Counties: Fulton - Montgomery

Source: History of the Mohawk Valley - Gateway to the West - 1614-1925
Covering The Six Counties of Schenectady, Schoharie,
Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer and Oneida.

Volume IV, Illustrated

Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1925; (Pages 477-448)

Nearly four decades of successful practice as an attorney at law have well entitled Fayette E. Moyer of Johnstown to a leading position among the members of the Fulton County bar. Mr. Moyer opened an office for the practice of his chosen profession in this city in 1886, immediately after passing his bar examinations and being admitted to practice in this state. His career since then has been one of steady progress, in which he has reaped the rewards due one who is well prepared to the type of work he has undertaken in this world and who is faithful to the interests of those with whom he does business.

Fayette E. Moyer is a native of Canajoharie, Montgomery County, and was bornon the 21st of October, 1865, a son of Charles Menzo Moyer and Lydia Jane (Hess) Moyer, natives of Minden, Montgomery County. Both parents come from old families in this state and number among their ancestors men who fought in the Revolutionary war. The father moved to Johnstown in 1866 and was engaged in the building and contracting business here from that time until he retired from active life a few years ago. He is enjoying good health at the age of eighty-seven, while his wife passed her eightieth birthday. As he was brought to Johnstown by his parents when he was about a year old, Fayette E. Moyer has passed practically his entire life in this city. As a boy he attended the local common schools and graduated from the high school in the class of 1883. He took up the study of law in the office of Smith & Nellis, where he prepared for his examinations and was admitted to the bar in 1886. At once he "hung out his shingle" in his home city, where he has been accorded a liberal patronage by his fellow townsmen. On the 1st of May, 1903, he formed a partnership with Borden D. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Moyer, which was continued successfully until 1921, when Mr. Smith's health made it necessary for him to withdraw from active practice. Since then Mr. Moyer has practiced alone.

Mr. Moyer's marriage to Miss Affie L. Caverly was celebrated on the 25th of October 1893, and they have become the parents of one child, a daughter, Mildred Loella. Mrs. Moyer was a native of the province of Ontario, Canada, where, orphaned at the age of nine months, she made her home with her grandfather, a Methodist clergyman, near the city of Kingston.

A republican in politics, Mr. Moyer has held some important local offices, including justice of the peace and acting recorder for the city of Johnstown. He was also city attorney for two years. Unlike many members of his profession, however, Mr. Moyer has not sought a public career, but has preferred to devote his time and talents to the advancement of his position as a lawyer. This decision was well made, for he has been successful beyond the degree attained by the average attorney, and through his work has been of great assistance to others. He has been a member of the Commercial Law League, whose headquarters are in Chicago, ever since it was founded, and enjoys the distinction of being the only treasurer the Johnstown City Bar Association has ever had. His library is well chosen and very complete, being next to the largest legal library in the city, and bears.witness to the fact that he is a thorough student of his profession as well as an able reader. Mr. Moyer takes an interest in the social life of his city and the organizations to which he belongs give further evidence of his scholarly tastes. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and for the past seventeen years has been a member of the board of managers and treasurer of the Johnstown Historical Society, which seeks to perpetuate the memory of the many interesting historical personages and events clustering about this city. His religious affiliations are with the First Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Antlers Country Club of Amsterdam.

Fayette F. Moyer is a son of Charles Menzo Moyer and Lydia Jane Hess. Charles Menzo Moyer was a son of Henry Fredrick Moyer and Margaret Garlock. Henry Fredrick Moyer was a son of Fredrick Moyer and Maria Rickard. Fredrick Moyer was a son of Henry Moyer, a Revolutionary soldier, who came from Switzerland, settling first in Columbia County, New York, and then came to Dutchtown, where he and two brothers purchased adjoining farms. Maria Rickard was a daughter of John Rickard, a Revolutionary soldier, and Elizabeth Proper. Margaret Garlock was a daughter of Charles F. Garlock and Christina Brookman. Charles E. Garlock was a son of Elias Garlock (who was killed at the battle of Lundy's Lane during the War of 1812) and Ann Eve Kesler. Elias Garlock was a son of Elias Garlock, a Revolutionary soldier, who came to this country from Switzerland. Christina Brookman was a daughter of John Brookman, a Revolutionary soldier, and Hannah Sanders. John Brookman was a son of Michael Godfrey Brookman (also a Revolutionary soldier) and Ann Stover, and this Michael Godfrey Brookman is suppose to have come to New York from Holland and was a stone mason in that city and moved from there first to the shores of Lake Champlain and later to the town of Minden, where he died shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war.

Lydia Jane Hess was a daughter of Henry Hess and Lydia Wormuth. Henry Hess was a son of George Henry Hess and Mary F. Jordan. George Henry Hess was a son of Henry Hess, a Revolutionary soldier, and Mary Elizabeth Garlock. Henry Hess was a son of Captain John Hess, also a Revolutionary soldier, and Margaret Ann Young. Mary F. Jordan was a daughter of Hon. Casper Jordan and Catharine Hess.  Lydia Wormuth was a daughter of Mathias Wormuth and Mary Wolgemuth. Mathias Wormuth was a son of William Wormuth, a Revolution soldier, and Regina Spraker. William Wormuth was a son of John Wormuth, also a Revolutionary soldier. Mary Wolgemuth was a daughter of William Wolgemuth and Maria Smith. William Wolgemuth was a son of John Wolgemuth a Revolutionary soldier.