Wood County, West Virginia    Biography of James A. MOFFETT

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Submitted by Valerie Crook, <vfcrook@trellis.net>, April 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 647

JAMES A. MOFFETT. Known in later years as one of the
leading officials of the Standard Oil Company and promi-
nent in financial circles both east and west, James A. Moffett
began his career in Parkersburg and gained his first dis-
tinctions as an expert on the refining and other branches of
the petroleum industry in that city.

He was born at Marlins Bottom in Pocahontas County,
Virginia, April 12, 1851, son of Dr. George Boone and
Margaret (Beale) Moffett. The Moffetts were one of the
most numerous families of Augusta County and lived there
practically from the beginning of white settlement. Dr.
George Boone Moffett was a Confederate surgeon throughout
the period of the Civil war, and later became prominent
in the affairs of West Virginia.

James A. Moffett was one of three children, his sister
dying in infancy, and his brother being Robert H. Moffett.
All are now deceased. James Moffett had an academic
education and at the age of eighteen came to Parkersburg
on the advice of his relative by marriage Col. William
Payne Thompson of Wheeling. After coming to Parkers-
burg he attended for a time the public schools, though his
reputation for learning and the great fund of special knowl-
edge he acquired in later years was largely due to private
study. Incidentally he read law, not for the purpose of
practicing the profession, but to give him a superior equip-
ment for business. Colonel Thompson and Senator Camden
of Parkersburg had for several years been prominently
interested in the pioneer oil belt of West Virginia, and
Mr. Moffett as their clerk was sent to Burning Springs
in Wirt County, but shortly afterwards was brought back
to Parkersburg and went into the refinery established here
by Senator Camden for the purpose of learning the details
of the oil business. The Parkersburg refinery eventually
became consolidated with the Standard Oil Company, and
during his experience there and elsewhere Mr. Moffett
achieved recognition as a foremost expert in all branches
of the refining art. While still superintendent of the
Parkersburg refinery he and others helped build the old
pulp mills, afterwards destroyed by fire and flood, and
was ever alive to the best interests of his city.

It was the great American capitalist and official of the
Standard Oil Company, the late H. H. Rogers, who ap-
preciating the wonderful abilities of Mr. Moffett induced
him to move to New York and become superintendent of
the Charles M. Pratt refinery, belonging to the Standard
Oil group of interests. Six years later he went to Chi-
cago to build and take charge of the Indiana refinery at
Whiting, and for eleven years made his home in that city
and as superintendent had jurisdiction over several sur-
rounding states. He also became president of the Cali-
fornia Standard Oil Company.

Mr. Moffett returned to New York City in 1901 and
was made a member of the manufacturing committee,
member of the executive board and later became a vice
president of the Standard Oil Company. He also had
general charge of the Standard Oil interests in most of the
western states and in a large measure he was the practical
successor of H. H. Rogers in the Standard Oil Company.
The relations he enjoyed with this corporation are of
themselves the highest word of praise that could be spoken
of his capability, his integrity and the specialized knowl-
edge that means power in business. His business character
was combined with a kindly, generous and just nature.

Mr. Moffett continued active in business until his death
on February 25, 1913. On January 25, 1883, he married
Miss Kate Ingersoll Jackson, who survives him and re-
sides at her New York City home, 903 Park Avenue. Her
father James Monroe Jackson was long a prominent citizen
of West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Moffett were the parents
of five children: George Monroe; James Andrew; Helen
Seely, now Mrs. Harold Oakly Barker; Margaret Beale and
Robert, both deceased.