The only information we have of the date of birth of John Moody (aside from ranges shown in early census returns) comes from his gravestone which shows that he died Sep 11, 1838, 43y 5m. Based on this, it appears that John was born about April 1795. John was the oldest son of William Moody and the birth date of the second son, Thomas, is known to be 8 Nov 1798. We know that his father, William, married Mary Stadden in Northumberland county, PA, prior to June 1797 (the date of her father, Thomas', will) and lived there until the family moved to Ohio, so we can assume John was born in that location. He appears to be listed with William in the 1800 PA census for Northumberland county. In about 1807, the family moved from PA to a location near Newark, Licking, OH. There is no 1810 OH census and John does not appear with his father in the 1820 census. William appears in pre-1810 tax listings under Hanover Twp. in Licking county.
As noted above, John's gravestone at the Bellville cemetery in Jefferson, Richland, OH, shows that he fought in the War of 1812. A listing of the men in Captain James Critten's Company (which was probably from Licking county) shows John Moody as a private under Ensign William Evans; Sergeant James Cunningham; Corporal Samuel Murfoot. This company served from July 30 until August 16, 1813.
John wrote a letter to Col. James Moody of Nova Scotia, dated November 25, 1817, from Licking county, OH, in which he states that he is the son of William Moody, the son of James and Elizabeth Moody formerly of New Jersey. He goes on to say that his grandfather proved loyal to the King (of England) in the Revolutionary War and left the United States. John states that they have heard James settled in Nova Scotia but they had never learned in what part. He asks for any information about persons with the name of James or John Moody who were from New Jersey. John notes that he can be reached in Newark, Licking county, OH. The author notes that the Col. James Moody who John is addressing was the famous Loyalist from New Jersey. This James died in 1809 and the letter ended up with a relative.
Knox county marriage records show that on 2 Mar 1820 John Moody married Experience Miller, probably the daughter of Jonathon Miller.
In the 1820 OH census listing (Knox 98 Mt. Vernon) we find John Moody: 1m 16-18; 1m 16-26 (John?); 1m 26-45 1f less than 10; 1f 10-16; 1f 16-26 (Experience?) At the date of the census (begun on 7 Aug 1820), John was married to Experience Miller. The other individuals recorded are unknown. The 1820 census listing for William does not include a son of John's age so we believe this must be the correct John. There are no others in the area.
The same page as the above 1820 census listing for John shows a Jonathon Miller and an Elie Miller. See note below on Administrator of John's estate named Eli Miller. In this listing, Elie Miller is 26-45 years of age which might make him a brother of Experience. Jonathon is 45+ and could be the father of the two. John Moody is found with these Millers in many records.
The 1820 census of manufacturer's, dated 22 Jan 1821, shows Moody & McCarthy in Mount Vernon, Knox county, OH. We also find a number of land transactions for Moody & McCarthy in this time period. The census form was filled out and signed by John Moody and the handwriting and signature match those of the letters still extant written by John. Moody & McCarty were in the business of making whiskey. The inventory listing shows that the firm was annually processing about 600 bushels of wheat, 700 bushels of rye, and 400 bushels of corn costing about $553 per year in total. The firm employed one man and one boy and was paying about $300 per year in wages.
Based on Knox county land records, John and Experience began acquiring land in August 1823. In 1825, John shows on grantor deeds without mention of Experience. There is a marriage record in Jefferson county, OH, showing an Experience Moody mar. Richard Elson on 1 Nov 1827. There is no connection known to this author at this time.
In 1825, John Moody opened a store and shortly thereafter opened a mill on the Clearfork. John Moody was not only a miller and a merchant, but also became an ordained Campbellite (Christian) minister. He built his church near his mill on the Clearfork. The Reverend Moody was a very generous man and on many occasions he refused to sell his flour so that he would have enough to give to the needy.
John wrote another letter to what he believed were relatives in Canada in 1828. This one was addressed to Col. Brittain, dated May 9, 1828, and John is writing from St. John's, New Brunswick, Canada. John is apparently visiting his grandmother in New York City and indicates that he may be contacted in NYC in care of Hart & Herrick, a mercantile firm. In the letter, John indicates that he is considering a visit to Europe that summer. (There are no 1828 passport records available at NARA and he was not found on the index of passengers coming in to New York City in 1828.) John also states in the letter that he is the oldest son of William Moody and that he was living in Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, in 1828 when the letter was written. The author also has a copy of a letter written by Eleanor Miller to John while he was in New York in 1828. Eleanor [Kreps] was the wife of Eli Miller. She writes of John's two sons and their good performance in school. The boys both miss John terribly and ask that he not go sailing [to Europe probably]. Eleanor also talks about other family and friends. Things seem to be going very well though they all miss John.
