Daniel Mott 1851-1907

MOTT, BALDWIN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/12/2010 at 20:10:58

Dan’l Mott Killed
Struck by a Train at Manford, Oklahoma
Formerly Resided Here
Was Walking Railroad Track and Did Not Hear Approaching Train – Killed Almost Instantly

The Wm. Maxwell family received a telegram Wednesday conveying the sad news of the death of Dan’l Mott, a former resident of Estherville and a brother of Mrs. Maxwell. As near as could be learned from meager reports received he was struck by a train while walking on the railroad track near Manfred, Okla. The accident occurred at 6:30 Monday morning, August 12th. His hip and three ribs were broken and he received internal injuries from which he died at 9:30 the same day. On account of the telegraphic trouble the relatives here did not receive word in time to go after the remains and he was buried at Keystone, Okla., where he has made his home the past three years.

Deceased was fifty years of age at the time of his death and had resided in Estherville for ten years prior to his removal to Oklahoma with his family three years ago. Mrs. Mott died last fall and his three children, Everett, Bernice and Leo, have made their home with relatives in this city since that time. They were here when the accident occurred. A brother, Simeon Mott, at Keystone, Okla., two sisters, Mrs. Wm. Maxwell and Miss Hannah Mott and aged mother, Mrs. J. B. Mott of this city, besides his three children are left to mourn his sudden taking away. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, August 21, 1907)

Obituary of Daniel Mott
The following obituary appeared in the Tulsa (I.T.) Democrat of August 15th.

“Daniel Mott was born April 4, 1851, in Cass county, Mich., and came to his untimely death by railroad accident in the prime of life, on August 12, 1907. His father was a farmer and he was brought up to till the soil and help to maintain a livelihood for the considerably large family of brothers and sisters. He followed farming at times during his entire life but in early boyhood developed a taste and skill in mechanical work, becoming a woodworker and builder which was his true and natural profession.

“His father moved from Cass county to Jackson county, Mich., thence to Newton county, Mo., where he was living when Daniel reached the age of maturity. From various trips into the then unsettled lands, he formed an acquaintance in the different parts of the Indian Territory and Oklahoma. He liked the country and for several years had a point in view to getting a home in Oklahoma when the government opened it for settlement. He was, however, unsuccessful in getting what he wanted either in old Oklahoma or the Cherokee strip, and after the opening of old Oklahoma, he moved to Estherville, Emmet county, Iowa, where he has made a permanent home with the exception of the last three years.

“During the last thirty years of his life he has principally engaged in contracting and building and the lumber business in which he was always successful. On October 8, 1888, at Carthage, Mo., he was married to Miss Ella M. Baldwin who, as we know, preceded him to the heaven of rest, November 6th, last. To their union was born six children, three of whom are dead and three living. Two boys died in infancy; the oldest, a girl, who died Christmas day, at the age of thirteen. Those living are two boys, aged fourteen and seven, and a girl eleven. Twenty-three years he has been afflicted with partial deafness, which, although it totally incapacitated him for pleasure of any public nature, did not keep him from carrying on business and private conversation with his friends and relatives.

“Mr. Mott was a man of fine physique, nature and disposition, clean from any vulgarity in his language, from bad habits of any kind, exemplary in his choice of associations, a devout believer in the Bible and Christ. He was a kind and loving father, a staunch but tender husband, an affectionate brother and friend, and while it is not all of life to live, the moral attributes of the life of our beloved dead brother may forever thrill our hearts with cheer and strengthen our resolutions in chastity and love.”

J. B. Strait, a former resident of Estherville, sends us the above and appends the following: “Daniel Mott was killed by a passenger train a mile from Manford. He was struck by the pilot beam as he jumped from the track. His remains were buried in Basin Cemetery three miles from Manford.” (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, August 28, 1907)