John H. Moffitt
Encyclopedia
John Henry Moffitt was a United States Representative from New York
and the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Civil War.
, Clinton County
, New York
and attended the district school and Plattsburgh Academy. During the American Civil War
enlisted as a private in Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, New York Volunteers, April 27, 1861 but mustered out of the service with his regiment on May 18, 1863.
After the war he attended the Fort Edward
Collegiate Institute and graduated in 1864.
In 1866 he worked as the deputy collector of customs at Rouses Point
, New York until 1872. After that he engaged in the manufacture of charcoal bloom iron at Moffitsville, Clinton County, and at Belmont
, Franklin
(now Allegany
) County, from 1872–1891;
In 1877 he was elected supervisor of Saranac
, Clinton County.
John Moffitt was elected as a Republican
to the Fiftieth
and Fifty-first Congresses
(March 4, 1887 - March 3, 1891) but he was not a candidate for renomination in 1890.
After leaving congress he was a manager of the Syracuse Street Railway Company from 1891–1899 and superintendent of the city water department from 1900 - 1902 when he worked as a cashier of the Plattsburgh National Bank until 1904. Then from 1904 until his death he was president of the Plattsburg National Bank & Trust Co. and served as chairman of the Republican committee of Clinton County and a delegate
to the Republican National Convention
in 1912.
John Moffitt died in Plattsburgh
, Clinton County, New York, and is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery
Rank and Organization:
Citation:
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Civil War.
Biography
John Henry Moffitt was born near ChazyChazy, New York
Chazy is a town in northeastern Clinton County, New York, in the United States. The population was 4,284 at the 2010 census. The closest city is Plattsburgh, to the south. Chazy is from Canada. The zip code is 12921 and it is in area code 518.- History:...
, Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and attended the district school and Plattsburgh Academy. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
enlisted as a private in Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, New York Volunteers, April 27, 1861 but mustered out of the service with his regiment on May 18, 1863.
After the war he attended the Fort Edward
Fort Edward (town), New York
Fort Edward is a town in and the county seat of Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 5,892 at the 2000 census....
Collegiate Institute and graduated in 1864.
In 1866 he worked as the deputy collector of customs at Rouses Point
Rouses Point, New York
Rouses Point is a village in Clinton County, New York, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 2,209 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Jacques Rouse, an early settler....
, New York until 1872. After that he engaged in the manufacture of charcoal bloom iron at Moffitsville, Clinton County, and at Belmont
Belmont, New York
Belmont is a village within the Town of Amity which is in Allegany County, New York, USA. Belmont is the county seat of Allegany County. The population was 952 at the 2000 census. The name means beautiful hill....
, Franklin
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
(now Allegany
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
) County, from 1872–1891;
In 1877 he was elected supervisor of Saranac
Saranac, New York
Saranac is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The town is on the western border of the county, west of the City of Plattsburgh and is within the Adirondack Park. The population was 4,007 at the 2010 census. The town is named for the Saranac River that flows past the town.- History...
, Clinton County.
John Moffitt was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fiftieth
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
and Fifty-first Congresses
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
(March 4, 1887 - March 3, 1891) but he was not a candidate for renomination in 1890.
After leaving congress he was a manager of the Syracuse Street Railway Company from 1891–1899 and superintendent of the city water department from 1900 - 1902 when he worked as a cashier of the Plattsburgh National Bank until 1904. Then from 1904 until his death he was president of the Plattsburg National Bank & Trust Co. and served as chairman of the Republican committee of Clinton County and a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1912.
John Moffitt died in Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
, Clinton County, New York, and is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery
Mount Carmel Cemetery
Mount Carmel Cemetery is a popular name for Catholic cemeteries in many areas. A few with this name are:* Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hamden, Connecticut...
Medal of Honor citation
- Corporal, Company C, 16th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Gaines Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. Entered service at: Plattsburg, N.Y. Born. January 8, 1843, Chazy, Clinton County, N.Y. Date of issue: March 3, 1891.
Citation:
- Voluntarily took up the regimental colors after several color bearers had been shot down and carried them until himself wounded.
See also
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: M–P