James Mott

James Mott was born Nov 27 1803 in Kent County, England. He came to New York in 1821.

James moved to Sacketts Harbor, NY in 1821 and there learned the trade of cabinet making. James married Amanda Maria Brown in Sacketts Harbor, NY on January 9, 1830. Amanda was born March 18, 1813 at Woodstock, VT. They had three children in Vermont and only one survived.

James and Amanda moved to Cleveland, OH in 1834. From Cleveland they traveled by water to St Louis, MO, then by wagon to Jacksonville, IL. After visiting relatives in Cass County, James and Amanda arrived in Springfield on January 1, 1836 where one child was born. In 1838, they moved to Menard County near Petersburg. On February 20, 1843, James and Amanda established residence in Athens. Using his cabinetmaking skills, James made caskets.

During the 1800's, funerals were conducted in homes and churches. Visitations were in the home. James established the Mott Undertaking Company. Although the establishment has been relocated and renamed, it remains in business today as one of the oldest continuing businesses in Illinois.

James was commissioned November 20, 1858 as an Associate Judge of Menard County for one-term of four years. JAMES Mott passed at Athens on Sept 24 1873. Amanda Maria Brown passed August 9, 1904. James and Amanda are buried at Hall Cemetery in Athens, IL.

Of the twelve children (possibly eighteen) born to Amanda and James, nine died under five years of age. Of the five surviving children:

JAMES WELLINGTON MOTT was born July 19, 1833 at Sacketts Harbor, NY partly brought up in Springfield was married near Athens on April 18 1856 to Millie J. Hurt who died June 24 1857. James Wellington Mott was married May 15, 1859 to Mrs. Mary Ann Holland whose maiden name was ENGLAND. They had eight children ALLEN, EDGAR, AGNES, MARGARET, JAMES, CHARLES, MILAM and EUGENE. Mrs. Mott died Nov 19, 1872 and James W. Mott resides in Athens, Sangamon County, IL (1874).

GEORGE E. MOTT was born July 25 1836 in Springfield was married there April 19, 1865 to Eliza P. Smith a native of the same place. They have three children WILLIAM R., HARRY W and LAURA E. They live at 635 North 5th Street in Springfield.

HARRIET EMMA MOTT was born July 12 1843 in Athens married David A England.

[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=27977690 MARY A MOTT was born in Athens married James M England.

]HENRY W "HARRY" MOTT was born August 1847 in Athens is now (July 1876) clerk of the Matteson House in Chicago, Illinois. In 1885-86 he was the cashier at the Tremont House in Chicago. He married Laura Lamon on 22 Jan 1879. Laura was the granddaughter of Dan Beckwith, founder of Danville. Laura was also a cousin of Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's friend and bodyguard. Harry and Laura moved to Fairbanks, FL, for Harry's health. There he died in 1892 at the age of 42. Harry and Laura are buried together in a Lamon Family Plot in Danville, IL.

The Menard County Historical Society dedicated an historic marker at the Mott and Henning Funeral Home in Athens, IL on June 14. The marker reads:

Mott and Henning Funeral Home, established in 1843 is the oldest continually operating business in Menard County. Originally located at the southwest corner of Main and Hargrave, the business has been operating from this location since 1910. James Mott opened a cabinet making business in the building and established the Mott Undertaking Company. In those days funerals were conducted in homes and churches and cabinetmakers were called on to construck caskets. The current building was erected in 1892 by W. B. Diggs, with stores located on the first floor and an opera house on the second floor. Allen Mott purchased the building in 1910 and operated both the undertaking firm and a furniture store until he died in 1929. Harold Mott, Allen's son took over the business after Allen's death and Harold remodeled the building, making it into a funeral home. Then it was called Mott and Son. The Hennings became affiliated with the business over the years and in 1941, William Emory Henning and his wife joined the operation. Following Harold Mott's death they purchased the business January 1. 1969 and then changed the name of the business to Mott and Henning Funeral Home.

Sources:

HISTORY OF MENARD & MASON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS - 1879 Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street, Chicago http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilmaga/menard/cemetery/cem_west.html http://www.mottandhenning.com/history.shtml

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 1 2018, 22:51:14 UTC