Biography of Mrs. Mary (Winterbottom) Mott, pages 908 /909/ 910/ 911/ 912/ 
913/ 914/ 915/ 916/ 917.  History of De Kalb County, Indiana.  Inter-State 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Mrs. Mary (Winterbottom) Mott, one of the oldest residents of the county 
seat, as well as one of the oldest inhabitants in point of years, is the 
subject of our next sketch---Mrs. Mary or (Mally) Winterbottom Mott, widow 
of the late Judge E. B. Mott.  Mrs. Mott is now in her eightieth year and 
in full possession of all her faculties, although her physical strength 
does no admit of her often leaving her house. Her memory is unimpaired, 
and she relates with evident interest and enjoyment many entertaining 
reminiscences of her earlier life.  A biographical notice of one whose 
interests have for over forty years been identified with Auburn, cannot 
find a more appropriate place than in these pages.  Mrs. Mott was born in 
the village of Mossley, Lancashire, England, Feb. 4, 1806, the eldest of 
three sisters, children of John Winterbottom, a woolen manufacturer of 
that place, and his wife, Anne (Wrigley).  Her father was a man of 
unblemished reputation, one of those whose word is as good as his bond; 
reserved and quick-tempered, a strict disciplinarian with his family and 
employes; and affectionate husband and kind father, but not an indulgent 
one.  In referring to her father, Mrs. Mott remarked that she believed 
“there were no indulgent fathers in those days. As a firm hand had guided 
them in youth, so they expected unquestioning obedience from their children 
when their turn came to govern.”  Mr. Winterbottom having read of the 
advantages of Kentucky as a permanent home, determined early in the 
present century to sell his property in England and remove thither. He 
accordingly made his arrangements and took passage in the summer of 1811 
with his wife and three children and his wife’s sister, Miss Rachel 
Wigley, on board the ship “Herald,” of New Bedford, Captain Price 
commander, from Liverpool for New York.  The voyage lasted eight weeks, as 
was frequently the case in those times before the use of steam had made 
the mariner almost independent of winds and waves.  At one time during the 
passage, as Mr. Mott well remembers, they were stopped by an English man-
of-war and their vessel searched for deserters from the army or navy; 
there happened to be a deserter from the army on board, a certain Jack 
Buckley from Mr. Winterbottom’s native town, but he was so well concealed 
that his presence was not discovered, and the war-ship sailed away after 
purchasing some supplies of which the crew were much in need, and getting 
the latest news from England, having heard nothing for three months.   It 
was this claim of a right to search vessels sailing under the American 
flag, which soon afterward led to the war of 1812.  After arriving at New 
York Mr. Winterbottom was induced to forego his plan of settling in 
Kentucky, and instead decided to enter into partnership with Colonel David 
Humphreys, Judge John Humphreys and his younger brother, William, for the 
manufacturing of fine woolen goods, broadcloths, etc., at what is now the 
village of Seymour, Conn., the called Humphreyville.  This was the first 
successful attempt to manufacture that class of goods in the United 
States.  Shortly after locating at their new home Mrs. Mott’s mother died, 
and the following year her father married his sister-in-law.

By this marriage Mr. Winterbottom had several children, of whom the eldest 
is Hon. John H. Winterbotham, of Michigan City, Ind., for eight years 
State Senator from La Porte County.  [As will be notice, the spelling of 
the surname had been changed since the family came to America].  The 
Senator and his two sons have been for many years contractors of convict 
labor at the Northern Indiana State Prison, at Michigan City, and also at 
the Illinois State Prison at Joliet; at both of which places large numbers 
of convicts are employed.  Mr. J. Grenville Mott, Mrs. Mott’s youngest 
son, is also a partner in the business at both places.  He married the 
Senator’s youngest daughter, thus connecting the families by a double 
tie.  During her earlier years Mrs. Mott had many advantages, in a 
literary and social point of view, from her father’s business associations 
with the Humphreys.  Colonel Humphreys, the senior member of the firm, had 
been one of Washington’s aides-de-camp during the Revolutionary war, and 
subsequently the United States Minister of Portugal and Spain, from which 
latter country he brought the first Merino sheep to America.  He was a 
cultured gentleman of the old school, fond of literature, and the 
possessor of a considerable collection of books by the best authors, which 
were at all times at the disposal of Mr. Winterbottom or any of his family.  
