Ethel Miles Moffett1

b. 1 March 1878, d. 12 December 1879
Ethel Miles Moffett
photo courtesy Misty Morse
FatherFrancis Garner Moffett1 b. 25 Dec 1844, d. 1 Aug 1921
MotherClara Louisa Heffelfinger1 b. 9 Jul 1850, d. 18 Sep 1936
Birth1 Mar 1878 Ethel Miles Moffett was born on 1 Mar 1878 in Grundy Center, Grundy County, Iowa.2,3 
Death12 Dec 1879 Ethel probably died on 12 Dec 1879 although her headstone appears to list the date as the 13th. She was less than 2 years old.4,3,5 
Burial She was buried at Grundy Center Cemetery.5 
  In the winter of 1879-89 a diptheria epidemic broke out in Grundy County. Little was understood about controlling the disease and local physicians were unable to contain it. Years later a resident who lived through this period commented, "I do not now remember that many adults died, but few children who contracted the disease survived. Some lived one or two weeks after becoming sick, and many died within two or three days. So far as I can now remember not a single family of children in our neighborhood escaped."6 

Related Links and Images:

Ethel's stone
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Descendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited24 Jun 2008

Citations

  1. [S1258] Clara Louisa Moffett, Family Bible Records, "Births."
  2. [S1258] Clara Louisa Moffett, Family Bible Records, "Births". This entry, probably made by Edna's mother, states "Ethel Miles Moffett" at Grundy Center Iowa March 1st 1878."
  3. [S2018] Francis Moffett statement dated 1915, Francis G. Moffett (Sgt. Co. D., Consolidated 34th IA Inf., Civil War), widow Clara, WC906,333, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications..., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files, Record Group 15, NARA. Francis recorded Ethel's date of birth as 1 March 1878 and her death as 12 Dec 1879.
  4. [S1258] Clara Louisa Moffett, Family Bible Records, "Deaths". This entry, probably made by Ethel's mother, records Ethels date of death as Dec. 12, 1879.
  5. [S1264] Ethel Moffett tombstone, Fairview Section, Grundy Center Cemetery compiled records, Grundy Center, Iowa. Ethel's entry reports a date of death of 13 Dec. 1879.
  6. [S1897] Finlayson, "Pioneer's Recollections - The Roots of Grundy Center," historical letters, Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), July 7, 1977.