Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Nearly a quarter of a century has come and gone since Alvah Moffatt first became connected with farming interests in Buena Vista county and he is now the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land in Nokomis township, though he now makes his home in Alta.  He is a native of Platteville, Grant county, Wisconsin, his birth having there occurred October 31, 1851.  He was reared to manhood in Peoria county, Illinois, and is indebted to its public-school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed.  He remained with his father until he had reached adult years and during that period devoted his time and efforts to the work of the farm.

In 1885 Mr. Moffatt came to Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he at first rented land, thus carrying- on general agricultural pursuits for seven years.  In the meantime he worked diligently and persistently and, carefully saving his earnings, he was at length enabled to purchase a place of eighty acres.  It was already improved to some extent but he continued its further development, successfully carrying on the farm work for ten years, when he sold the place and went to North Dakota.  He took up a claim and resided there until l903, when he returned to this county and bought the farm in Nokomis township which he now owns, it being pleasantly and conveniently located a mile and a half east of Alta.

Since his return from North Dakota, Mr. Moffatt has made his home in Alta, where he purchased a residence and has since lived retired.  He rents the farm but gives it his supervision so that he knows that everything about the place is kept up in good condition.  The claim of one hundred and sixty acres which he secured in North Dakota he still owns and has also bought another tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres so that today he owns two farms in McHenry county, North Dakota, all of which is productive land.  He has good buildings on the place which he homesteaded, and the properties is continually increasing in value.

Mr. and Mrs. Moffatt are members of the Presbyterian church and have been connected with many of the church activities, doing all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence.  He is now serving as one of its elders and contributes generously to its support.  While he votes with the republican party in matters of national moment, he casts an independent local ballot, nor has he ever sought or desired public office.  He belongs to the Modern Woodmen, a fraternal insurance order, and in these societies has many warm friends.  He has worked diligently and persistently to achieve the success which he is now enjoying, and his life record indicates what may be accomplished when one is not afraid of hard work, but has the persistency of purpose and firm will to continue in a course which has been marked out, and which leads eventually to prosperity.