George Hall Moffett

From the book, Men of Mark in South Carolina: Ideals of American Life: A Collection of Biographies of Leading Men of the State

By J.C. Hemphill, 1908.

MOFFETT, GEORGE HALL, attorney-at-law, since 1903 corporation counsel for the city of Charleston, formerly a member of the South Carolina house of representatives, was born at Charleston on the 27th of October, 1867. His father, George Hall Moffett, was a merchant, whose high sense of honor and untiring energy contributed to his success in mercantile life and led to his promotion in military service. He entered the Confederate States army as a private, and was promoted for bravery on the field of battle. He became adjutant-general, Hagood's brigade, Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers, Confederate States army. His father had come from Scotland to Charleston in 1810. The family of his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Henry (Simonton) Moffett, were from the north of Ireland, and as immigrants first settled in Pennsylvania, and later removed to South Carolina, where they were established before the French and Indian war.

As a boy, George Hall Moffett had excellent health, and enjoyed school life in his native city, Charleston. His father died when he was but a young boy; and the influence of his mother was very strong, both on his intellectual life and his moral character. He was fitted for college in the city public schools, the high school, and the College of Charleston.

He was graduated from South Carolina university in June, 1889, with the degree of A. B. In order to secure for himself the advantages of a college course, to fit him for the profession to which he looked forward, he had borrowed the money to pay the expenses of his college years. After his graduation he taught school for a year in the country and for a year in Charleston. In 1892 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession.

In 1901 he was elected a member of the lower house of the South Carolina legislature, serving through the sessions of 1901 and 1902. In 1903 he became corporation counsel for the city of Charleston, and he is still serving in that capacity.

In politics Mr. Moffett is a Democrat. By religious conviction he is affiliated with the Presbyterian church. At college he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He is a Knight of Pythias. He is a Knight Templar, a thirty-second degree Mason, and a Mystic Shriner. He is a member of most of the benevolent and social societies of the city of Charleston.

His address was 55 Broad street, Charleston, South Carolina.

FROM THE HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA:

GEORGE HALL MOFFETT was admitted to the bar and began practice as a lawyer at Charleston in 1892. His earnestness, well rounded ability, and diligence has brought him a high place at the bar, where for a number of years he has associated with the leaders in the front rank. He was born at Charleston October 27, 1867. His grandfather came from Scotland and settled in Charleston in 1810. His father married Elizabeth Henry Simonton, whose people were colonial settlers, first in Pennsylvania and later in South Carolina, prior to the American Revolution. The father of the Charleston lawyer, George Hall Moffett, entered the Confederate army as a private, was promoted and became adjutant general of Hagood’s Brigade, Twenty-fifth South Carolina Volunteers. After the war he was a prominent Charleston merchant. George H. Moffett was prepared for college in the grammar and high schools of Charleston, also studied in the College of Charleston, and in 1889 received his Bachelor of Arts degree from South Carolina University. After graduating he taught one year in the country and one year in Charleston. In the meantime he was diligently studying law. His career as a lawyer has been punctuated by various public honors. He served as a member of the Legislature in the sessions of 1901 and 1902 and in 1903 was chosen corporation counsel for Charleston and held that office several years. Mr. Moffett is now chairman of the Board .of Public School Commissioners for the City of Charleston. He is a democrat, a member of the Presbyterian Church, a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon college fraternity, a Knight of Pythias and is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. He married Miss Mary E. Conner, eldest daughter of Gen. James Conner, of Charleston.