Thomas W. Moffitt, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 459-460 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				THOMAS W. MOFFITT, M. D.  

	Dr. Thomas W. Moffitt, a well known follower of the medical 
profession practicing successfully at Deadwood, was born at 
Sarahsville, Ohio, May 25, 1870, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Young) 
Moffitt, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. In early life the 
father was a lawyer and also became a journalist. At Cambridge, Ohio, 
he edited a paper called the Jeffersonian and on leaving that place 
removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was editor of the 
Pittsburgh Evening News, continuing his residence in that city up to 
the time of his death, which occurred in 1888. His widow afterward 
returned to her home in Sarahsville, Ohio, and there passed away in 
1907. Mr. Moffitt was a veteran of the Civil war, having served as a 
private in an Ohio regiment. To him and his wife were born two 
children, of whom Dr. Moffitt is the younger. Following the death of 
her first husband Mrs. Moffitt married again and there were four 
children born of that union.  

	Dr. Moffitt completed his public-school education as a high-
school pupil in Caldwell Ohio. He afterward attended the Ohio State 
University and prepared for his professional career as a student in the 
Starling Medical College at Columbus. He was graduated in medicine when 
twenty-three years of age, after which he made his way to South Dakota, 
settling at Hot Springs, where he engaged in active practice from 1893 
until July, 1898 He then removed to Lead, where he joined the medical 
staff of the Homestake Mining Company, with which he was connected for 
a year. On the expiration of that period he located in Deadwood, where 
he has practiced continuously since. He does not engage in general 
practice, however, but confines his attention to surgery. He has a 
comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and the component parts of the human 
body, of the onslaughts made upon it by disease or left to it as a 
legacy by progenitors and this, combined with skill in handling 
delicate surgical instruments, has made him one of the skillful 
surgeons of his part of the state, enjoying the high regard of his 
professional brethren as well as of the general public. He is a member 
and president of the District Medical Society and belongs also to the 
South Dakota State Medical Association and to the American Medical 
Association.  

	On the 28th of October, 1896, Dr. Moffitt was united in marriage 
to Miss Marilla Anderson, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of 
Colonel A. R. and Sarah (Woods) Anderson, both of whom were natives of 
Ohio. The father, who was an attorney at law, removed from Ohio to 
Illinois and thence to Sidney, Iowa, where he was active at both the 
bar and in politics. He served in an Iowa regiment during the Civil war 
and was commissioned colonel. On several occasions he was wounded but 
never seriously. He left the impress of his individuality upon the 
public welfare and the upbuilding of the state and he held various 
offices, serving for two terms as a member of congress. Both he and his 
wife have passed away and are survived by two children, of whom Mrs. 
Moffitt is the younger. To Dr. and Mrs. Moffitt have been born two 
children, Sarah Marilla and Thomas W.  

	Dr. Moffitt is well known as an exemplary representative of the 
Masonic fraternity and as a loyal member of the Benevolent Protective 
Order of Elks. In politics he has long been a democrat and has served 
as a member of the city council of Deadwood and as city physician. He 
was formerly a member of the state board of health, from 1899 until 
1904, having been appointed by Governor Lee. He has a wide and 
favorable acquaintance and the goodwill and confidence of many friends 
are cordially extended him.