John Moody

A family Bible record held by descendants of William Moody Jr. tells us John Moody was born April 13, 1795. It can be assumed the location was in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where his father, William, first appears in the 1800 census and several land records. This birth date corresponds to John’s gravestone which shows that he died “Sep 11, 1838, aged 43y 5m”. John is also known to be the oldest son of William Moody and the birth date of William’s second son, Thomas, was November 8, 1798. We also know that William married Mary Stadden in Northumberland County prior to June 1797 (the date of her father Thomas' will which identifies Mary as Mrs. William Moody). William Moody’s family lived in Northumberland County until moving near Newark, Licking, Ohio in about 1805.

There is no 1810 OH census and John does not appear with his father in the 1820 census having married in March of that year.

John's gravestone at the Bellville cemetery in Jefferson, Richland, Ohio, shows that he fought in the War of 1812. A listing of the men in Captain James Critten's Company (which was likely from Licking county) shows John Moody as a private under Ensign William Evans; Sergeant James Cunningham; Corporal Samuel Murfoot. This company served from July 30 until August 16, 1813.

John apparently had an interest in his father’s origins. On November 25, 1817, John wrote a letter to Col. James Moody of Nova Scotia in which he states that he is the son of William Moody, the son of James and Elizabeth Moody formerly of New Jersey. He goes on to say that his grandfather proved loyal to the King (of England) in the Revolutionary War and left the United States. John they have heard James settled in Nova Scotia but they had never learned in what part. He asks for any information about persons with the name of James or John Moody who were from New Jersey. John notes that he can be reached in Newark, Licking county, Ohio. The Col. James Moody whom John was addressing was the famous Loyalist from New Jersey. That James died in 1809 and the letter ended up with a relative. No reply to John’s letter was apparently written. It is obvious John would have obtained the information about his possible grandparents being James and Elizabeth Moody from his father William.

On March 2, 1820 John married Experience Miller, the daughter of Jonathon Miller, who also brought his family to Ohio from Pennsylvania though not from Northumberland County.

In the 1820 Ohio census listing, we find John in Mt. Vernon, Knox county. At the date of the census (begun on 7 Aug 1820), John was married to Experience Miller but they had no children as yet.

The same page as the above 1820 census listing for John shows Jonathon Miller and Elie Miller. Elie/Eli was the Administrator of John's estate. Elie is a son of Jonathon and brother of Experience. This is known from an old typed transcription of a letter written September 23, 1884 by a grandson of Jonathan and Mary Miller giving lineage information and which notes: "Perie married John Moody, a merchant of Mt. Vernon Ohio, a worthy, thrifty man.  She died early leaving two sons, Miller and Israel. Israel is living in Winterset, IA."

“A history of Knox county, Ohio” gives us this fascinating insight into the challenges of this period of time in the county. [Norton, A. Banning; R. Nevins, 1862.] “The palmy periods of Knox county, prior to 1820, were from 1808 until 1812, and from 1815 until 1818. In the intermediate time there was much depression and suffering caused by the war of 1812; and from the beginning of the year 1818, there was another period of deep gloom and distress caused by the scarcity of money, failure of banks, etc. For several years there was but slight influx of population, but little addition to the wealth of this section. The productions of the country were almost valueless in exchange for money, and it was with difficulty that they could be bartered for goods at the stores. The fortunate speculation in which many of the most substantial citizens engaged, under the name of the Owl Creek Bank; the depreciation of the paper money making up the principal circulation, and the general lack of confidence throughout the country in all kinds of business operations, prevented much improvement being made in Knox county. Many of the then settlers became entirely discouraged and out of heart, pulled up stakes and returned to their old homes eastward, or sought better chances elsewhere in the new country. Almost all whom we have conversed with, say that the most dull and gloomy times they have witnessed since the last war with Great Britain, were between the years 1818 and 1825.

During this period, we find numberless suits instituted, and judgments obtained, by "The Granville Alexandrian Society," "The German Bank of Wooster," "The Owl Creek Bank," and other like institutions, against the Vores, and Farquhars, and Strongs, and Smiths, and Browns, and Martins, and Hawns, and Winships and others, of the older class of settlers. The mere mention of this fact, in connection with matter developed in our Owl Creek Bank history, will be sufficient upon this subject to convey an idea of the sad condition of affairs at that period. To other matters, then, we will revert. And first, as to the other business disposed of by the Court in 1818. The Grand Jury, at the April term, found bills of indictment against fourteen persons. For affrays, the Court fined Wm. Wright $1, and costs; Wm. Herrod and Simon Anderson $3 each, and costs. At the July term, six bills were returned by the Grand Jury; and for fights, Sylvester Buxton and Daniel Baxter were each fined $3, and costs. Except Michael Harter, no new person makes application to keep tavern, and none to sell goods-the houses of Burr, Green & Co., and Moody and McCarty, being simply alterations in style of firms. And for six years so few changes were made in these or other branches of business, that we desist from further detail of Court proceedings.”

