“MOODY, Dexter, clergyman, was born at Poestenkill, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., March 24, 1812, the son of Dr. Matthew Moody, of South Hadley, Mass. The father had intended to educate his son for the medical profession, but dying before he had fulfilled his purpose, young Moody by his mother's advice decided to learn a trade. He chose that of carpenter, determining to devote one-half of the year to his trade and the other to study. In 1830 he went to Troy, but finding work there dull went to Albany, where he obtained employment on the railroad then in process of construction. His ready comprehension of the details of the work soon caused him to be made a foreman, and he retained this position until 1831, when the road was completed. He was present when the first engine and passenger train in America was put on the track. For the subsequent six years Mr. Moody was foreman in a large building firm at Troy, N. Y. He afterward opened a shop for himself, and acquired a large and prosperous business. His mind seemed to take in every detail, and it was once said of him by a distinguished clergyman, "that man excels any person I ever'saw, although conversing intelligently upon any subject advanced, while his square and scratch-awl flew over the timbers as if by magic." Mr. Moody was also a close student of the Bible, and quite early held meetings in his home, where he read and explained the scriptures. On May 14, 1838, in connection with a few others, Mr. Moody organized a church, which he called " The Church of Jesus Christ." He built a house upon his own lot and taught the church for four years, at the end of that time being elected an elder. In spite of his mechanical work he found time to teach the people, and Apr. 2, 1850, organized the Church of Christ, at Poestenkill, N. Y., of which he was the first preacher. Feb. 12, 1865, he was authorized by that church to preach the gospel as an evangelist, and Apr. 2,1881, in a meeting held at Poestenkill, he was again called to the work of an evangelist, this time in a larger field, in connection with the churches at Troy, Eagle Mills, West Rupert, North Broadalbin, and Pittstown Corners, his certificate being endorsed by the pastors of these churches. Mr. Moody organized the Union Christian church at Woodford, Vt., and under his supervision a house was erected, which, on Dec. 19, 1872, was opened for public worship. He preached the dedicatory sermon, and was employed by the church to preach the following year. Mr. Moody preached in a number of other churches, and has given liberally to the establishment of houses of worship and for promoting educational interests; he is also an active worker in the temperance cause. He has a vigorous mind, is a consistent minister, ready to make the proper sacrifice of self or money when it is required. November, 1891, Mr. Moody erected a monument at South Hadley, Mass., upon which the name of the first Moody that came from England to America (1633) was inscribed, and the first son in each generation to the present, which is the seventh, with their names and year of birth. In 1832 he was married to Delia M. Read by whom he had five children. She died in 1870,and March 31,1872, he married Mrs. Delia Wilber, of Troy, N. Y.” From Page 220 of the The National cyclopaedia of American biography, being the history of the United States as illustrated in the lives of the founders, builders, and defenders of the republic, and of the men and women who are doing the work and moulding the thought of the present time, New York, J.T. White Co., 1893-19--

“Dexter Moody was born March 24th, 1812, in the town of Sandlake, Rensselaer county, N. Y. His father, Dr. Matthew Moody, was a native of South Hadley, Mass., and a graduate of Amherst College. Shortly after having finished his studies he went to Troy, N. Y., and commenced the study and practice of medicine under the care of Dr. Hale. Having finished the prescribed course, he (Matthew) settled in the town of Sandlake, married a lady who possessed every trait of character and virtue that could make a woman loveable and beloved, and commenced business on his own account. But just as his circumstances began to look spring-like around him, he was gathered to- his fathers at the early age of forty. His memory was mourned and cherished by all who knew him. Dexter, being the eldest of the boys, his father intended to educate to his own profession, and consequently kept him in his office, mixing medicine, binding up wounds, opening veins, and performing other offices, in which business, although only twelve years of age, he acquired a degree of skill and dexterity that would have reflected credit on a much older head. The doctor's death was an unhappy event for the son. The patrimony left by the father was only sufficient to provide for the necessary wants of the family. The mother was feeble in health, and of the five children, four of them were too young to provide for themselves, and young Moody readily saw that he must think and act for himself. For that purpose he immediately commenced learning the framer's and carpenter's trade. He was in possession of a sound head, strong arms, and as strong resolutions, the best of capital with which to commence life; and he determined to devote one half of the year to labor, and the remainder to study, to prepare himself for the medical profession. In this manner he spent four seasons. At the age of eighteen he went to Troy, where he found so great a demand for his labor that he gave up his former intentions.
At the age of twenty-one he married the daughter of Capt. Gideon Reed, and at the same time obtained the foremanship in the large firm of Ayres & Thayer, which place he kept .for six years, after which he opened a shop for himself, and has since acquired an extensive business in the city.
