He was born at Scotch Plains, in Essex (later Union) County, New Jersey, near Plainfield, and was reared and educated in his native state, living in various parts of New Jersey prior to his removal to Pennsylvania. As he was a competent mechanic he had no trouble in finding employment about the oil fields, and he was engaged in that capacity in the oil territory of Venango and adjoining counties for a few years. In 1866 he settled at Franklin and engaged in the livery business, and being the first to embark in that line there, benefited by the prosperous conditions then prevailing there on account of the activity in the oil fields, doing well from the beginning. In July, 1876, he purchased the local omnibus line then in operation, and conducted it along with his original venture, also having carriages for hire. Mr. Moffett always kept his stables up-to-date in equipment and management, improving and adding to his facilities as trade justified.
Mr. Moffett was a stanch Republican in politics and a progressive, public-spirited citizen in all matters affecting his home community. He was ever an active worker in the First Baptist Church of Franklin, of which he was a charter member, being outlived by only two other charter members, Gen. Charles Miller and D. W. Morgan, former postmaster of Franklin. Fraternally he affiliated with a number of secret organizations in Franklin: Myrtle Lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M.; Venango Lodge, No. 225, I. O. O. F.; Franklin Lodge, No. 3, A. O. U. W.; the Knights of Honor; Improved Order of Red Men; and Franklin City Lodge, No. 448, Knights of Pythias.