At an early age Mrs. Mott was placed at a school in Derby, near 
Humphreysville, with her home in the family of Mrs. Edward Blakeslee, the 
widow of an Episcopal minister of that place, where her schooling was 
carefully attended to and her social training particularly watched.  Under 
the circumstances it is needless to say her associations were of the very 
best; her closed friend for several years was Miss Jeanette, daughter of 
Judge Humphreys, and intimacy only terminated by what seemed such a 
breaking down in Mrs. Mott’s health as prevented her attending school for 
a long time, but not until she had acquire a thoroughly good English 
education.  In the meantime the family had removed to South Brittain, and 
here she passed the years until she was twenty.  At this time the condition 
of her health suggested a protracted visit to an uncle, Mr. Abram Wrigley, 
of Luzerne County, Pa., where she rapidly improved, and not long after 
began teaching school.  At Providence, a few miles from her uncle’ 
residence, while teaching, she first became acquainted with her future 
husband, to whom she was united in marriage Dec. 30, 1830.  A similarity 
of taste and mental bias made the marriage eminently suitable; Mr. Mott 
found in his wife one who could sympathize with him in his preference for 
substantial literature, history, biography, science, etc., as well as in a 
wholesome liking for such works of standard fiction as had been given to 
the world fifty or sixty years ago.  That was not the age of newspapers, 
and those who cared for reading made their pursuits a mental discipline as 
well as a pastime.  Three of four years after their marriage Mr. Mott 
became involved in business troubles, and determined to make a new start.  
An opportunity offered of going to Cuba to enter the service of a new 
railway company as surveyor and civil engineer, a position for which he 
was well qualified, but not deeming the climate desirable for wife and 
children, he determined to go to Ohio instead.

From there the family, now numbering parents and four children, the second 
child, Reginald Herber, having died in infancy, removed to Auburn, arriving 
Oct. 16, 1843. The road from the east into town then came in by Sixth 
street, where the only bridge crossing Cedar Creek at that time stood.  
A short distance east of town the teams nearly mired, and Mr. Mott, 
carrying his youngest in his arms, brought his family on foot to a point 
whence he could direct them to Mr. Parson’s tavern, while he went back to 
assist in getting the horses out of the mire.  To the tavern on the 
northeast corner of Fourth and Cedar streets the family betook themselves, 
crossing by a cow path the corner where Mr. Mott not lives, and the lot 
just above on which stands the old residence of the Mott family, built in 
1849 and now (1885) occupied as a boarding and lodging house by Mrs. 
Roether.  At that time Auburn was not much of a place, and Mrs. Mott has 
little difficulty in recalling its main features.  Wesley Park lived where 
Charles Rant now does; John Butt just across the street west.  Thomas 
Freeman had opened a tavern where the Auburn House, which he built, now 
stand.  Mr. Launcelot Ingman lived on the site of Dr. Swartz’s residence; 
Mr. Hague lived in a house, which looked old even then, probably from 
never having been painted.   It stood on the corner occupied by John 
Baxter’s residence, and was built by J. O. P. Sherlock. Samuel Ralston 
lived on the site of the Swineford house; Mr. Poffenberger across the main 
street from him, and a little south, in a lob cabin. Nelson Payne’s house 
was on the corner where James Culbertson’s residence now stands, and Mr. 
John Garver lived in a little house on Edward Eldridge’s lot.  Mr. Houghton 
had a log house on the lot where his widow still lives.  Mr. Hall lived 
farther down the street.  In 1842 the court-house was built.  It stood for 
twenty-three years and was given by Daniel Altenburg, Sr., to be burned as 
a bonfire on the night of April 4, 1865, in celebration of the surrender 
of Richmond.  Mr. Mott bought of James Cosper a log cabin and the lots on 
which now lives A. J. Ralston and James Barclay. The next spring he walked 
one blustering day to the farm of Robert Worh, eight miles south of town, 
and back again for currant-slips.  Auburn has been greatly indebted both 
for fruit and flowers to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Mott.  The black 
Morello cherries and fragrant flowering currants now so common everywhere 
in the village sprang from those which they planted thirty-five or more 
years ago.  In 1847 Mr. Mott sold his property to Miles Waterman, 
intending to go back to Ohio for the benefit of Mrs. Mott’s health, but 
before their arrangements were completed, she began to improve, and he 
finally bought vacant lots on Sixth and Cedar streets.

