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Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 102 - 103 |
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EDWARD G. MOFFIT
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Of the many influential families of Wexford county few have resided there longer, made a deeper or more lasting impression upon the history of the county or wielded more influence for good than has the Moffit family, of Cedar Creek township. It is now nearly a generation since Edward G. Moffit, the subject of this review, accompanied by the accomplished lady who had then only recently become his wife, came to the county of Wexford to make it his home. It was the same year in which the county was organized (1873) and from that time until the present they have been respected residents of the county. Edward G. Moffit is a native of the state of Michigan, having been born in Kent county, January 3. 1849. His parents were Eber and Nancy (Lindsay) Moffit, the former being a native of Ohio and the latter of Connecticut. They came to Kent county, Michigan, in the early days of the settlement of the state and continued to be a part of its population until their death. He was, at the time of his death, about sixty years old and she survived him a number of years, expiring when in the seventy-second year of her age. Eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, were born to them, the subject being the fifth child of the family. On his father's farm in Kent county, Edward G. Moffit was reared and there he remained until he had attained the age of twenty-two years. He received a fair common school education, such as the times and the conditions then prevailing afforded. Feb. 5, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Almeda Brown, a lady of good education and fine mental endowments. She is a native of Ottawa county, Michigan, born July 10, 1852, her parents being James M. and Diantha L. (Ball) Brown, who were natives, the father of New York and the mother of Michigan. The father had emigrated to Michigan in an early day, locating in Ottawa county. They later moved to Kent county, where they continued to reside until 1873, when they moved to Wexford county and settled in Manton. There Mr. Brown departed this life, since when his widow has made her home on the farm he left. He was, at the time of his demise, sixty-nine years of age. They were the parents of two children, the oldest of whom is Mrs. Moffit, who was reared in the county of her birth to the age of fourteen years, when the family moved to Byron township, Kent county, where she grew to womanhood and where she was united in marriage to the subject of this review. Four children were born to this union, one of whom, Freddie, died in infancy. The other children are: Frank J., Claude A. and George S. Frank J. wedded Lena G. Boyer, and they have two children, Blanche and Beatrice; Claude, who owns a forty-acre farm, married Maggie Gibson, and George S. is at home and attending school. On the removal of the family to Wexford county, in 1873, they located in Manton, where the subject secured employment in a saw-mill, as filer and sawyer. For twenty years he followed this business at Manton and other places and then moved to Kalkaska, where he remained nine years, then returned to Wexford county and settled in Cedar Creek township, on the farm which he now owns, occupies and operates. It comprises one hundred and twenty acres, one hundred of which is cleared and under cultivation. It is a fine piece of land, very productive and splendidly improved. He is a thorough farmer, one who keeps fully abreast of the times in all that relates to his business. He takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his township and county, and, in his own modest way, has done much to advance the interest of each. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moffit are thinkers of the advanced school, particularly on matters relating to religion, and are firm believers in the teachings of Christian Science. They became interested in this religion in 1893 and no doctors have been in this home for thirteen years. They derive great pleasure in the perusal of the writings of Mrs. Mary Eddy Baker and they have effected many remarkable cures. Mr. and Mrs. Moffit are respectively first and second readers in the Christian Science church at Manton. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years. The high esteem in which he is held bears testimony to the moral character and substantial worth of the man and his life has been so filled with good deeds that he finds little to regret in the years that are gone. |