A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans, Volume 5
By Will Thomas Hale, Dixon Lanier Merritt
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York; 1913

Pages 1215-1217

Brice P. Moffatt. It seems to be a well-established fact, and one which has frequently been commented upon in the columns of the popular press, that during the last few years the young men of the country are annually coming to occupy positions of greater prominence and responsibility in the business world. As a rule these young men are both progressive and aggressive. Many of them have fitted themselves for their work by taking special courses in the leading educational institutions of the country, where they have become well grounded in the fundamental knowledge of the profession or occupation they have selected for their life’s work. When they leave school and begin to apply the theories they have learned they are not slow to discard the obsolete methods of the past and conduct their business according to those of more modern times.

A fine example of this truth may be seen in Brice P. Moffatt, one of the best known druggists and rising young business men of Troy, Obion county, Tennessee, where he was born on April 23, 1891, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of that section of the state. The first of the name to locate in Tennessee was John Moffatt, the great-grandfather of Brice. He was a native of South Carolina, where he married a Miss Strong, and in 1840 left Chester district and settled in Obion county, where he purchased four hundred acres of fertile land and became one of the leading agriculturists. His son James S., one of a family of twelve children, married Miss Martha Moffatt and engaged in farming, owning three hundred acres of land and a number of negro slaves. He was also one of the pioneer merchants of Troy, having established himself in business there as early as 1841. He was born in South Carolina in 1818, was a public spirited man, a member of the Presbyterian church, and a liberal contributor to every worthy cause for the advancement of the community. The business he established passed to his sons, and from them to his grandsons, so that three generations of the family have been engaged in merchandising “at the old stand.” James S. Moffatt died in 1890 and his wife died in 1859. Of their six children only one is now living. J. P. Moffatt, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also born in South Carolina and succeeded to the business of his father upon the latter’s retirement from active affairs. He served for more than three years in the Confederate army during the Civil war, was wounded at Rome, Georgia, in 1863, and rose to the rank of second lieutenant. His death occurred in 1873. He married Miss Mary Brice, a native of South Carolina, and to them were born six children, only two of whom are now living, James R. and Pressley W., who are now proprietors of the mercantile establishment founded by their grandfather in 1841. This business includes a complete line of dry goods, clothing, farming implements, etc., and is one of the leading mercantile houses of Troy, with a trade that extends over a large section of the adjacent territory.

James R. Moffatt was born in Troy, Tennessee, May 29, 1861. He was educated in the local schools and in 1878 succeeded to the business of his father. In 1889 he married Miss Lulu Marshall, daughter of R. H. Marshall, and of their five children two are now living, Brice P. and Maud. His brother and partner, Pressley W., was born in Troy on January 15, 1869. He married Miss Mary Maxey, and their four children are Maxey, Jennie, Pressley W., Jr., and Sarah.

Brice P. Moffatt, whose name introduces this review, acquired his elementary education in the public schools of his native city of Troy. He then entered the department of pharmacy in the Northwestern University, at Chicago, and there graduated as a member of the class of 1911. The same year he became a registered pharmacist and opened his drug store in Troy. His store, which is twenty-four by sixty feet in dimensions, is equipped with everything to be found in a model drug store of the present day. Besides the customary stock of drugs and medicines, he carries a complete line of paints, oils, perfumery, toilet articles, etc., and his close attention to business and the wants of his customers is bearing fruit in the way of a constantly increasing patronage. Mr. Moffatt is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 679, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Union City, Tennessee, and also of the Phi Delta Chi college fraternity. About the time he started in business for himself he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Whittaker, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and he and his wife are prominent in the social circles of Troy.

Death-Certificate, Shelby County, Tennessee
Registration District No. 28005; Registered No. 1047
Full-Name: Brice P. Moffatt
Date-of-Death: March 13, 1935
Place-of-Death: Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Date-of-Birth: April 23, 1891
Birthplace: Tenn
Occupation: Druggist
Father: James R. Moffatt (born in Tenn)
Mother: Lula Drue Marshall (born in Tenn)
Informant: Mrs. B. P. Moffatt; 765 No. Stonewall
Place-of-Burial: Forest Hill (in Shelby County, TN)

NOTE: the birth/death dates on his tombstone differ from death-certificate by 2 days each.

Brice Pressley Moffatt (Apr 21, 1891 – Mar 15, 1935)
Mary W. Moffatt (Aug 19, 1891 – Feb 25, 1982)
Robert Brice Moffatt (Nov 10, 1916 – May 2, 1960)

Tombstone photo is available on FindAGrave