Margaret Davis Moffett1

b. 21 December 1838, d. 7 December 1911
Margaret (Moffett) and David Emmert shortly after their marriage (cropped)
photo courtesy Laura Seielstad
FatherGarner Moffett1 b. 18 Jan 1807, d. 5 Oct 1856
MotherMary Jane Beaty Davis1 b. 13 Sep 1814, d. 28 Jun 1894
Birth21 Dec 1838 Margaret Davis Moffett was born on 21 Dec 1838 in Cherry Grove, Carroll County, Illinois.2 
Childhood  Margaret grew up on her parent's farm in Freedom township (Carroll Co.). She was the youngest of her parent's 5 children.3,4 
Marriage29 Dec 1863 She married David B. Emmert, son of David Emmert and Susan Price, on 29 Dec 1863 in Carroll County.5,6 
  David had migrated to Kansas around 1860 and quickly established himself in the newspaper publishing and political circles of the new state. Following their marriage the couple returned to Kansas and settled in Ft. Scott (Bourbon Co.). David served as chief clerk of the Kansas State House of Representatives in 1865 and was then elected state senator for Bourbon County when a vacancy occured. The following year he was elected to the state senate for a full term representing the 14th district (Bourbon and Cherokee Counties).

It appears that during these years Maggie remained in Ft. Scott while David journeyed to Topeka (the state capitol) when his presence there was required. Writing her cousin RMA Hawk in 1865, she noted that David had been in Topeka for several weeks and that she was lonely without him. In an earlier letter she commented that she had been ill much of the last year [1864].7,8 
Occupationbetween 1867 and 1871  In April 1867 David began a term as the receiver at the Humboldt land office which was located in Allen County, Kansas. He served through the fall of 1871.7 
Cens-18702 Aug 1870  In 1870 David and Margaret were enumerated in Humboldt. The couple's first child, a son named Elmer, was also recorded. David reported that he owned land worth $6,000. The household included a servant.9 
1872  Another son was born in the spring of 1872; that summer Margaret traveled back to Illinois to visit her family.10 
1874  Following his years with the land office, David returned to politics; in 1874 he served as the assistant secretary of the state senate.7 
Cens-State1 Mar 1875  Apparently this time Maggie and the children also moved to Topeka, or at least were present in March 1875 when the Kansas state census was enumerated.11 
Cens-18803 Jun 1880  However by 1880 David was again employed by the U.S. Land Office, this time as a clerk in the offices in Wichita. He and Margaret were also by then the parents of 4 sons: Elmer, Charles, Robert and Percy [who was born in Wichita in Jan. 1877].12 
1881  Margaret returned to her mother's home in Illinois again in the fall of 1881. This was most likely a visit planned in expectation of Margaret and David's move from Kansas to New Mexico which occured about that time. 
Widowed10 Jun 1884  However Margaret was widowed a few years later when David died in Albuqerque following a short illness. She gathered her sons, who at the time ranged in age from 7 to 16, and returned to Illinois. 
Marriage15 Sep 1886 She married Samuel Ludwick on 15 Sep 1886 in Carroll County.2 
Widowed19 Feb 1895  Margaret was widowed for a second time when Samuel died in 1895. 
Residence  In the years that followed, Margaret lived in Mt. Carroll (Carroll County) with her 3 youngest sons. In 1900 Charles, Robert and "Pers" were enumerated with her. However by 1910 only Charles, who was employed as a grocery merchant, was still single and at home. He and Margaret resided on Market Street.13,14,15 
  Interestingly, 2 of Margaret's sons appear to have inherited their father's love of the frontier. Elmer returned to Kansas where he married in 1889. Robert married and settled in Oklahoma. 
Death7 Dec 1911 Margaret died on 7 Dec 1911 in Mt. Carroll at age 72.1 
Burial She was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, Illinois.16 

Related Links and Images:

See Mary Jane's Journal for images and text from the journal of Margaret's mother, Mary Jane (Davis) Moffett. Note there are additional entries about the Emmert family under the heading "Loose Papers"
Find Oak Hill Cemetery on the Carroll County map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
Emmert markers at Oak Hill Cemetery in Carroll County. The large stone bears both Margaret and David's names and notes that he is buried at Albuquerque, New Mexico

