John H. Moffitt

John Henry Moffitt (January 8, 1843 – August 14, 1926) was a United States Representative from New York and the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Civil War.

This article is about the U.S. Representative from New York. For other people named John Moffitt, see John Moffitt (disambiguation).
John H. Moffitt
Congressman, Medal of Honor recipient
Born(1843-01-08)January 8, 1843
Chazy, New York
DiedAugust 14, 1926(1926-08-14) (aged 83)
Plattsburgh, New York
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861 - 1863
RankSergeant
Unit Company C, 16th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsBattle of Gaines' Mill
AwardsMedal of Honor
Other workUnited States Representative from New York

Biography

John Henry Moffitt was born near Chazy, Clinton County, New York and attended the district school and Plattsburgh Academy.

During the American Civil War enlisted as a Private in Company C, 16th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment on April 27, 1861. He served until he was mustered out with the regiment on May 18, 1863. Moffitt attained the rank of Sergeant, and received the Medal of Honor for heroism at the Battle of Gaines's Mill.

After the war, he attended the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute and graduated in 1864.

In 1866 he worked as the deputy collector of customs at Rouses Point, New York until 1872. After that he engaged in the manufacture of charcoal bloom iron in the Saranac hamlet of Moffitsville and in Belmont, Franklin (now Allegany) County, from 1872–1891;

In 1877 he was elected Saranac's Town Supervisor, which also made him a member of the Clinton County Board of Supervisors.

John Moffitt was elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1887 - March 3, 1891) but he was not a candidate for renomination in 1890.

After leaving Congress he was a manager of the Syracuse Street Railway Company from 1891–1899 and superintendent of the city water department from 1900 to 1902. He then moved to Plattsburgh to become Cashier of the Plattsburgh National Bank, of which he became President in 1904.

Moffitt remained active in Republican politics as Chairman of the Clinton County Republican Committee and a member of the New York Republican State Committee. He was also a delegate to the 1912 Republican National Convention.

John Moffitt died in Plattsburgh and is buried in Plattsburgh's Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization:

Corporal, Company C, 16th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Gaines Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. Entered service at: Plattsburgh, N.Y. Born. January 8, 1843, Chazy, Clinton County, N.Y. Date of issue: March 3, 1891.

Citation:

Voluntarily took up the regimental colors after several color bearers had been shot down and carried them until himself wounded.[1][2]

See also

Notes
  1. "MOFFITT, JOHN H., Civil War Medal of Honor recipient". American Civil War website. November 8, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  2. "John H. Moffitt, Medal of Honor recipient". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2007.

References
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Frederick A. Johnson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 21st congressional district
1887–1891		 Succeeded by
John M. Wever
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