the spring of 1836 after Garner purchased a claim from Wesley Crain in Freedom township, Carroll County, Illinois (part of JoDavies Co. until 1839). Daughter Sarah was born in 1837 followed by Margaret in 1838. The following summer the family traveled back to Virginia for a visit.11 
  Garner took an active role in the growing Carroll County community. He helped establish the Christian Church in the community of Lanark and in 1843 served as its first elder. Garner also served as an itinerant preacher, sometimes traveling 15-20 miles on horseback on a Sunday morning to do so. He was also interested in education. The first school was built on the edge of his property; it sat on E. Georgetown Rd. and was later known as Moffett School. Garner served as the first school superintendant for the county. He ensured that all of his children attended college, the boys studying at Hiram College in Ohio and/or Bethany College in W. Virginia [then Virginia] and the girls at Shimer College in Mt. Carroll.12,13,14,15 
  Garner's interests included politics; he was an ardent Democrat and was respected by his peers, holding many local offices. In 1847 he represented Carroll County at the Illinois State Constitutional Convention.12,14 
Cens-1850- AgricJun 1850  The 1850 census provides a glimpse at Garner and Mary Jane's farm in Freedom Township. They owned 300 acres of improved land and 260 acres of unimproved land valued at $5,600. They also owned 13 horses, 8 cows, 10 oxen, 36 cattle and 60 swine, all valued at $1,250. Their crops included wheat, Indian corn, oats and Irish potatoes. They sold 50 pounds of beeswax or honey in the previous year. This was a good sized farm for the neighborhood and was quite productive.  
Residence  A few years earlier they had moved from their small cabin to a large brick home. Like many of his neighbors and relatives Garner considered joining the covered wagons heading west in the early 1850s. But the move did not take place.16,17,18 
Land  Garner bought and sold many tracts of land during his years in Carroll County. The Public Domain Land tract records list purchases for him in Carroll and neighboring counties totalling 1,500 acres. He sold some of the land and lost some it when the Racine and Mississippi railroad planned to expand into Carroll County. Garner supported the railroad project. It is not clear exactly how he was involved but years later his widow commented that he gave the railroad much of his land. One can surmise that perhaps this was in exchange for a share in the anticipated profits of the venture. Since the railroad was never completed, the family lost at least some of it's investment.19,20  
Death5 Oct 1856 Garner died of typhoid fever on 5 Oct 1856 in Carroll County, Illinois, at age 49.21,4,14 
Burial He was buried at Wolfe Cemetery in Freedom Township, Carroll County, Illinois.4 
Probate Recd  Garner's probate file, which had originally been on file at the Carroll Co. courthouse, was noted to be missing on Jan. 6, 1896. 

Related Links and Images:

Garner's entry on the website known as The Political Graveyard
Two views of what is believed to have been Garner and Mary Jane's brick home in Carroll County, IL22
Garner and Mary Jane's marker was located at Wolfe Cemetery in 2000. The first image shows Garner's side just after it was unearthed. The second image shows it after being cleaned and refixed to it's base
Find Wolfe Cemetery on the Carroll County map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
See transcribed article abt Garner's son John from Portrait and Biographical Album of Joe Davies and Carroll Counties, 1889 at Genealogy Trails. It includes comments about Garner.
To read more about how Garner and Mary Jane's stone was uncovered after being "lost" for many years go to Mary Jane's Journal and look for the link titled "Remembering Mary Jane". Also note the links to pages from Mary Jane's journal. Many of them mention Garner, in particular the section titled "Migration story."

Family

Mary Jane Beaty Davis b. 13 Sep 1814, d. 28 Jun 1894
Children
ChartsDescendants (with their spouses) of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Descendants (with their spouses) of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited4 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. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 13.
  4. [S1259] Garner Moffett tombstone, Wolfe Cemetery, Freedom Township, Carroll County, Illinois. This double sided monument (wife Mary J.B.'s info is on reverse side) was located in Wolfe Cemetery in Sept. 2000. It had fallen off it's base and was lying on it's side beneath years of overgrowth. The monument has since been uprighted and reaffixed to it's base.
  5. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 16.
  6. [S149] Washington Co., VA Marriage Register 1 & 2 (transcribed), 316. Transcribed record states: Garner Moffett and Mary J. B. Davis were married by David R. Preston on Sept 15th 1831.
  7. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 30-34.
  8. [S1950] Hancock Co., Indiana Deed Book B: 277. Garner Moffett and Mary Jane his wife of Hancock Co. to John Wolfe, 240 acres in Hancock Co. for $1000; described as the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 and the E 1/2 of the SW 1/4, also the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 and the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 all lying in section 36 in twp 16N of range 7E, being the land the Moffett family lived on..dated and recorded 10 April 1834.
  9. [S1950] Hancock Co., Indiana Deed Book B: 92. Garner Moffett and Mary Jane his wife of Hancock Co. to James Loehr, 80 acres in Hancock Co. for $130; described as the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 and also the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of sect 36 in township 16N of Range 7E, dated 7 Sept 1833 and recorded 8 Oct 1833.
  10. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 34-41.
  11. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 34-41, 44.
  12. [S409] The History of Carroll County, Illinois (Chicago: H.F. Kett & Co., 1878), pp. 255, 267, 374, 480.
  13. [S1925] Charles Hostetter, Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Carroll Co., 1822-1879, pp. 269, 636, 646, 704, 726.
  14. [S1926] Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Davies and Carroll Co., Illinois. For a full transcription of this and other Carroll Co. biographies from this book see: http://genealogytrails.com/ill/carroll/carrollbios.html; p. 964.
  15. [S1927] E. George Thiem, Carroll County, A Goodly Heritage, p. 97.
  16. [S1894] Amanda M.F. Hallett (Mt. Carroll, IL) to "Dear Sister" [Julia A. Laird], letter, 17 June 1849; Laird Family Letters, 1849-1864. Letter states, "Garner Moffett has bilt [sic] a fine brick house."
  17. [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. Letter states, "Garner Moffett has built a large brick house up on the road."
  18. [S1894] Eliza Pierce (Mt. Carroll, Il) to Mrs. Julia Laird (Linn Co. MO), letter, 17 Nov. 1850; Laird Family Letters, 1849-1864. The letter states, "Abram [Moffett] wants to sell his place if he can, he will go to Oregon in the spring. Garner Moffett, William Owings and Willis Fisk all talk of going."
  19. [S2066] "Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database", Illinois State Archives (http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/landsrch.html).
  20. [S1926] Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Davies and Carroll Co., Illinois. For a full transcription of this and other Carroll Co. biographies from this book see: http://genealogytrails.com/ill/carroll/carrollbios.html; p. 964-5.
  21. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 14.
  22. [S1376] Photo courtesy Caralee Aschenbrenner.
  23. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 20.
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