After living for two years, on the corner west of James Brinkerhoof’s 
property in what was afterward known as the Tinney house, until its 
destruction by fire in April, 1865, Mr. Mott removed in November, 1849, to 
his own house, the first one built in the county by Wallace & Kline, where 
the family continued to reside for many years, which witnessed only the 
natural gradual changes which time brings to all.  The oldest son Egbert, 
“always a good boy,” as his father said, with dying lips, having spent 
some years in the store of Bakdwin & Pride at Tiffin, Ohio, went to 
California in 1852.  Meanwhile the flowers blossomed, the fruits ripened, 
the trees grew umbrageous year by year, the old house filled itself with 
fragrant memories, and changes came.  Hence went Sheridan, now a young 
lawyer, in August, 1862, to battle for his country,  April 14, 1863, 
friends gathered here for the marriage of the only daughter Julia.  In 
July, 1863, the youngest son Grenville, who had been out during a three 
month’s term of service in and Ohio regiment, bade a final adieu to his 
childhood’s home before sailing for California.  Hither came Sheridan home 
from war, no longer alert, eager, hopeful, but with sealed eyes, mute lips 
and fold hands.  Hence he was borne, May 27, 1864, to be laid to rest, as 
the sun was setting within sound of the familiar home voices.  Here on the 
evening of April 4, 1865, while the bells were ringing over the capture of 
Richmond, the first grandchild began her brief life.  July 20, 1865, 
Egbert, the oldest son, married Eleanor, daughter of A.C. Baldwin, of 
Tiffin, Ohio, and hither he brought his bride, ‘Sept. 23rd, summoned home 
from happy journeying, to soothe his father’s last hours, and lighted his 
mother’s heavy burden.  Here Judge Mott died Sept. 30, and hence, also, a 
week later went his grandchild, Little Mary, the oldest and the youngest, 
united again in some one of the father’s many mansions.   Here or in the 
newer house adjacent where she now resides, Mrs. Mott has lived during 
most of the years intervening, since the death of Judge Mott, and for the 
greater part of the time no other member of the family has resided in the 
county, but two or three years ago her daughter and son-in-law, Professor 
C. P. Hodge, with their family, removed to this place from Lagrange, and 
are now living upon the farm just north of town, which Judge Mott bought 
in 1854 and named “Greenhurst.”  Mr. Mott was never a strong woman, 
physically, and as her years have increased, it is not to be wondered at 
that her life has become a secluded one.  It is very noticeable, however, 
that she retains her interest in the affairs of the world quite as much as 
those who are thirty or forty years younger.     

After a little conversation with her, especially if the political affairs 
of foreign countries are referred to, is sufficient to disclose the fact 
that the land of  her birth, the little island across the sea which is the 
cradle of the Anglo-Saxon race throughout the world, has a larger share in 
her affections than any other. The Soudan and Afghanistan have at this time 
more interest for her tan anything on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, for 
at each of those remote points England is face to face with her enemies, 
and that is enough to dwarf other matters for the present.  To quote 
nearly her own language: “I can hardly find words to express the love and 
admiration I feel for the land of my birth.  My high opinion of her 
excellence has been formed upon good and sufficient evidence.  My husband 
and I read much together, and I believe I may say we did not differ much 
in our conclusions.  Such authors as Allison, Hume, Hallam, Macauly, 
Vattel, Blackstone and Kent, with biographies of Nelson, Wellington, 
Marlborouh, ‘The Lord Chancellors’ and ‘Queens of England,’ give one an 
accurate idea of the Nation whose laws hand history they elucidate, and 
furnish me what I deem ample reasons for placing my mother country first 
among Nations.”   Some of the venerable lady’s reminiscences illustrate 
forcibly the changes of a lifetime.  Imprisonment for debt was common in 
New England sixty or seventy year ago, and Mrs. Mott remembers one man of 
Berkshire County, Mass., who had been in the prison at Lenox for eight 
years for debt, and who, for all she knows to the contrary, died there.  
