Isabella Davis Moffett1

b. 17 December 1829, d. 18 February 1913
FatherWilliam Moffett1 b. Feb 1799, d. 21 Sep 1859
MotherIsabella Reed1 b. bet 1795 - 1797, d. 6 Feb 1886
Birth17 Dec 1829 Isabella Davis Moffett was born on 17 Dec 1829 in Rush County, Indiana.2,3 
Marriage1 Feb 1853 She married John Milton Maxwell, son of Edward Russell Maxwell and Jane Tilford, on 1 Feb 1853 in Rushville, Rush County, Indiana.4 
  Isabella's brother Theophilus married John's sister Gabriella. 
Residence  John and Isabella's first 2 daughters, Hessie and Ada were born in Rushville. 
Cens-18601860 However, by 1860 the couple had settled in Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana, where John was employed as a merchant. The census for that year recorded that he owned real estate worth $2,500 and personal property of $4,000. Jane Maxwell (63) and Susan Maxwell (43) lived with the family, as did a 14 year old maid.5 
1864  In 1864 they moved to Indianapolis where John established a wholesale iron business.6 
Cens-18701870  John appears to have been a successful businessman; the 1870 census listed his real estate holdings as $12,000 and his personal property at $40,000. Besides 5 children the household that year included 2 "domestics."7 
Cens-Sum  The family home was on on N. Meridian St. In 1880 the street number was either 330 or 380. The 1900 listed the address as 1814 N. Meridian, whereas in 1910 it was 3613. I do not know if this represents a series of moves or "renumbering" of the residences.

Later in life, John and Isabella opened their home to their adult children. In 1900 both daughters Ada Rose and Mary Knippenberg (and their families) resided with the couple. In 1910 son John Jr. was also present.

Both the 1900 and 1910 census asked women how many children they had given birth to and how many were living. In 1900 Isabella's entry said she was the mother of 8 children, in 1910 the record said 7. In both cases it recorded that 5 children were living. This indicates there were at least 2 additional children born to the couple whose names I do not know.8,9,10 
Death18 Feb 1913 Isabella died of sarcoma on 18 Feb 1913 at the family residence in Indianapolis at age 83.6 
Burial20 Feb 1913 She was buried on 20 Feb 1913 at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.11 

Related Links and Images:

Maxwell family monument at Crown Hill Cemetery

Family

John Milton Maxwell b. 31 Dec 1825, d. 9 Feb 1912
Children
  • Hessie Daisy Maxwell6 (22 Apr 1855 - 18 Feb 1942)
  • Ada Estella Maxwell6 (27 Jan 1858 - )
  • William Edward Maxwell6 (28 Feb 1860 - 12 Dec 1917)
  • infant Maxwell9 (before 1900 - before 1900)
  • John M. Maxwell6 (26 Dec 1864 - 26 Feb 1929)
  • infant Maxwell9 (before 1900 - before 1900)
  • Mary Belle Maxwell6 (10 Mar 1868 - 17 May 1941)
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Last Edited17 Jul 2008

Citations

  1. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "William Moffett-Isabella Reed family group sheet". This group sheet was completed in longhand by Roberta Estella Harris, granddaughter of William Moffett and Isabella Reed.
  2. [S2067] Mary Jane (Moffett) Harris, "A Message to Posterity", Record states she was born 17 Dec. 1829.
  3. [S2068] "Album" presented to Miss Mary Jane Moffett, 25 Dec. 1856. Collection includes undated obituary titled "Isabella R. Maxwell Called to Last Rest". Record states she was born 7 Dec. 1829.
  4. [S481] Rush Co., IN Marriage Records Vol. 7: 294. This record states that John M. Maxwell and Isabella E. Moffett were issued a marriage license on Feb. 1, 1853 and were married the same day.
  5. [S2074] John M. Maxwell household, 1860 U.S. census, Jefferson Co., Indiana, pop. sched., Madison, p. 699 (added script), dwelling 397, family 394, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2008, household includes John M. Maxwell, 35, merchant, owns real estate worth $2,500, pers. prop. worth $4,000; Isabella D. (his wife written in), 30; Hessie, 5; Ada E., 2; William E., 4/12; all b. IN; Jane C. Maxwell, 63, wid, b. KY; Susan W. Maxwell, 43, schoolteacher, b. IN; also 14 yr old servant.
  6. [S2068] "Album" presented to Miss Mary Jane Moffett, 25 Dec. 1856. Collection includes undated obituary titled "Isabella R. Maxwell Called to Last Rest."
  7. [S2075] John M. Maxwell household, 1870 U.S. census, Marion Co., Indiana, pop. sched., Indianapolis, p. 192 (stamped), dwelling 356, family 374, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2008, image 100 of 158. Household includes: John M. Maxwell, 46, "Wh iron merchant", owns real estate of $12,000 and pers. prop. of $40,000; Isabella, 41; Hesse, 15; Ida E., 13; William, 11; John, 6, Mary 2; all b. IN; Thomas Harris, 41, bookkeeper at Wh B Store, b. PA; Maggie Harris, 11; also two domestics.
  8. [S2043] John M. Maxwell household, 1880 U.S. cens., Marion Co., Indiana, pop sched., Indianapolis, ED 110 or 111, page 1A (p. 135 stamped), dwelling 3, family 3, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2008, image 51 of 51. Household includes: John M. Maxwell, 54, retired merchant, b. IN, parents b. KY; Isabella D., 50, wife, b. IN, parents b. VA; Hessie D., 24, dau; Ada E., 22, dau; William E., 20, son; John M., 15, son; Mary I., 12, dau; all b. IN; resid 330 or 380 N. Meridian St.
  9. [S1451] John M. Maxwell household, 1900 U.S. cens., Marion Co., Indiana, pop. sched., Indianapolis, ED 49, sheet 8B, dwelling 176, family 180, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2008, image 16 of 18. Household includes: John M. Maxwell, 74, b. Dec. 1825, marr 46 yrs, owns home, no mortgage; Isabella, wife, 70, b. Dec. 1829, marr 46 yrs, mother of 8 children, 5 are living; Nathaniel Rose, unknown age, son-in-law, marr 18 yrs, mechanic; Ada E., dau, 42, b. Jan. 1858, marr 18yrs, mother of 1 child, is living; Mabel E. Rose, granddaughter, 14, b. Aug. 1885; Mary B. Knippenberg, dau, 32, b. March 1868, marr, marr 11 yrs, mother of 2 children, both are living; Henry Knippenberg, 10 b. Apr 1890 Montana; Hugh, grandson, 4, b. June 1895, CA; resid 1814 N. Meridian St.
  10. [S2069] John M. Maxwell household, 1910 U.S. cens., Marion Co., Indiana, pop. sched., Indianapolis, ED 75, sheet 4A (p. 4 stamped), dwelling 57?, family 58, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2008, image 6 of 22. Household includes: John M. Maxwell, 84, marr #1, marr 57 yrs, retired hardware merchant [line out], owns home, no mortgage; Isabella D., wife, 80, marr 57 yrs, mother of 7 children, 5 are living; Mary Knippenberg, dau, 42, marr #1, marr 22 yrs, mother of 2 children, are living; Henry Knippenberg Jr., grandson, 19, b. MT; Hugh M. Knippenberg, grandson, 14, b. CA; John M. Maxwell, Jr., son, 45, marr #1, marr 19 yrs, newspaper editor; resid 3613 Meridian St.
  11. [S2076] Isabella D. Maxwell tombstone, Section 3, Lot 25, Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.