The history of Knox county also tells us Moody and McCarthy opened a new store in Mt. Vernon on April 1, 1818. The 1820 census of manufacturers, dated 22 Jan 1821, shows Moody & McCarthy in Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio. There were also a number of land transactions for Moody & McCarthy in that time period. The census form was filled out and signed by John and the handwriting and signature match those of letters written by John. Moody & McCarthy were in the business of making whiskey. The inventory listing shows that the firm was annually processing about 600 bushels of wheat, 700 bushels of rye, and 400 bushels of corn costing about $553 per year in total. The firm employed one man and one boy and was paying about $300 per year in wages.

Among the orders issued by the county June 6, 1820, were the following: No. 3,928-Paying Moody and McCarty for articles furnished overseers of the poor for the squaw that was Shot - $2.84. This is another indication of John’s generosity.

John and Experience began acquiring land in August 1823. In 1825, John shows on grantor deeds without mention of Experience and one can infer she had died by that time.

According to county history, in 1825, John opened a store and shortly thereafter opened a mill on the Clearfork. In 1825, the larger part of Mt. Vernon was still west of Main and south of Chestnut streets, but there were a number of houses scattered along Main street and perhaps half a dozen on Gay street, which is east of and runs parallel with Main. Hazelbrush and timber covered the larger part of the eastern part of the city. There were also half a dozen or more houses on Main street, north of the square. The principal merchants at that time were Burr J: Bryant, John Moody, Daniel S. Norton, Samuel Mott, Eli Miller, J. B. Rogers and Anthony Banning; all carried general stocks of merchandise, and did business almost entirely by exchange, money being very scarce.

John was not only a miller and a merchant, but also became an ordained Campbellite (Christian) minister. He built his church near his mill on the Clearfork. The Reverend Moody was a very generous man and, on many occasions, he refused to sell his flour so that he would have enough to give to the needy.

On May 9, 1828, John wrote another letter to what he believed were relatives in Canada. This letter was addressed to Col. Brittain and John is writing from St. John's, New Brunswick, Canada. John says he was visiting his grandmother in New York City and says he can be contacted in NYC in care of Hart & Herrick, a mercantile firm. John also says he is considering a visit to Europe that summer. There are no 1828 passport records available at NARA and he was not found on the index of passengers coming in to New York City in 1828 so he probably did not make that trip. John also states in the letter that he is the oldest son of William Moody and is living in Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio. There is also a letter written by Eleanor [Kreps] Miller to John while he was in New York City. Eleanor was the wife of Eli Miller. She writes of John's two sons and their good performance in school, also saying the boys both miss John terribly and ask that he not go sailing [to Europe probably]. Eleanor tells John about other family and friends. Things seem to be going very well though they all miss John.

The 1820 Manufacturer's census does not show the firm of Hart & Herrick. There is a Richard P. Hart on p1064, a cotton manufacturer in Rensalier County, New York; and a William Hart p540 and 542 with (1) an Ashery in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, and (2) a Distillery in the same location.  This second listing is a possibility as John was making whiskey himself in this census as Moody & McCarty in Knox county, Ohio. No listing for Herrick was found. In the 1840 US census located at the US Census Office there is a listing for a Hart, Herrick & Co. merchants at 19 South in NYC.  The reference is HC 105.A66 Vol 4 - Statistics of the United States of America. This record has not been examined.

On September 25, 1828, after returning from his trip to New York and New Brunswick, John married Mira Hussa. Nothing is known of Mira. The last name may be a misspelling but appears correct based on the hand-written marriage record. One possibility is that Mira is related to Zevolena Huse who married George Mathias Stadden in Licking county in 1838, grandson of Isaac Stadden (brother of John's mother Mary Stadden). As of 2017, no information about Mira has been found.

On October 9, 1828, John's father William died in Licking county and John was appointed Guardian of William's estate. William's probate records were lost in a courthouse fire in the 1870s. However, an 1836 petition for partition names all of William's heirs.