Family

David B. Emmert b. 1 Aug 1836, d. 10 Jun 1884
Children
  • Elmer Stover Emmert17,18 (18 May 1868 - )
  • Charles Frederick Emmert17 (21 May 1872 - 18 Jan 1936)
  • Robert Garner Emmert17 (21 Oct 1873 - 25 May 1929)
  • Percival Redfield "P.R." Emmert17 (1 Jan 1877 - 26 Sep 1951)
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Descendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited2 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 20.
  2. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", loose paper 4 (believed to be in the handwriting of Margaret Moffett Emmert Ludwick).
  3. [S1029] Garner Moffett household, 1850 U.S. census, Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Freedom township, p. 28 (original script), dwelling 7, family 7 (each page begins with household and family #1), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 2 of 8. Enumeration records: Garner Moffett, 4_, farmer, owns real estate of $6,000, b. VA; Margret, 36, b. VA; Wm D., 17, student, b. IN; John, 16, b. IN; Robert, 14, b. IN; Sarah, 13, b. IL; Margret D., 11, b. IL; Edward P. ____, 26, school teacher; Sarah Trout, 36, b. OH.
  4. [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.
  5. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 21.
  6. [S1051] "Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900", Illinois State Archives (http://www.sos.state.il.us/GenealogyMWeb/marrsrch.html). Index as viewed in May 2005 states: David M. Emmert and Maddie D. Moffett marr 12/29/1863 in Carroll Co., citing OMR, p. 141.
  7. [S2081] Teresa Lindquist, "Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1911-1912 , Geo W. Martin, ed, Vol XII, State Printing Office, Topeka, KS, 1912", Shawnee County, Kansas Genweb Project Archives (http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/shawnee/library/KSHSvol12/… : Jul 2008), author notes that information on David was originally found on p. 449 of a section titled "Lost Towns of Bourbon County."
  8. [S1060] Laura Seielstad, "Emmert boys birth places," e-mail to Diana Powell, 22 Jul 2008.
  9. [S1061] D.B. Emert household, 1870 U.S. census, Allen Co., Iowa, pop. sched., Humboldt, p. 47 (B) typed, dwelling 36, family 38, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 27 of 52. Enumeration reports: D.B. Emert, 33, receiver at U.S. Land office, owns land worth $6,000, b. PA; Maggie D., 30, keeping house, b. IL; Elmer, 2, son, b. KS; James Brown, black, 19, servant, b. MO.
  10. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 49.
  11. [S2083] D.B. Emmert household, 1875 Kansas State census, Shawnee County, population schedule, Topeka, page unclear, viewed online at Ancestry.com. Jul 2008, image 44 of 140. Household includes: D.B. Emmert, 37, clerk, b. PA, came to KS from IL; M.D. Emmert, 35, b. PA, came to KS from IL; A. Emmert, 7, b. KS; C. Emmert, 3, b. KS; R. Emmert, 1, b. KS; S. [or L.] Culbertson, 45, male, b. Ireland, came to kS from IL; M. Osten, 16, female, b. MO.
  12. [S1062] David B. Emmert household, 1880 U.S. cens., Sedgwick Co., Kansas, pop sched., Wichita, ED 213, page 253A (stamped), dwelling 97, family 105, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 9 of 28. Enumeration reports: David B. Emmert, 41, clerk in US Land Office, b. PA; Maggie D., 41, wife; Elmer S., son, 12, clerks in store, attends school; Charles F., son, 8; Robbert G., 6; Percy R., 3; all children b. KS; Carrie Wolfe, 21, servant, b. PA.
  13. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "John Moffett-Isabella Davis family group sheet". This family group sheet was submitted by Rev. Robert Moffett (b. 1835) grandson of John and Isabella Moffett, son of Garner Moffett and Mary Jane Beatty Davis and brother of Margaret Davis Moffett Ludwick.
  14. [S1052] Margaret Ludwick household, 1900 U.S. cens., Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Mt. Carroll, ED 17, sheet 13A (p. 160 stamped), dwelling 299, family 308, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2008, image 6 of 21. Household includes: Margaret Ludwick, 61m b, Dec. 1838, marr 12 yrs, mother of 4 children, all living, b. IL, owns home, no mortgage; Charles Emmert, son, 28, sgl, b. May 1872 KS, livery clerk; Pers Emmert, son, 25, sgl, b. Jan 1875 KS, school teacher; Robert Emmert, son, 25, sgl, b. Oc. 1874 KS, insurance agent [birth dates for 2 youngest sons is incorrect].
  15. [S1053] Margaret Ludwick household, 1910 U.S. cens., Carroll Co., Illinois, pop. sched., Mt. Carroll, ED 6, sheet 8A (p. 56 stamped), dwelling 206, family 209, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2008, image 15 of 18. Household includes: Margaret Ludwick, 72, wid, mother of 4 children, all living, b. IL; Charles Emmert, son, 38, sgl, retail grocery merchant; resid N. Market St.
  16. [S1050] Carroll County Genealogical Society, Carroll County, Illinois Tombstone Inscriptions Vol. 2, p. 54.
  17. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 27.
  18. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Margaret Davis Moffett-#1 David Emmert, #2 Samuel Ludwick family group sheet". This family group sheet was completed by an unknown person.