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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James S. Moffatt, general merchant, is a native of Chester County, S. C., born on the 10th of March, 1808. His father, John Moffatt, was born in the Palmetto State in 1786, and was the son of William Moffatt, who was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1772, and served in the Revolutionary war. He died in Chester County, S. C. The Moffatt family came to Obion County, Tenn., in 1839, and here John Moffatt, the father of our subject, died in 1857. He was a farmer, and was married to Elizabeth Strong, who was born in South Carolina in 1786, and died in her native State in 1819. Of her eight children our subject is the third, and is of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock. His early years were spent on a South Carolina plantation, and at the age of sixteen he began clerking in a store, which occupation he continued until he had attained his majority. He then engaged in the mercantile business for himself at Greenville, S. C., and there continued the business for five years. From that time until 1842, he carried on merchandising in his native county, and then came to West Tennessee, settling at Troy, where he opened a general store, and continued business with much success until 1862, when he was compelled to leave Troy by the Federals, who took possession of his goods. His losses during the war amounted to about $150,000. In 1866 he again opened a mercantile establishment, and has been doing an extensive and lucrative business. His stock at the last invoice amounted to $20,000. His store house is 56x100 feet, and a two-story building. Mr. Moffatt owns 3,000 acres of land in this county, and his success is due to his unceasing energy and devotion to business life. He was married in 1829, to Miss Martha Moffatt, of South Carolina, and by her is the father of six children: Mary L., Augustus, Rev. William S., Elizabeth, Israel P. and Jennie B. Israel P. Moffatt received a wound at Perryville, under Gen. Bragg, of which he eventually died. Mrs. Moffatt died in 1859, and in 1860 Mr. Moffatt took for his second wife Mrs. M. J. Williamson, of Marshall County, Tenn., born in 1827. Both are members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Moffatt is a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Obion County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee

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