Based on land records, John and Mira moved to Richland county somewhere around the fall of 1829 to the spring of 1830. During that period, John acquired several pieces of land through the land office at Wooster. One, dated December 14, 1829 shows John a resident of Richland county. Two additional pieces of land were acquired through the land office in 1832. We find John in the 1830 Ohio census (begun 1 June 1830) in Bellville, Richland county.

A biographical sketch of John's grandson, Israel (son of Miller), states that "John came to Bellville in a very early day, and was one of the best citizens that ever lived in Jefferson Township, and was a minister in the Church of Disciples." The Disciples denomination, or Campbellites as they were called by some, began meetings a few years after the Methodists who first organized a church about 1814. “John Moody, an early miller, was the power back of this one. He had services in his mill at first, then built a church about where the Farm Bureau elevator now stands. With the coming of the railroad, he moved the church south of its old location.” This occurred about 1850 after John’s death. [Bellville & Jefferson Township History; Maude Schaefer for the Bellville Bicentennial Commission; Sept. 1975; The Bellville Star-Press]

Historical records also show that, “back in the early 1800's, Reverend John Moody purchased a section of ground at Bellville, Ohio, from James McClure, who had received it as a land grant from then President James Madison. Moody built a wood, four story, water-powered mill with an over shot water wheel. At first, it was a fulling and carding mill, with an attached sawmill, but there weren't enough sheep to support the fulling and carding mill, so it was converted to a grist mill. Moody operated the mill six days a week and on Sundays, the mill became a church. He continued until about 1837 and then sold it.” [Bellville-Jefferson Township Historical Society; Bellville, OH. Number 3 in a Series. r977.128 H673]

A notice appeared in a Richland county newspaper on March 24, 1832:

Notice. For Sale, or Rent, the Mill Property opposite the town of Bellville, Richland county. There is now in operation a Saw Mill, Fulling Mill and Carding machine. If not disposed of, I wish to employ a hand to attend to the Carding machine the present season. None need apply who cannot give satisfaction as to morals, industry, and a knowledge of the business. John Moody. (Richland County, Ohio Newspapers. Abstracts and Extracts 1830-1849; Kerry L. Kimberly; Picton Press).

About the time the Bellville post office was established in January 1824, John opened a store of general merchandise, and by 1835 the town contained three stores. John owned a grist mill and a large farm adjoining. He was a preacher of the Christian denomination faith. He took no pay for his preaching. During a threatened famine, John gave away thousands of bushels of grain to those with no money. In about 1835, John built a house of worship for those who believed in the views proclaimed by Alexander Campbell. In July of 1838, John sold land to Joseph Johnston, Caleb Crandall, John Standard; elders of the Society of Christians in Bellville.

In a deed dated November 2, 1837, John conveys to his brother Thomas all of the land inherited by John from their father William: 50 acres in Range 11, TWP 2, Section 1; and additional land: 17 3/100 acres - south 1/2 of Lot 3 in Section 4 TWP 2 Range 11. The price was $500.

John Moody died intestate on September 11, 1838, in Richland county. Eli Miller was appointed Administrator of his estate (documentation from Richland County Court of Common Pleas dated 23 October 1838). Bond posted was for $20,000. John's estate papers confirm his sons Miller and Israel as John's only heirs at law. Payments were made to Miller and Israel from 1842 through 1845 before final settlement. The final estate totaled $16,455 after disbursements and fees.

On October 13, 1838, Jonathon Miller was appointed guardian of Miller (aged 16 years) and Israel (aged 15 years), John's two sons and only children. On February 17, 1839, Jonathon Miller, Isaac Hadley, and Matthew H. Mitchell posted a $10,000 bond for Jonathon's performance as guardian.

From the History of Richland County:

The Reverend John Moody was a pioneer preacher of the Disciple Church. He built a grist mill at Bellville in 1831. The story of his good deeds during the period of the threatened famine has been told and retold and should be repeated in the years to come as a memorial to him. Providence rewarded his generosity, for giving to the poor did not impoverish him, for the crops upon his farm yielded more plentiful than before. He was blessed in the giving as the poor were receiving his assistance. Captain Miller Moody, son of the benefactor, gave his life for his country upon the bloody field of Antietam.

John was laid to rest in the Bellville cemetery with his wife Mira. His gravestone simply shows: John Moody, War of 1812; d. Sep 11, 1838, 43y 5m. Mira’s inscription reads: Mira Moody w/o John, d. Jul 23, 1837, 38y. His son Miller rests next to him.

 

The children of John Moody and Experience Miller were:

 

 

© 2017 Robert Moody