Hugh Moffat (politician)
Encyclopedia
Hugh Moffat was a carpenter, lumberman, businessman, and mayor of Detroit, Michigan
.
, Scotland
in 1810. He soon emigrated to America, settling first in Albany, New York
, and in 1837 moving to Detroit. He began work as a carpenter, and built up a successful and profitable business as a builder, constructing, among other things, Mariners' Church
as well as the now demolished St. Paul's Church, Biddle House, and the Moffat Block. In 1852, he expanded his business into the lumber trade by purchasing a sawmill and forested land. His lumber business was even more profitable than his carpentry had been. In 1878, Moffat took on two partners: his son Addison and Florence D. Eatherly, a "confidential employee and faithful friend."
. Moffat served two terms as mayor, with his administration notable for his vetoes of spending initiative passed by the Detroit City Council and vetoes of multiple authorizations to allow saloons to open on Sunday afternoons in Detroit. By the time he stepped down as mayor, Moffat had earned the appellation "Honest Hugh Moffat."
, in 1879; she died the next year.
Hugh Moffat himself died on August 6, 1884. He was survived by four children: Mrs. George MacMillan, Mrs. Edward W. Bissell, Alice E. Moffat, and William Moffat. A second son, Addison Moffat, died in 1884 shortly before his father.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
Early life
High Moffat was born in ColdstreamColdstream
Coldstream is a small town in the Borders district of Scotland. It lies on the north bank of the River Tweed in Berwickshire, while Northumberland in England lies to the south bank, with Cornhill-on-Tweed the nearest village...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1810. He soon emigrated to America, settling first in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and in 1837 moving to Detroit. He began work as a carpenter, and built up a successful and profitable business as a builder, constructing, among other things, Mariners' Church
Mariners' Church
Mariners' Church of Detroit is a church adhering to Anglican liturgical traditions located at 170 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, United States...
as well as the now demolished St. Paul's Church, Biddle House, and the Moffat Block. In 1852, he expanded his business into the lumber trade by purchasing a sawmill and forested land. His lumber business was even more profitable than his carpentry had been. In 1878, Moffat took on two partners: his son Addison and Florence D. Eatherly, a "confidential employee and faithful friend."
Politics
Moffat was an active member of the Fire Department, the Mechanic's Society, and president of St. Andrew's Society. In 1871, he was elected mayor of Detroit as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Moffat served two terms as mayor, with his administration notable for his vetoes of spending initiative passed by the Detroit City Council and vetoes of multiple authorizations to allow saloons to open on Sunday afternoons in Detroit. By the time he stepped down as mayor, Moffat had earned the appellation "Honest Hugh Moffat."
Later life
Hugh Moffat was married three times. The first marriage, in 1836, was to Margery McLachlan. Margery died in 1856, and Moffat married her cousin, Isabella McLachlan, in 1859. Isabella died in 1869, and Moffat married Julia E. Hubbard, the sister of Thomas W. PalmerThomas W. Palmer
Thomas Witherell Palmer was a U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. He is considered to be one of the most significant figures in the history of Detroit, Michigan....
, in 1879; she died the next year.
Hugh Moffat himself died on August 6, 1884. He was survived by four children: Mrs. George MacMillan, Mrs. Edward W. Bissell, Alice E. Moffat, and William Moffat. A second son, Addison Moffat, died in 1884 shortly before his father.