Moses Haney Clift (1836 - 1911)

Born 25 Aug 1836 in Soddy, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Charlotte Attaline (Cooke) Clift — married 13 Sep 1866 in Monroe, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Florence Virginia (Parrott) Clift — married 28 Jun 1883 in Bartow, Georgia, United States

Descendants

Died 3 Dec 1911 at age 75 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alexander Grimaldi-Hendrix [send private message]

Biography

Paternal Grandfather of Edward Montgomery Clift (1920-1966).

Col. Moses H. Clift

Of Chattanooga, for many years one of the leading lawyers of Southeastern Tennessee, was born at Soddy, Hamilton County, Tennessee., August 25, 1836.

His parents were William and Nancy A. (Brooks) Clift.

Both his grandfathers, James Clift and Moses Brooks, were soldiers of the Revolution, and the former was also in the war of 1812.

The first of the Clift family in America was James Clift, who came from England and settled in North Carolina in 1712. William Clift came to Knox County with his father in childhood, and in 1825 removed to Hamilton County.

He was a colonel of militia, served several years as a magistrate, was an enthusiastic opponent of secession, and after the war commenced was made colonel of the Seventh Tennessee infantry, in the Federal army.

The son, Moses H. Clift, prior to the war had been engaged in farming, flat boating and steam boating. At the age of twenty-two years he took up the study of law in the office of Judge J. L. Hopkins, and in 1861 was admitted to the bar at Chattanooga. Upon the question of secession he differed from his father, and supported his convictions by raising Company H, Thirty-sixth Tennessee Confederate Infantry, of which his brother was elected captain. A few months later he was transferred to the Fourth cavalry, and served in the ranks until the battle of Fort Donelson, when he was promoted on the field to captain and assigned to duty on the staff of Colonel Starnes.

At Kenesaw Mountain he won the rank of major, and at Bentonville was made colonel. After the war Colonel Clift located at Fort Valley, Georgia, and opened a law office, but did not remain long there. He then went to Atlanta for a short time, then to Murfreesboro, and in December, 1866, came to Chattanooga.

Several prominent lawyers in and about Chattanooga received their first instruction in the mysteries of the law in the office of Colonel Clift. As an advocate, Colonel Clift is earnest and thorough; as a counselor, he is conservative and safe, and as a judge of law makes very few errors. In addition to his professional work, he has taken a deep interest in the development of the material resources of his section of the state, and has been connected in an official capacity with several coal mining companies, the Chattanooga Cotton Factory, the Citico Furnace, the Chattanooga Gas Company, and the Chamber of Commerce.

He is one of the commissioners of the Chickamauga National Park, and presided over the dedication of the Tennessee monument.

In politics, he is a Democrat, and in 1876 and 1880 was a delegate to the national conventions.

He has been twice married: to Miss Attie, daughter of Dr. R. F. Cooke, in 1866. She died in 1876, and in 1883 Colonel Clift was married to Florence V., daughter of Judge J. R. Parrott, of Cartersville, Georgia.^[1]

By these two marriages he has six children living.

Notable Men of Tennessee, Transcribed by: Kim Mohler

Time Line - Sources

Col. Moses Hainey Clift

Fact Date Place Description Note Sources

Birth 25 AUG 1836 Soddy, Hamilton Co., TN Family History Clift

Census 13 SEP 1850 Hamilton Co., TN 1850 TN Hamilton 397a Clift William

Education 1860 Hamilton Co., TN Law student

Census 1860 Hamilton Co., TN p. 125

Military FEB 1862 Fort Donelson, Stewart Co., TN Promoted to Capt. Book TN Our Zion p. 34

Military JUN 1864 Kennesaw Mountain, Cobb Co., GA Promoted to Maj. Book TN Our Zion p. 34

Military DEC 1864 Waynesborough, Burke Co., GA Promoted to Col. Book TN Our Zion p. 34

Marriage 16 SEP 1866 Monroe Co., TN Attaline (Attie) C. Cooke (details) Web Clift

Land 29 SEP 1869 Hamilton Co., TN Given 140 a by father Land 1869 TN Hamilton Clift William 1

Land 5 DEC 1870 Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN Bought Chattanooga lot on King St. from father Land 1870 TN Hamilton Clift William

Land 28 FEB 1872 Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN Bought Chattanooga lot on King St. from brother J. W. Land 1872 TN Hamilton Clift J. W

Land 6 JUL 1875 Hamilton Co., TN Bought land from father Land 1875 TN Hamilton Clift William

Land 14 FEB 1880 Hamilton Co., TN Bought 11 a from brother J W Land 1880 TN Hamilton Clift J W

Marriage 28 JUN 1883 Hamilton Co., TN Florence Parrott (details) Web Clift

Land 1887/88 Hamilton Co., TN Bought interest in father's estate from sister America's heirs Land 1887 TN Hamilton Clift J W 3

Land BET 1890 AND 1892 Hamilton Co., TN Settlements with heirs of father's estate Estate 1890 Clift William

Occupation JUN 1899 Hamilton Co., TN administrator, George Harris Smith Court TN Hamilton Probate

Census 1900 Hamilton Co., TN 64-4

Will 4-Nov-06 Hamilton Co., TN 5-110, to wife Florence and son William B.

Occupation 8-Mar-10 Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN

Lawyer and politician Obituary Clift Capt James Warren

Court 27-Feb-16 Hamilton Co., TN final settlement of estate Court TN Hamilton Probate

Death 3-Dec-11 Hamilton Co., TN Web Clift

Burial Hamilton Co., TN Citizen Cemetery Cemetery TN Hamilton Chattanooga

Closest Relatives:

Father: William Clift (details)

Mother: Nancy Arwin Brooks (details)

Spouse 1: Attaline (Attie) C. Cooke (details)

Spouse 2: Florence Parrott (details)

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978"
   Georgia Archives; Morrow, Georgia; County Marriage Records, 1828–1978
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 4766 #108737 (accessed 4 January 2024)
   Captain M H Clift marriage to Florence V Parrott on 28 Jun 1883 in Bartow, Georgia, USA.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD78-Z1Y : 15 July 2017), M H Clift, Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district ED 53, sheet 224C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1259; FHL microfilm 1,255,259.
• Military: "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865"
  Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database
  Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
  Ancestry Record 1555 #1498073 ($, accessed 28 December 2023)
  Name: Moses H Clift; Enlistment Rank: Captain; Muster Place: Tennessee; Muster Regiment: Commissary Dept; Muster Information: Commission; Rank Change Date: 15 Jun 1864; Rank Change Rank: Major; Rank Change Information: Estimated date; Side of War: Confederacy; Survived War?: Yes; Residence Place: Chattanooga, Tennessee; Last Known Residence Place: Chattanooga, Tennessee; Death Date: 3 Dec 1911; Death Place: Nashville, Tennessee; Occupation: Lawyer; Title: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records; Confederate Veteran Magazine; Photo from Confederate Veteran Magazine.
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #42023075 (accessed 28 December 2023)
  Memorial page for Maj Moses Hainey Clift (25 Aug 1836-3 Dec 1911), citing Citizens Cemetery, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by John S. Sims (contributor 47168005).

See Also:

• Family History or Pedigree: "U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970"
  Volume: 262
  Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
  Ancestry Record 2204 #1141604 ($, accessed 28 December 2023)
  Name: Moses Naney Clift; Birth Date: 1836; Death Date: 1911; SAR Membership: 52379; Role: Ancestor; Application Date: 31 Mar 1932; Father: William Clift; Mother: Nancy Arwin Brooks; Spouse: Charlotte Attiline Cooke; Children: Roberta Clift.