Henry Moats was born November 26, 1810, in Licking County, Ohio. His ancestors were German and Irish descent. In the fall of 1829, the Moats family came to Buckles' Grove, where they remained six weeks, then went to where Hudson now stands and remained a month; then came to Money Creek timber and made a permanent settlement. They did some farming, hunted "right smart," pounded their corn during the "hominy session," which was the winter of the deep snow, and hauled fall wheat to Chicago for forty cents per bushel.
Mr. Moats married, November 2, 1837, Elsie Van Buskirk. He has had four children, of whom two are living. They are: Francis Marion Moats, who lives west near by his father; Mary Jane Moats, who is married to John Rankin, and lives a mile and a quarter northeast of her father's.
Mr. Moats is fully six feet in height, has broad shoulders, is strong, is good natured, accommodating and pleasant. He works hard, and has done fairly well since his arrival in the West. He has a full head of rather bushy hair, which is turning gray, and his whiskers are grayish black. He always enjoys himself in the society of the frank spoken old settlers, and thinks they are much more social than at the present time.
(Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Mc Lean County, IL, 1887)
Henry Moats is a progressive farmer and residing on section 31, Money Creek Township, Mc Lean County, IL. He is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Hinthorn) Moats, the former a native of Maryland and the later of West Virginia, and early pioneers in this county. After their marriage they settled in Licking County, Ohio, whence they came to this county in the fall of 1829, and in February 1830, took up their residence in Money Creek Township, where they continued to live and labor until their death.
Henry Moats was the eldest of his parent's nine children and was born in Licking County, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1810. He was nineteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county and has been a resident of it since that time. Mr. Moats was reared to manhood at farm labor and while a young man employed his time during the spring seasons in splitting rails. Thus growing into manhood and passing onward in the rugged pathway of time, disciplined in the stern school of experience, he was prepared to meet an emergency with a steady and ready hand. All his years thus far in life have been devoted to agricultural pursuits and he is at present owner of 293 acres of land, 100 of which is in timber. He has held the office of Justice of Peace for four years and also that of Road Commissioner for several years, and has been the incumbent of the office of School Director of his township. In politics he is a Jacksonian Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Old Hickory. He is a good farmer and has succeeded in that calling.
Four children were born to this union: William J.; Francis M.; Mary J.; and Thomas B. William J. died in infancy; F.M. married Miss Rebecca Arbuckle and they live in Money Creek Township; Mary is the wife of John Rankin, also of Money Creek Township; Thomas died when two years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Moats are members of the United Brethren Church and much respected for their kindness of heart by all who know them.
Henry is listed in the 1840 census adjacent to his father with the following:
male: 1< 5, 1=20-30 fem: 1=20-30
Henry is listed as Justice of the Peace in the 1850 census (39) with $2,200 of land.