The community was founded by Amelia Vancil and Chauncey Warren Moffet in February 1857 (the town was named after them but, at some point, misspelled).

A store, built by William Elisha Pruett in the late 1860s, served as the main social focus for area residents for several years.

By the mid-1880s, Moffat had three churches as well as a steam gristmill and cotton gin and a variety of other businesses to serve its 200 residents.

[4] Chauncey Warren Moffet came to the area from New York and was a union loyalist during the American Civil War and was also a Confederate States of America soldier.

[5] Moffat is west of Texas State Highway 36 and 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Temple in northern Bell County.