The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-12
WAS ONCE FAMOUS
| IN CLARK COUNTY
Tho Tragedy In the Life of Tom Moi.
fet Who Died In the quincy
Poorhouse This Week 10
Depleted Wildly.
WAS POLITICAL POWER
Made Large Income as Travelling
Salesman for Years and Fin
ally Worked at Saddler's
Trade in shop.

people. and to all residents of Clark
county, adjoining Keokpk, Tom Moi
felt ends a life history which the
Quincy Wing describes as follows:
Worth thousands Of dollars at one
time and formerly power in demo
cratic politics in Clark county, Mo-,
and vicinity. Thomas Moffett died
Wednesday night in the Adams
county poor house.
The sad end of man who could
have retired years ago with big for
tune or who might have rose to the
top notch OF the Missouri political
ladder reads like a modern novel and
Tom Moffett regretted the life he had
led as the years crowded upon him
and he was forced to work at day
wages in the shop of Quincy har-
ness maker.
There is no reason to keep a secret
the cause of Toms downfall. His
failing is generally known, especially
among the implement and hardware
dealers of Quincy and neighboring
cities. Booze spelled defeat for the
once brilliant travelling salesman and
before Tom Moffett could muster
enough will power to cast drink aside
several years ago, all the money he
had made had vanished and he was
forced to step down and out as a
political genius.
Was Strong Political Leader.
When Tom Moffett was in politics
he could have commanded the best
Offices in Clark county. He was con-
tent, however, with holding the bal
ance of power for some democratic
statesman and state candidate. He
continued a boss of democratic poll
tics in Clark county until he lost his
big implement store and took to the
road.
He knew the pulse Of Missouri
people on political questions like the
mother knows the needs of her child
and it was because of this excep-
tional ingenuity that Tom Moffett
commanded such large following OF
voters in the behalf of Missouri
political leaders.
He made the prediction in 1896
that Missouri for the first time would
swing in the republican column and
his predictions came true. He was
a personal friend of former Cover
nor Joseph Folk and was regarded as
the closest acquaintance in eastern
Missouri to Senator William Joel
Stone.
From Affuence to Poverty.
Tom Moffett and his brother Matt.
were engaged in the hardware and
implement business in Kahoka, Mo.
Their business gradually grew until
1t had assumed huge proportions and
fortune smiled upon them.
Humane Officer John Coens found
Tom Moffett, the mere shadow of his
former self, in dingy room on Jer-
,sey street. There was big con-
tast with his once beautiful home
in Kahoka and the splendor surround
ing the best hotels in the country
which he visited while travelling and
when sent direct to the big eastern
factories to purchase outright the
goods for the wholesale houses to
which he sold.
In his declining days his daughter
came to Quincy and made arrange
ments for his care in the county
home She wanted him taken to a
hospital, but he refused and asked
that he spend the remainder OF his
days in the poor house.
Mr.. Moffett will be given the burial
by his family that would have been
carried out had he lived as he should
and his wife, sons and daughter will
nav their respects to their husband
and parent before he is taken to his
I,et racf{no n1aca