Isaac Fletcher Moseley Became Known as “Uncle Fet”
Isaac Fletcher Moseley: 1828-1908 (Maternal Third Great-Granduncle)
Some nicknames make sense—they are shortened forms of the
full name, like Ben from Benjamin. Or they are initials, like Thomas Junior
becomes TJ. Some nicknames refer to a person’s personality, like Smiley or
Sunny, and others might refer to a person’s profession, like Doc for a
physician or Fuzz for a cop. But some nicknames are just odd. How did a man
named Isaac Fletcher end up getting called “Fet”? Was it a child’s attempt to
say Fletch that everyone else picked up? And how did the word “uncle” get added
to the nickname?
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| From Nov. 27, 1890 Article in the Owensboro Twice-a-Week Messenger |
Isaac Fletcher “Uncle Fet” Moseley was born January 31, 1828
in Ohio County, Kentucky. He was the seventh child of twelve born to Susannah
Malin and Presley William Moseley.
On November 9, 1848, Isaac, then twenty years old, married
Lucy Travis, a local girl, also twenty years old. Isaac farmed in McLean County.
The couple had four sons between 1849 and 1857. Their last child, a daughter
Susan, was born April 1, 1860. Lucy died eight days later, probably from a post-birth
infection or complication.
On January 31, 1861, nine months after Lucy’s death, Isaac
remarried. His second wife was Tabitha Griffin, a twenty-seven year old local
woman. Isaac and Tabitha had another five children—three girls and two boys,
born between the years of 1861 and 1876.
Isaac supported his growing family by farming. He also sold produce;
his obituary noted that he “was a well-known gardener, having driven a
vegetable wagon in Owensboro for many years.”
In addition, “Uncle Fet” was known for his efforts on behalf
of the local Democratic Party. He served as committeeman for his local community
of Vanover, Kentucky. As seen in the clipping below, he was depended upon to reliably
deliver votes.
The local paper printed a long article praising his efforts
for the party, noting that “during the many years he has served…he has never
failed once to attend a meeting of the committee upon the call of the chairman,
whatever the weather or however he may have been occupied with his private
business always to coming from his distant home in the Vanover precinct. This
can be said of no other member, not even those living in the city, within a
stone’s throw of the meeting place.”
The article went on to describe how he was not just
reliable, but an effective leader, describing how the Democrats had faced an
uphill battle in the last election:
“Nearly every committeeman reported the opposition in the
lead in his precinct. Uncle Fet sorrowfully reported old Vanover ‘all wrong’.
It was resolved at that meeting to attempt to rescue the county to Democracy by
organizing Democratic clubs. The members of the committee did not take to this
suggestion enthusiastically, some saying there were hardly enough Democrats left
in their neighborhoods to organize into a club. Uncle Fet was asked if he could
not start the ball a-rolling in old Vanover. He shook his grizzly head dubiously,
but said he would try. He went home and next morning mounted his horse and rode
all day rallying Democrats. This he did for several days until he finally
organized much to his surprise a large club. When he came to town to report the
meeting…he was jubilant. Nothing had yet been done in any of the other precincts,
but the report of that meeting stirred up the Democrats in every section of the
county, and then reports of Democratic clubs began to come in every day. Uncle
Fet set the pace and gave courage to others. He afterward organized two other
strong clubs in his precinct and came to town on the evening of the election
and proudly reported a majority in old Vanover’s for Ellis and Democracy. It
was a wonderful revolution.”
The article concludes as follows:
“Isaac Fletcher Moseley is a plain, unostentatious farmer,
who is in no sense a politician, but a Democrat who loves his party next to his
religion.”
Isaac died September 13, 1908 at the age of seventy. He was buried in the Glenville Methodist Cemetery in Glenville, Kentucky. His
will left a life interest in all his property to his widow, Tabitha, with
provisions that it be divided among his five surviving children and one set of
grandchildren. Daughter Mary Etta was named executor of the estate and was to
receive the lot with Isaac’s home and outbuildings, along with all of his cash,
furniture, farming implements and farm stock. The other sons-- Elijah Curtis, Samuel
J. T., John Presley, and Charles Jessie—each received a lot in the “Smith’s Addition”
in the Owensboro area, and a one-fifth interest in 38 acres of farmland. The
final lot and fifth of the 38 acres was given to his four Cook grandchildren,
born to daughter Arrie Moseley, wife of George Cook.
The nickname “Fet” continued for at least another two
generations in the Moseley family. One of Isaac’s sons was known as Fet Junior,
despite the fact that he wasn’t named Isaac or Fletcher. I have been unable to
verify that Isaac’s oldest son, John Presley Moseley, was the son known as Fet
Junior, but I believe he was the one. His sister Mary Etta died in 1915, and
her obituary listed her surviving siblings as Sam, Kirk and half-brothers J.C
and Fet Moseley. Since the only half-siblings still alive in 1915 were Charles
Jackson (J.C.) and John Presley, it appears John Presley, also known commonly
as “Press”, was called “Fet” by the family.
John Presley Moseley also had a son named Fletcher, and that
young man also became known as “Fet”.
“Uncle Fet” Moseley was a well-known figure in his
community. While everyone obviously knew his given name of Isaac Fletcher, he
seems to have used the nickname just as often as the legal name. While we may
never know how he acquired the nickname, it seems to have been used as a sign
of fond respect for a humble, hard-working, committed Democrat from rural
Kentucky.
Sources:
Uncle Fet Moseley, Democratic
Committee Member. Owensboro Twice-a-Week Messenger.
Owensboro KY. Nov 27, 1890. Accessed on Newspapers.com. Article included pen
and ink drawing of I. F. Moseley.
The Party Getting in Good
Shape by Systematic Work. Owensboro Twice-a-Week Messenger. Owensboro
KY. Oct 23, 1890. Accessed on Newspapers.com.
Obituary. Owensboro Twice
a Week Messenger, Owensboro KY Sep 16, 1908. Accessed on Newspapers.com.
Photo of headstone from Findagrave.com.
Photo by Jim L. Nelson. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33846253/isaac-fletcher-moseley
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