William Moyar and Laura Smith

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Husband William Moyar ¹

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           Born: 8 Oct 1854 - Cambria Co, PA 2
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         Father: John Reed Moyar (      -      ) 2
         Mother: 

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   Other Spouse: Detta Longwell (      -      ) 3

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Wife Laura Smith ³

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         Father: Wilson Smith (      -      ) 3
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Children

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1 F Louise Moyar ³

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2 M Robert Moyar ³

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General Notes: Husband - William Moyar

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After a few years’ employment in his native home and McKean County, PA, he was able to engage in the oil business for himself in April, 1878, in the Venango County oil fields, residing at Kane City. In 1881 he formed a partnership with S. P. Siple, which was successful and continued for twenty-two years. He continued in the oil producing business thereafter, associating himself with many operators, his interests extending over Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Oklahoma. He was actively engaged with the Jane Oil Company as secretary, and with the Midland Oil & Drilling Company as president, helping to organize both companies, the latter being confined to himself and employes, and proving to be a good paying proposition. He also held stock in several other Oklahoma companies; was also active as manager, secretary and treasurer of the Producers Torpedo Company from 1888 to 1890. Mr. Moyar left Kane City and moved to Oil City in 1900. In 1908 he moved to Oklahoma, remaining in that State up to 1912, and settled in Franklin, PA, on his return from the West.
In 1894 he added oil and gas well contracting to his activities in an individual way, but wanting to go West for a broader field, and wishing to reward the men who had helped make his operations a success, formed two partnerships, one known as the Oil City Drilling Company and the other as the Rouseville Drilling Company, both with offices in Oil City, Pa. Without the least expense to his employes he entered a working contract with them whereby they automatically came into their interests. So successful were the companies that they not only paid the sums settled on in the agreements, but branched out and owned many strings of tools, working over five counties. They also had good holdings in oil and gas wells and lands.
William and S. N. Moyar as young men ventured into the oil business as Moyar Brothers, and had marked and profitable success. They with Mr. F. L. Fry and John W. Waitz organized the Rouseville Supply Company. Mr. Moyar held stock and managing positions in several local companies, engaging to some extent in the timber and lumber business, besides finding time to devote to farming, more for recreation than profit.
Socially, he was connected with the I. O. O. F. at Dempseytown, PA, the B. P. O. Elks, of Oil City, and many bodies of Masons—blue lodge at Rouseville, PA, chapter and commandery at Oil City; Zem Zem Shrine at Erie; and the thirtysecond degree at McAllister, OK; Washington Club, Franklin, PA; and many other social, gun and hunting clubs. One connection he prized highly as coming from a host of friends among the Grand Army men, and as a surprise gratuitously bestowed from the Rutherford B. Hayes Post, No. 167, G. A. R., Oil City, was his honorary membership therein. His zeal for the old soldiers was only equaled by his ardor and patriotism, always advocating any measure for their benefit, voting for soldiers against civilians, and joining them on public occasions.
Mr. Moyar made annual pilgrimages to the big game woods of Canada with a crowd of friends, always with good results and many pleasant days of strenuous sports. In politics he was an Independent or Progressive. Starting life a Democrat, but being a protectionist and favoring higher pensions for soldiers, he joined with the Republicans to break, for better government, from the regulars to join the Independents, and lastly with the Bull Moose, or Progressive Republican party. His aid and opinions were from the start of the world war in 1914 with the entente powers, favoring preparedness and universal training, and the breaking of relations with Germany on sinking of the “Lusitania.” He favored fighting Germany to complete and unconditional surrender. [CAB, 629]

1 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 629, 726.

2 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 629.

3 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 630.