Lunenburg County, Virginia - Biographical Notes on John Wyatt Moody File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: MMOODY@eac.cc.az.us Ted Moody JOHN WYATT MOODY 1776 - 1839 John Wyatt Moody, b. 10 Jun 1776 in Lunenburg County, Va., died 20 Aug 1839, in Houston, Texas, where he was the first Auditor of the Republic of Texas. Until he was about 14 years of age, he lived in Lunenburg County, Va. and then moved with his family to Iredell Co., North Carolina. he would have been of age in 1797, and on March 13, 1806, in Warren County, Ohio, he married Mary Baldwin, daughter, of Francis and Rhoda Jennings Baldwin, she being born 1 Feb 1785 in Walkes County, Ga., died 10 Dec 1853, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Francis Baldwin was b. in Berkeley County, Va. and Rhoda Jennings in 1767 in Fairfield Co., Conn. Between 1816 and 1819 John Wyatt Moody moved from North Carolina to Cossa Co., Alabama, thence to St. Clair Co., Ala. and in the year 1824 he moved to Montgomery Co., Ala. Here he acquired a plantation and owned slaves. His son, William C., said his father believed he could make a good negro out of any slave by treating him kindly. In 1833 John W. moved his family to Wyumpka, in the Creek Indian territory. While here he became interested in the settlement of Texas and accordingly pulled stakes again and set out for Texas, arriving in May, 1835. He first settled at Bastrop, Texas, and in 1836, moved to La Grange. His son William C. joined the Sam Houston Army in 1835. The city at Houston was not settled permanently until after the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, and it was the first capital of the Republic of Texas from 1837 to 1839. The Moody farm was in the middle of what is now the business section, and it is said that the valid title to this land may still reside with the heirs as it was never properly transferred. "John W. Moody was the auditor of Public Accounts during the two years of Houston's first administration. He had served as auditor for the Provisional Government, having been elected by the Provisional Council, December 20, 1835. Before this time he had been serving as chief clerk of the Finance Committee, also as clerk for the committee on State and judiciary Affairs prior to the establishment of the office of auditor. "During this time, claims on the Provisional Government were audited by a committee on Public Accounts which reported from time to time, and thereupon the council ordered the drafts to be drawn upon the Treasurer. "John W. Moody continued to hold the office of Auditor until his death, August 21, 1839. The Telegraph and Texas Register, August 21, 1839, p. 2, Col. 4, states: "Moody, J. W., died in the City (Houston) after a short illness, Maj. J. W. Moody, of congestive fever, aged about 48.* Maj. Moody has been for many years a citizen of Texas, and since the organization, as officer of the Government. In the discharge of the duties of perhaps one of the most perplexing and arduous officer of the government, that of 1st Auditor, he has been *According to the records of his son, William Cresfield Moody, J. W. Moody was 63 years of age when he died. characterized (sic) by an assiduity and attention to business and the well regulated manner in which he conducted it, seldom exceeded by any officer of the government. His loss is sincerely lamented by all who knew him." Moody seemed not to have been able to amass any considerable fortune, not even a competence, for the Telegraph again, March 12, 1841, gives information concerning him. Moody's administrator, M. R. Goheen, posted a notice that by order of the Probate Court, "all of Moody's perishable property, consisting of 1 silver watch, 1 four-horse wagon, a lot of cows and young cattle, household and kitchen furniture, should be sold at the Moody home on Spring Creek at five or thirty miles north of Houston.) "Williams and Barker, Writings of Sam Houston, II, 127. The Telegraph and Texas Register, February 6, 1839, has a note on Moody's giving a ball honoring Sam Houston. The Writings indicate that the J. W. Moody Papers are in the Texas State Library'." Seymour V. Conner, archivist of the Texas State Library, Austin, wrote Feb 26, 1955 to William A. Moody, "I personally get the feeling that J. W. Moody's careful approach to the financial problem of the Republic is one of the major factors in the success of the government of the Republic. I have reviewed in the past year literally hundreds of letters and documents under his hand and have come to the opinion that he is one of the neglected figures in Texas history. I should very much like to see someone attempt to do a biographical monograph on Moody." FAMILY OF JOHN WYATT MOODY John Wyatt Moody (1st state auditor of Texas), b. 10 Jun 1776 in Lunenburg Co., Vrgn, son of Dr. Thomas Moody and Mary Young, md. 13 Mar 1806 Mary Baldwin, b. 1 Feb 1785 in Walkes Co., Grg, dau. of Francis and Rhoda Jennings, she died 10 Dec 1853 in Salt Lake City, Utah, she was also buried there. To this union the following children were born: 1- Dorinda Melissa, b. 15 Jan 1808 in Iredell Co., N-Cr, md. 1st 24 Jul 1825 to William Gidson Salmon; 2nd 25 Apr 1837 Michael Roup Goheen (Sld 8 Mar 1884 SGEOR temple); 3rd 20 Feb 1853 to William Rufus Slade (his real name was William Rufus Slocum, it is said he ran away from home and took his mother's maiden name, "Slade". She d. 21 Nov 1895. She had 8 children. 2- Alfonzo, b. abt 1810 of Ashville, S-Clr, Albm (no other inf. given of his marr. or death date.) 3- Mary Grizan or Crison or Grigson, b. abt 1814 of Ashville, S-Clr, Albm, she died young, no date given. 4- Francis Winfred, b. 21 Oct 1816 in N-Cr, md. n.g. to Louisa Sarah Oliver, b. 3 May 1819. Their children were: John Fletcher, Louisa M., Mary Frances, and Samuel Oliver, who lived in Ft. Worth, Texas. He died 21 May 1854. He had 4 children. *5- William Cresfield Moody, b. 23 Mar 1819 in Rockford, Cossa, Alam, 1st 1 Jan 1840 to Harriet Henson (Sld 20 Dec 1857); 2nd 20 Dec 1857 Lola Eliza Bess (Sld 20 Dec 1857); 3rd 20 Dec 1857 Cynthia Elizabeth Damron (Sld 20 Dec 1857); 4th 21 Apr 1866 to Louisa Gilleard Williams (Sld 21 Apr 1866); 5th 3 Oct 1872 Victoria Reginia Rogers (Sld 3 Oct 1872 and 19 Aug 1952). His 5th wife `Victoria, who departed this life on her way from England to Utah Territory, Sep 1862, was a good and faithful Latter-day Saint, beloved by all who knew her, and her last request was I William C. Moody should have her Sealed to me for eterinty. I had it done 3 Oct 1872 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.' William C. died 26 Sep 1906 in Santa Monica, L-Angl, Ca. William C. had 23 children from his three wives, their was no issue from his 4th and 5th wives. Husb. William C. was reinstated 27 Apr 1901. 6- John Monroe Moody, b. 16 Feb 1822 of Ashville, S-Clr, Albm, md. 1st 27 Jan 1850 (div) Margaret Anglin (div 1857 at SLC, Ut); 2nd 23 Jan 1856 to Elizabeth Pool (Sld 23 Jan 1856); 3rd 20 Dec 1857 to Sarah Matilda Damron (Sld 19 Mar 1858 & 20 Dec 1857); 4th 15 Sep 1878 to Margaret Lenore Pace (Sld 15 Sep 1878) John M. had 19 children from his 4 wives. He died 27 Jan 1884 in Thatcher, Graham, Arizona. He was also buried in the Thatcher Cemetary at Thatcher, Arizona. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************