Retired Doctor Missed by Many

Retired Doctor Missed by Many

When Thomas S. Moberly, M.D. died December 14, 1884, he was so highly thought of in Madi-son and surrounding counties that there were many expressions of grief and praise in the news-papers. A great host of friends and acquaintances attended the funeral and burial in the Richmond Cemetery. Born May 18, 1804 in Madison County, Thomas Shelton Moberly obtained his medical educa-tion at Transylvania University, and began his practice in Richmond in 1827. He remained there until he moved to the family farm on Muddy Creek near Ellison (then Ogg's Mill) which he inherited from his father, Richard Moberly, a highly successful farmer who died in 1838. Dr. Moberly engaged in farming on a large scale and became widely known in surrounding counties as a breeder of fine livestock. He also continued a large medical practice in that area of the county. In 1840 he suffered a serious illness from which he never fully recovered. He was forced to give up medicine, and in later years was semi invalid. In 1844, Dr. Moberly married Nancy Lipscomb. They had five children; only one lived to adult-hood, Col. T.S. Moberly of Richmond, with whom his parents were living at the time of Dr. Moberly's death. He had two sisters, one of which married Elder Allen Embry and the other A. F. Dudley. During the Civil War, Dr. Moberly moved back to Richmond, buying several houses and continuing to direct the farming enterprises. Despite being handicapped for the later half of his life, Dr. Moberly remained mentally active, with a keen interest in the important business, educational and religious questions and events of the day, and he took pleasure in the visits of a large number of friends. Dr. Moberly was the son of pious parents, and both his paternal grandfather, John Moberly, and his maternal grandfather, Elder Thomas Shelton, were "Old School" Baptist preachers in the pioneer period of Kentucky. Elder Shelton, for whom Dr. Moberly was named, disappeared on a trip to Virginia. It was thought he may have been killed by Indians. A member at Flat Woods Church, Dr. Moberly was sincerely devoted to its essential doctrines, and yet was tolerant of other religious views. He was not only generous with his own church, but also frequently contributed to building funds and solicitations from other churches. Friends and family recalled frequently going to his room and finding him listening to Nancy reading the Bible to him. At the time of his death, there were several statements in the newspapers telling of his generosity and concern for others. He was a constant benefactor to the poor people in the Sour Woods area near his farm on Muddy Creek, and it was said that few persons asking for help left his house emptyhanded. One man to whom Moberly had loaned money said he was told "You have had a hard year; I won't charge you any interest. The president of Georgetown College wrote extensively about how not only his college but Madison Female Institute, Central University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary were continual recipients of his generous donations, especially for scholarships.

Dr. Robert Grise

11/28/1992

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