CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY:  W. L. MOODY - Galveston, TX

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Submitted by Peggy Brannon - peggybrannon@hotmail.com
17 November 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

W. L. MOODY

William L. Moody, of Galveston, was born in Essex county, Virginia, May 
19,1828. He was educated in the University of Virginia, graduating at the 
end of his third term. In 1852 he came to Texas and settled at Fairfield, in 
Freestone county, where he began the practice of law. Upon the outbreak of 
the war in 1861 he raised and was elected captain of Co. G, Seventh Texas 
Infantry. He was in the battle at Fort Donelson when the Confederate forces 
were captured by the Federals, and was a prisoner of war at Camp Chase and 
later at Johnson's Island in Lake Erie. His exchange was effected in 
September, 1862, when he rejoined his regiment and was made 
lieutenant-colonel, seeing active service in Mississippi and Louisiana. Over 
half of his command was killed in the battle of Raymond, and at Jackson, 
July 10, he was severely wounded. He did not retire, however, and the 
following spring was promoted to colonel, serving to the close of the war. 
He now removed his residence to Galveston and embarked in the commission 
business under the firm name of Moody, Bradley & Co. In 1871, L. F. Moody 
and F. M. Bradley retired, and E. S. Jemison, of Galveston, entered the 
business, the style of the firm being Moody & Jemison, and a branch house 
was started in New York in 1874 with Col. Jemisonon in charge. This 
continued until 1881, when Col. Jemison retired to give his attention to his 
New York business interests, and W. L. Moody, Jr. and F. B. Moody, sons of 
Col. Moody, were admitted as partners under the firm name of W. L. Moody & 
Co., and they have since conducted one of the largest banking and cotton 
factorage businesses in the South.  Col. Moody was a member of the 
legislature in 1874 and was commissioned by Governor Coke the agent to 
effect the sale of state bonds to restore public credit. Resigning his seat 
he went to New York and accomplished the task that placed the fiscal affairs 
of Texas on a firm basis. He was a delegate to the National Democratic 
Convention at Kansas City in 1900. He has been connected with nearly every 
important enterprise in Galveston. He was married January l9,1860, to Miss 
Pherabe Elizabeth Bradley, of an old Georgia family, and their handsome home 
in the Island City is a center of generous hospitality. Their only daughter, 
Mary, is the wife of Mr. Sealy Hutchings, of Galveston.