Mr. Moody's business habits were of the most happy character. Like the celebrated Dr. Good, he did not heed the motto of keeping but few irons in the fire for fear of burning one, but he shoved them all in, poker and all, and then kept them busily stirring. He needed no minute explanations, for his mind seemed to take in a whole design at once. With his favorite instrument—the square—in his right hand, and his left shading his brow, his eye would seem to traverse every post and beam and brace of a whole superstructure from base to peak, and then, with a precision and a dexterity that was truly wonderful, commence laying out his work, nor scarcely ever would he stop till his part was finished. Said the Rev. F. Shipherd, after viewing him for some time laying out work: " That man excels everything that I ever saw; although conversing with readiness and intelligence upon any subject advanced, yet his square and scratch-awl fly over the timbers as if moved by magic." The erection of large edifices often calls for as much courage and self-possession as ever the field of battle could display, and the occupants of our public buildings and the travellers of our bridges but little think of the imminent risk of life and limb that is incurred in their erection. Mr. Moody's self possession and clearness of mind never deserted him in any emergency. Whether it was upon land or water, upon the trembling beam or the falling bridge, he would not ask one to go where he dare not lead, and in a crisis no one could better disentangle a mass of fallen timbers, direct and assist the wounded, than could he. Was the Roman custom of bestowing a crown of laurels upon those who had saved the life of a citizen in practice among us, Mr. Moody would have the honor of wearing more than one.
The early instruction of a pious mother, together with strong moral feelings, made Mr. Moody an early student of the Bible. He was always in the habit of viewing everything in a plain, matter-of-fact, common sense manner. There is too much of the utilitarian in his composition to allow of his plunging into mystery; and metaphysics and speculations he most sedulously avoided. Most eminently he thought and studied for himself, giving no more weight to the written dogmas and opinions of others than he would to his own. It was no way extraordinary then, that he should readily unite himself with the Disciples. After being with them four years, closely studying the Divine Word, exemplifying in his daily walk and conversation the sincerity of his profession, and being deemed to be in possession of the necessary gifts, he was called to exercise the office of an elder over the church. This office is emphatically no sinecure. He was liable at any moment to be questioned, and he must be able to give a reason for the hope that was in him; he was publicly exposed at all times to correction for error in doctrine or even in quotation, both from friends and from enemies, and he was often called upon to labor in word and doctrine in other places, varying in distance from one to two hundred miles through the country ; and yet in despite of the press and perplexities of his mechanical business, he finds time to prepare himself to teach with credit to himself, to the satisfaction of his friends, and with dignity becoming the office of a bishop of a church. In the field of temperance, too, Mr. Moody was an earnest and active co-worker with others; often addressing his fellow-citizens upon that important subject, never shirking a responsibility nor deserting his post in time of danger.
In the great and important department of education, Mr. Moody was more than usually active. In 1841 he was elected one of the trustees of the common schools in the city. He found but three, and one of them was in an engine house, and neither of them occupying the position that they should. He found, likewise, a pernicious impression in the minds of the community respecting them, viz.: " That it was a shame and a reproach to send children to them." Said a man, "I regard them but as schools of vice and iniquity, where more deviltry and wickedness is learned than a single life of virtue could counterbalance." The rich would not trouble themselves about the schools, as they had the means to send their children to the first class institutions so liberally scattered through the land. The literati were so busily engaged in higher pursuits, that they could find neither time nor inclination to notice or direct the struggling abecedarian; and as to those who were engaged in watching over and guarding the morals of the community, it may with safety be said that the aggregate amount of their visits to the schools, would not exceed six times a year. Yet all classes were willing to allow, that a " church and a school in every village are the surest safeguards of our civil and religious liberties." But practice and profession are two things, and a revolution must be worked. Mr. Moody, in connection with a few kindred spirits, most zealously began the work of reformation. He endeavored to do away with all wrong impressions—began to agitate the propriety of a free school, and was of the committee to visit the Legislature, to urge the passage of such an act for Troy, in which they succeeded. This was in 1849. Being then a member of the Common Council, he used all his influence to secure the appointment of such men for a Board of Education as had a heart for the business and were alive to the great work before them. The next year he refused his previous office, and accepted that of Commissioner, in order to be more immediately in the work, and has occupied that office ever since. It should here be remarked that all credit is due to that Board for all their efforts in the cause of education, marked as they have been by a liberality of expenditure, thoroughness of oversight, and interest and attention to all that could improve the schools; and if they progress in coming time as they have in the past, they will be the greatest credit and ornament to the city. Mr. Moody has lately become a stockholder and director in a chain and cable manufacturing establishment, believed to be the first of the kind in this country.
From the preceding we find Mr. Moody to be emphatically a business man. We find him assuming the cares and anxieties of public trusts, honestly endeavoring to discharge them all as a faithful public servant; as a minister, zealous in word and doctrine, and consistent in deportment; as a mechanic, giving direction and value to the labors of from fifteen to thirty men ; and as a man, readily taking an active part in all the reformatory movements of the age. In his social relations, Mr. Moody is equally active. As a husband, kind and considerate; as a father, pleasant and affectionate, giving interest to the studies of his children, watching over their actions and amusements, and binding round their young hearts the strong cords of love and respect towards him; and as a citizen, frank, generous, and decided, a good example and worthy of imitation by the young men of our country.
An ancient one has remarked " that no one has ever failed of gaining something by application." Says Cicero, "The time that others spent in fetes and theatres, and other frivolous amusements, I spent in the closest study to prepare myself for the great events of life." History amply proves that greatness does not depend upon the accidents of wealth and station or genius, but that eight out of every ten of earth's great ones have gained that position almost totally irrespective of them; and the subject of this short memoir adds another proof to the truth of the motto, that "Decision and industry make the man.”
From Livingston, John; American portrait gallery, containing portraits of men now living; with biographical and historical memoirs of their lives and actions ...London, S. Low, Son & Co. [etc.] 1854-