On 25 Sep 1828, John married Mira Hussa. Once again, little is known of Mira and the last name may be a misspelling but appears correct based on the written marriage record. One possibility is that Mira is related to Zevolena Huse who married George Mathias Stadden in Licking county in 1838, grandson of Isaac Stadden (brother of John's mother Mary Stadden). The surname Hulse is also a possibility.
On 9 Oct 1828, John's father William died in Licking county and John is Guardian of William's estate. William's probate records were lost in a courthouse fire in the 1870s. An 1836 petition for partition names all of William's heirs.
Based on land records, John and Mira moved to Richland county somewhere around the fall of 1829 to the spring of 1830. John acquired several pieces of land through the land office at Wooster. One, dated December 14, 1829 shows John a resident of Richland county. Two additional pieces of land were acquired through the land office in 1832. We find John in the 1830 OH census (begun 1 June 1830) in Bellville, Richland county: 2m 5-10 (Israel and Miller); 1m 15-20 (?); 1m 30-40 (John) 1f 30-40 (Mira)
A biographical sketch of John's grandson, Israel (son of Miller) states that "John came to Bellville in a very early day, and was one of the best citizens that ever lived in Jefferson Township, and was a minister in the Church of Disciples." The Disciples denomination, or Campbellites as they were called by some, began meetings a few years after the Methodists (who first organized a church about 1814). John Moody, an early miller, was the power back of this one. He had services in his mill at first, then built a church about where the Farm Bureau elevator now stands. With the coming of the railroad, he moved the church south of its old location [Note: this occurred about 1850 after John was deceased]. [Bellville & Jefferson Township History; Maude Schaefer for the Bellville Bicentennial Commission; Sept. 1975; The Bellville Star-Press]
Back in the early 1800's, Reverend John Moody purchased a section of ground at Bellville, Ohio, from James McClure, who had received it as a land grant from then President James Madison. Moody built a wood, four story, water-powered mill with an over shot water wheel (see picture). At first, it was a fulling and carding mill, with an attached sawmill, but there weren't enough sheep to support the fulling and carding mill, so it was converted to a grist mill. Moody operated the mill six days a week and on Sundays, the mill became a church. He continued until about 1837 and then sold it. [Bellville-Jefferson Township Historical Society; Bellville, OH. Number 3 in a Series. r977.128 H673]
A notice appeared in a Richland county newspaper 24 Mar 1832:
Notice. For Sale, or Rent, the Mill Property opposite the town of Bellville, Richland county. There is now in operation a Saw Mill, Fulling Mill and Carding machine. If not disposed of, I wish to employ a hand to attend to the Carding machine the present season. None need apply who cannot give satisfaction as to morals, industry, and a knowledge of the business. John Moody. (Richland County, Ohio Newspapers. Abstracts and Extracts 1830-1849; Kerry L. Kimberly; Picton Press)
About the time the post office was established in January 1824, John Moody opened a store of general merchandise, and by 1835 the town contained three stores. John owned a grist mill and a large farm adjoining. He was a preacher of the Christian denomination faith. He took no pay for his preaching. During the threatened famine, John gave away thousands of bushels of grain to those with no money. In about 1835, John built a house of worship for those who believed in the views proclaimed by Alexander Campbell. In July of 1838, John sold land to Joseph Johnston, Caleb Crandall, John Standard; elders of the Society of Christians in Bellville.
John Moody died intestate on 11 Sep 1838 in Richland county, OH. Eli Miller was appointed Administrator of his estate per documentation from Richland County Court of Common Pleas dated 23 October 1838. Bond posted was for $20,000. John's estate papers confirm his sons Miller and Israel as John's only heirs at law. Payments were made to Miller and Israel from 1842 through 1845 before final settlement. The final estate totalled $16,455 after disbursements and fees.
On 13 Oct 1838, Jonathon Miller was appointed guardian of Miller (aged 16 years) and Israel (aged 15 years) Moody, John's sons. On 17 Feb 1839, Jonathon Miller, Isaac Hadley, and Matthew H. Mitchell posted a ten thousand dollar bond for Jonathon's performance as guardian.
From the History of Richland County:
The Reverend John Moody was a pioneer preacher of the Disciple Church. He built a grist mill at Bellville in 1831. The story of his good deeds during the period of the threatened famine has been told and retold and should be repeated in the years to come as a memorial to him. Providence rewarded his generosity, for giving to the poor did not impoverish him, for the crops upon his farm yielded more plentiful than before. He was blessed in the giving as the poor were receiving his assistance. Captain Miller Moody, son of the benefactor, gave his life for his country upon the bloody field of Antietam.
John was laid to rest in the Bellville cemetery with his wife Mira. Her inscription reads: Mira Moody w/o John, d. Jul 23, 1837, 38y. His son Miller rests next to him. His gravestone simply shows: John Moody, War of 1812; d. Sep 11, 1838, 43y 5m
© 1999 Robert Moody