Biography of Hon. Egbert Benson Mott, pages 906 / 907 / 908. History of De 
Kalb County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Hon. Egbert Benson Mott was born on his father’s farm of Tuckett Hill, 
Dutchess County, N.,Y.,  July 23, 1795, being the third son of his parents.  
He was of English descent on both sides but of families who came to America 
in early colonel days.  His father, James Mott, an officer in the New York 
militia during the Revolutionary war, was fourth in direct descent, bearing 
the same Christian name, from Captain James Mott, of Mamaronek, Westchester 
Co., N.Y., who was born in Baintree, County of Essex, England, where the 
family was an ancient and honorable one.  He came to America in 1865-‘6 
(the 8 was crossed out and 6 had been written in) and chose the newly 
acquired province of New York for a residence, where he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits.  Each one of E.B. Mott’s ancestors followed the 
same pursuit, he being the first to deviate from their course.  Mr. Mott’s 
mother was Mary, daughter of James Denton, of Newburg, N.Y., a 
Revolutionary soldier throughout the war, having begun his eight years of 
service under the Continental Congress, Aug. 22, 1775, as a First 
Lieutenant in a company of foot.  He was fourth in descent from the Rev. 
Richard Denton, a puritan divine of Halifax, Yorkshire, England, who came 
to America in 1630 in the ship Arbella with Governor Winthrop and the 
company who founded Boston.   When E.B. Mott was about twelve years old 
his father died, leaving a family of five sons and three daughters to the 
care of the mother.  After a few years’ residence in Saragota County, N.Y., 
the whole family removed to Lehman, Luzerne Co., Pa., about the year 1824.  
Mr. Mott was married Dec. 30, 1830, in Abingdon, Luzerne Co., Pa., to Mary, 
daughter of John Winterbotham, of Aston, Lancashire, England.  She was born 
Feb. 4, 1806.  Her father emigrated to America in the summer of 1811 with 
his wife and three young daughters Mary, Sarah and Ann, all of whom are 
yet living.  Mrs. Mott is a sister of Hon J.H. Winterbotham, of Michigan 
City, Ind.  In 1836 Mr. Mott removed with his wife and two sons from 
Pennsylvania to Fredericktown, Knox, Co., Ohio, where Mrs. Mott’s family 
then resided.  After living several years in Knox and Richland counties, 
Mr. Mott removed in May, 1843, to Kalida, Putnam County.  At the tavern in 
that swamp-environed village he made the acquaintance of Judge Morris, 
than a young lawyer, who, with his wife and child, had arrived in Kalida 
the evening before.  The acquaintance thus begun grew into a friendship 
between the two families very strong and enduring as life.  Not finding 
Kalida a promising place for the practice of their profession, Mr. Mott 
and Mr. Morris came during the summer in search of a location in Indiana.  
Mr. Mott removed to Auburn the same autumn, arriving here Oct 16, but Mr. 
Morris remained in Kalida until the ensuing year.  Mr. Mott was the first 
lawyer who settled in Auburn.  His first property was the place now owned 
by A.J. Ralston, which he sold in 1846 to Miles Waterman.  In 1849 he 
built a house on Cedar street, which was the family residence while he 
lived.  In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the 
district comprising the counties of De Kalb and Steuben.  In politics 
Judge Mott was first Federalist, then Whig and finally Republican. He had 
a remarkable memory, excellent judgement, and the utmost firmness of 
principle.  His opinions were formed by varied reading and after mature 
consideration.  Once adopted, however, he held them with tenacity, and 
could defend them warmly if necessary, although, as his nature was not 
aggressive, he never attacked the opinions of another.  Through his whole 
life he was a faithful servant of God, exemplifying his faith by a life of 
practical righteousness.  No man was ever more inclined by nature and grace 
to exercise charity in word and thought and deed. He died Sept. 30, 1865, 
after an acute illness of three weeks. Two sons died before him---Reginald 
Heber, an infant, and Sheridan Edward, who, wounded at Chickamauga, Sept. 
20, 1873, died in the hospital at Nashville, May 15, 1864.  Judge Mott’s 
wife and three children survived him.  Of these, E.B. Mott, Jr., a man of 
unusual ability and remarkable social qualities, died in Sacramento, 
California, April 4, 1882, deeply lamented by all who knew him. He left a 
widow and five children.  John Grenville lives in Michigan City, Indiana.  
He married a daughter of Hon. J.H. Winterbotham, and is one of the firm of 
J.H. Winterbotham & Sons.  He had two children, Julia, the only daughter of 
E.B. Mott, is the wife of Chester P. Hodge. They have three children, and 
live a mile north of Auburn on Greenhurst farm, a place which gave Judge 
Mott pleasant occupation during many hours of his later life.  Mrs. Mott 
is still loving, having entered her eightieth year, Feb. 4, 1885.  She is 
in full possession of all her mental faculties.   ( In the margin it 
states the biography was written by his daughter.)

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com