Martha Ann DeVoll Mott, 1840-1903 [RG1554.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1554.AM:  Martha Ann DeVoll Mott, 1840-1903

Correspondence:  1876-1880 and undated
Virginia; Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska:  Settler
Size:  19 items

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Martha Mott, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Jane (Potter) DeVoll, was born in New York on June 1, 1940. She married Washington Irving Mott in 1860, and the couple spent the first dozen years of their marriage farming near Glens Falls, New York. With their children, they moved to southern Virginia in 1872, where they were unsuccessful in their farming efforts. The Motts and their four children moved to Nebraska by wagon in 1878, spending nine weeks on the road until they reached Red Cloud. They moved to Indianola in 1883 and Curtis in 1888, where Martha died on July 5, 1903.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of nineteen pieces of correspondence dating from 1876-1880 and undated. Written by Martha Mott from Virginia and Red Cloud, Nebraska, to her relatives in the east, the letters describe the Mott family’s struggle to make a living by farming. In the Red Cloud letters Martha discusses prairie fires, the costs of grain and meat, crops planted, condition of land in the area, excursion trains bringing new settlers into Red Cloud, the growth of Red Cloud, hard times experienced in 1880 due to dry weather, tree planting and the advantages of settling in Nebraska.

The letters were transcribed by Henry and Evelynn Schutz. Patron copies of the original letters and transcripts are available. Due to their fragile condition, the original letters are restricted.

INVENTORY

Folder

  1. Correspondence, 1876-1880 and undated [Restricted originals]
  2. Correspondence, 1876-1880 and undated [Patron copies]. Includes an introduction written by Henry and Evelynn Schutz
  3. Correspondence, 1876-1880 and undated [transcripts]. Includes an introduction written by Henry and Evelynn Schutz

Subject headings:

Agriculture — Nebraska — Webster County
Frontier and pioneer life — Nebraska
Mott, Martha Ann DeVoll, 1840-1903
Prices — Nebraska — Red Cloud
Red Cloud (Neb.) — History
Weather — Nebraska — Webster County
Webster County (Neb.) — History
Women pioneers


AIP/ksa                  04-1993
JS/kfk                     03-25-2004
Revised TMM        05-14-2007

Acc. Number:  1992.223

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

On This Day: Armistice Celebrated Early

On This Day: Armistice Celebrated Early

Siouan Archeology

Siouan Archeology

Nebraska Election Trivia

Nebraska Election Trivia

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.