On one occasion when a member of the prisoner’s family died, the body was 
brought to the jail that the unfortunate debtor might have one last look 
at the beloved features before they we consigned to the grave.  It was not 
necessarily fraud which was punished in this manner, but inability to pay, 
however honest the intention.  Probably in every day affairs the greatest 
change has been in letter writing and postal service.  Envelopes have been 
invented and come into use within the fast fifty years; the custom until 
comparatively recent times having been to fold the sheet of paper in a 
peculiar way, seal with a wafer or wax, and writ the address upon the 
back.  When the letter was dispatched twenty-five cents was paid at one of 
the other end of its journey, as the case might be.  The postage on 
periodicals and other printed matter was high and very uncertain.  Mr. 
John Pride, a friend of the family in Ohio, had been taking “Blackwoods 
Magazine,” which, after reading, he usually forwarded to her.  In 1845 it 
ceased to come, and he explains in a letter of that year that he had been 
paying $1.25 per year postage on the Magazine, but here had “recently been 
a “change of Postmaster, and with the change of officers new “rules and 
regulation are almost always adopted.  So in this “case; the Magazine came 
to the office, and I was told  that “ the former Postmaster had not 
charged me as much postage “ the law required him to do, and instead of 
accepting the “ former rate, the present Postmaster considers it his 
bounden “duty to tax me two dollars and eighty cents per year.  I at “once 
came to the conclusion that it was an outrageous postage, and ordered the 
Magazine  discontinue.”  It is hard to realize the changes in ways of life 
and manners, which Mrs. Mott’s memory can recall, extending as it does 
over three quarters of a century.  Much of the national growth in morals 
and in social matters, so graphically depicted in McMaster’s “History of 
the America People,” has been accomplished within her recollection, and 
she reviews the past with the conviction that the result, taking it all 
together, is an improvement mentally, morally and physically. In religious 
matters Mr. Mott is an orthodox member of the church of England, into 
which she was baptized, and of the American Episcopal church with which 
she is in communion.  She is cheerful and bright, taking no gloomy views 
of old age, but preserving her serenity of mind, enjoying her books, 
whether novel or more substantial works, with the same zest as formerly, 
undisturbed by fears of the future. The Bible she reverences as the word 
of God, and delights in it as the master-piece of English prose, having 
read it again and again, both in English and French, in which latter 
tongue she is somewhat proficient.  As she comes of a long-lived family we 
hope and believe she has length of days yet before her.

Lieutenant Sheridan E. Mott.
		              
“Speak with a tender reverence, oh, friends !
Of those old comrades, bravest of the brave;
That silent army on the other side,
Of whom we say: ‘they sleep within the grave.’ ”

In 185_, thirty years ago or more, four little boys were playing together.  
They were Sheridan Mott, his brother Grenville, with Samuel and Clark 
Ford.  Said Sheridan: “My father says he believes there will be a war 
before many years, and if I am a man when it begins, I am going.”  “ And 
so will I, “ “ and I,” and I,” echoed the others. Years passed.  The lads 
grew toward manhood.  The war came, they all went into it, and three out 
of the four sleep in soldiers’ graves.   Clark Ford was killed instantly 
at the battle of Shiloh, Samuel, wounded again and again, lingered on, 
suffering for more than twenty years before his spirit was released from 
its ruined tenement.  Lieutenant Sheridan Edward Mott, the subject of the 
present sketch, and third son of Egbert B. and May (Winterbotham) Mott, 
was born in Belleville, Richland Co., Ohio, on Sunday, March 15, 1840. He 
was rather a delicate child, though not sickly, but, in common with most 
others, suffered much from ague after the removal of his father’s family 
to Auburn. It is still remembered how, one morning, standing before the 
fire in an ague chill, he turned himself around, exclaiming: “I can get 
hot, but I cannot get warm.”  During his boyhood he attended such schools 
as the village afforded, and developed quite early great fondness for 
reading, especially for historical studies. Aug. 12, 1857, Sheridan E. 
