The Moist Family

“The Moist Family”
Written by Sue Cummings

In September 2004, a photo of the John F. Moist homestead was used for the “History
Photo of the Month” in the local paper, the Englewood Independent. We want to thank Verna
Moist Dohner for sharing her family photos with the society and letting us copy them for our
genealogy archives. Part of their family history appears in the “Centennial Portrait and
Biographical Record of the City of Dayton and Montgomery County” published in 1897 by A.W.
Bowen & Co., Edit. by Frank Conover.
The Moist ancestors immigrated from Switzerland and Henry Moist, John F.’s
grandfather settled and died in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. He had ten children including
Jacob, father of John F., who was born in 1820. Jacob came to Montgomery County, Ohio in
1845 and married Annie Hocker in 1821. She was the daughter of John and Catherine (Sterling)
Hocker also of Montgomery County. John and his wife settled on a farm near Harrisburg and
lived there one year, when, in 1848 he bought a 62-acre farm on the east side of Union Road,
between Wenger and Old Salem Roads. Children born to Jacob and Annie were John F., Almira
J., Frances C., and three that died in infancy. Mrs. Moist died in 1879.
John F. was born January 16, 1847 and received an education in the district school
(probably Happy Corner). He attended the National Normal Institute at Lebanon, Ohio and
trained to become a teacher. He taught five years in Randolph, Clay and Madison Townships. At
age 30 he married Sarah E. Ralston on April 17, 1877. After their marriage they settled on the
old Moist farm which he purchased in 1887. John F. and Sarah had six children: Ianthe M.,
Harvey C., Jacob F., Albert R., Arthur G. and Annie M. The house photo, taken in 1902, shows
all members of this family except son Jacob. Daughter Ianthe graduated from Randolph
Township High School in 1895 and also became a teacher. The family were members of the
River Brethren Church.
Verna Moist’s father was John F.’s, youngest son, Arthur Moist, who married Edith
Stoner in 1910. They lived in Dayton for a few years but had moved to the homeplace by the
time Verna was born. By 1926, Verna and her parents were living in Englewood on the corner
of Elm Street and St. Rt. 48 and the homeplace had been sold to Albert Hoke and then Howard
Hoke. The two-story brick house and outbuildings were destroyed in the early 1960s to make
way for the construction of Interstate 70. The farm was located on Union Road where the I-70
overpass is now. The 1902 photo of the Moist homestead including house and barn and many
other Moist family photos are on file in the society archives.