Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-11-05
The Old Men of ROckbridge
THE TWO MOFFETTs-WILLIAM JOHN

THE TWO MOFFETTs-wILLIAM & JOHN
If these brothers had been re-
markable for nothing else, their
corporal dimensions were sufficient
to signalize them as rather notable
men. 1t is not to say that they
were unnaturally large men, but
in a crowd they certainly would
have been singled out IS men of
considerably more than ordinary
stature. Indeed, during their lives,
they gave character somewhat, to
the men of Rockbridge as coming
from a big race. A stranger hap
pening to see them together and
knowing them to be citizens of
Rock bridge would naturally have
been impressed with the idea that
our country produced pretty
sizeable people.
We know an instance Of this
kind to happen once on II court
day in Lexington. A visitor from
one Of the Northern cities, being
in town on that occasion, in taking
Il casual survey Of the people as
they are usually congregated on
the streets On court days, had his
attention called to one Of the Moi
felt brothers. He remarked,
"What large mani Soon the
other brother came III der his
observation, this one, fully as
large az the first one seei and
their exhibit together with good
many others, such as Thomas
Wilson, quite a tall man, tie Me-
Clures from the same section, cid
Capt. Jimmy Montgomery and so
on from various sections Of the
county. all sizeable Rockbridge
men, made our Yankee sOJcurner
think that this county surely
must be famous for big men, and
he was led so to eXclaim.
The Mchett brothers were
originally from Augusta county
and another brother, Robert, who
lived on Christians creek, in that
county, could measure dimensions,
any day, with our respected Rock
bridge specimens Of rotundity. 1t
could be said of all of them, that
they " ere fine specimens of the
genus homo. The brothers, William
and John, were both pushing,
business men. Now that they have
passed away from the st, &c of
life, we may be permitted to II eat
of them in that frank, respectful
way, we ave hitherto treated of
the FAN class of men, and which
we have reason to think has been
appreciated in the spirit of candol
and kindness it was intended.
The Moffett brothers raj ked
among our most enterprising and
successful farmers. In passing
along the old Natural Bridge road,
some seven or eight miles be-
yond Lexington, you come to the
John MOtfett farm, on which stands
a commodious brick mansion and
all the requisite out buildings,
giving evidence that the former
occupant was a man OF thrift and
in prosperous circun stances. Mr..
Motfett being a man of abundant
means could farm to advantage
These lands bear the appearance
of being originally of good soil
and the farm being one of the
largest owned by our farmers of
that day, with plenty of labor
in slave property to till it, good
crops and well stored barns were
a natural consequence Of provident
care. Mr.. John Moffett's farm is
remembered as being one of the
most attractive of the many fine
farms on that road.
Farther on and by the road side
leading from the old Gilbreth
tavern to Buchanan, stood the
capacious stone dwelling Of VIM.
Motfett. Here too were the
domestic comforts which II pro-
ductive farm and judicious man
agement generally afford. Mr..
Motfett's means were ample and
the hospitality disbursed around
his Widespread board was in ac-
cordance with his abundance.
They are remembered now and
they were known through life rs
among our most substantial citi-
zens. We may, however, be per-
mitted in candor to say, that they
were considered men of strong
rreiudices, likes, or dislikes, as
YOU nay choose to call it; yet,
they were men in whom there was
no deceit-friends, they were
friends indeed and otherwise they
could not be charged with play
ing any part of the hypocrite.
Discrimination was term that
never belonged to their vocabulary.
VIM. Moffett, for very teshy
man, was noted for uncommon
strength, which would be some
times displayed in his holding out