Mott began the school year at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa.  His nature 
was very reserved, and his attachment to  home so deep and strong that he 
suffered greatly from homesickness, but he pursued his studies with great 
earnestness.  A schoolmate writing of him at the time, said: “there are 
many students who do well, but I never saw another like Sheridan.  He is 
always perfect.”  “ I was marked 100 in all my studies, “ he wrote at the 
conclusion of an examination.  He returned home in the summer of 1858, and 
soon entered his father’s law office where he pursued his studies during 
nearly three years.  Later passing an examination he was admitted to the 
bar April 15, 1861, just one month after he attained his majority.  July 
14, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Regiment, Indiana 
Volunteers.  He was very slight and delicate in appearance, but endured 
the long marches much better than many who were apparently much stronger.  
Always ready to assist a comrade, he earned the title of “The double 
knapsack man,“ because he so often relieved others of some part of  their 
burden.  Surviving soldiers of the Eighty-eighth will remember that when 
the regiment presented a sword to Colonel Humphreys, Sergeant Mott was 
chosen to make, and did make, the address.  In battle he did not seem to 
know what fear was, and he fought at if that were the business of life.  
He was shot in the battle of Chickamauga, Sunday, Sept. 10, 1863.  The 
ball shattered the neck of the femur.  A comrade, M.E. Rathbun, though not 
wounded, remained beside him until taken prisoner with him.  After about a 
week, during which time he received as kind treatment as was possible 
under the circumstances, young  Mott, with other wounded, was exchanged 
for wounded prisoners held by the Federal army, He lay in the hospital at 
Chattanooga, suffering at times in common with other wounded from the 
intense cold and lack of proper food, until Jan. 24, 1864, when he was 
removed to better quarters in Nashville.  A commission as Second 
Lieutenant in the Seventy-eighth New York was given to him by Governor 
Seymour, Oct. 21, 1863, but the nature of his wound was such that had he 
recovered he could never have served in the infantry corps again.  “ I 
never heard a complaining word from his lips,” said the hospital nurse,  
“everything was always well with him.”  It will be remembered that the 
Government took possession of the railroads for military purposes, and 
that it was almost impossible for civilians to obtain passes to the seat 
of war, but again and again, through one and another who was coming up. 
Lieutenant Mott’s parents made arrangements to have him brought home.  
Each time his judgement decided against the attempt.  “When I am able to 
walk on crutches I will come.”  he said, but that was never to be.  
Saturday morning, May 14, erysipelas having appeared in the wound, the 
surgeon told him that death was near.  He remained for a few moments in 
silent thought, and then asked a comrade, whose face was turned toward 
life as his to the grave to write a telegram for him.  Having dictated it, 
he quietly awaited the inevitable summons.  Growing weaker with every hour 
the end came at last, Sunday evening May 15, 1864, when Sheridan Edward 
Mott, aged twenty-four years two month, “fell on sleep” to awake in 
eternity.  Meanwhile in his Indiana home his parents were hoping soon to 
see him.  The restrictions on travel were somewhat relaxed, and they were 
expected to go the next week to Indianapolis, where they hoped to obtain 
passes to the South, Thursday morning, May 19, Judge Mott came from his 
office with hurried steps.  With quivering lips and tremulous tones he 
said: “I must go to Nashville.”  The fatal message had come.  “I am at 
hospital No. three (3), Nashville; shall soon die.”  Father, mother, the 
only sister and her husband went to him.  The sad urgency of their mission 
opened the way to them. They reached Nashville Saturday evening; he had 
been buried the Monday before.  His body was brought home and laid to rest 
Friday evening, May 27, where he has ever since slept, almost under the 
shadow of the paternal roof-tree. There one after another of those nearest 
to him have lain down in a like dreamless sleep.  Pequiescat in pace.

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