Polk-Iowa County IA Archives Biographies.....Moulton, Roland Charles 1836 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 29, 2011, 6:26 pm

Source: See below
Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

REV. ROLAND CHARLES MOULTON, pastor of Moriah Congregational Church, of East Des
Moines, Iowa, is a native of Maine, born in Bethel Hill, on the 30th of May,
1836. His paternal grandfather, David Moulton, was a native of New England, and
was of English and Welsh extraction. His father, Perkins Moulton, was a farmer
in early life and afterward engaged in teaching vocal and instrumental music. He
was born in Tamworth, New Hampshire, and married Hannah Moulton, who was a
cousin and also a native of the Pine Tree State. In the family were nine
children,—three sons and six daughters,—of whom the Doctor is the fifth in order
of birth and the only survivor. His brother, Franklin C., served as a Captain of
Company B, Third New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry,, during the Civil war.

   During his early childhood Doctor Moulton removed with his parents to Boston,
Massachusetts, where his boyhood days were passed. He attended the public
schools and was graduated at the high school of that place. He then entered
Lewiston (Maine) Academy, and having determined to enter the ministry was
graduated at the Sedgwick Theological Seminary in 1861. On completing his
education he joined the Union army. Aroused by a spirit of patriotism he
responded to the president's call for troops to aid in crushing out the
rebellion, and became a member of Company B, Tenth Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Henry Briggs, and was assigned
to the army of the Potomac. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run, and
was also in the engagement at Wilson Creek, Missouri. On the organization of his
company he was elected First Lieutenant, and in 1862 was promoted to the rank of
Captain, in which capacity he served for three years, leading his men in many a
gallant charge and inspiring and encouraging them by his own bravery and
fearlessness. When hostilities had ceased he received an honorable discharge.

   Captain Moulton returned to Boston, Massachusetts, where he spent two years
in school and then entered upon his ministerial labors, being ordained in the
Methodist Protestant Church. His first pastorate was at Williamsburg,
Pennsylvania, after which he had charge of the church at Hollidaysburg, Blair
county, Pennsylvania, and then received and accepted a call from the church in
Youngstown, Ohio. His next service, was as pastor of the Second Methodist
Protestant Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and then his duties called him to the
West. He continued his pastoral duties in St. Louis, Missouri, and also spent
eight years in Chicago, Illinois, as pastor of the First Methodist Protestant
Church, after which he became engaged in missionary work, traveling through the
Southern States for several years. He succeeded in organizing churches in a
number of communities which were much in need of religious instruction and
training.

   On his return to the North Dr. Moulton went to Chicago, and after a short
time was sent by his conference to Lodora, Iowa, whence he went to Bennett, this
State. In the meantime he had changed his religious affiliations and entered the
ministry of the Congregational Church. February 1, 1891, he went to Runnell's,
Polk county, Iowa, at the request of Dr. A. L. Frisby, pastor of Plymouth
Congregational Church of Des Moines, and organized a Congregational Church at
that place, remaining its pastor until it was thoroughly established. It has
become a prosperous congregation, having a fine brick church and a parsonage,
with a regular settled pastor. In 1891 he was called to Des Moines, and on the
28th of May, 1895, was installed as pastor of the Moriah Congregational Church,
one of the strong and influential churches of the city. He is a man of ripe
scholarship and broad general information, and has long been a very thorough
Bible student. His views therefore are the result of careful deliberation and
sound judgment. In the pulpit he is an orator,—a fluent, earnest and forcible
speaker, who has the power to move his audiences by logic, by pathos or by
reason. He appeals to the intellect as well as the heart, and is recognized as
one of the able members of the Congregational Church.

    In 1891 Dr. Moulton was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Mary E. Smith, widow of
Hon. F. C. Smith, of Lodora, Iowa. She is a cultured lady, presiding with grace
and dignity over her husband's home. He has erected a fine residence at 1429
East Grand avenue, with all of the modern improvements, and throughout the
community they are held in the highest esteem. In his political views, Dr.
Moulton is an unswerving Prohibitionist, a leader of his party in Iowa, and was
the candidate for the office of State Treasurer in 1894. He owned some valuable
farming and city property, and is a good business man as well as one of the
eminent ministers of the Congregational denomination.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896

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