Hon. Jordan Lawrence Mott II

     Jordan was born on Tuesday, 10 November 1829 at Mott Haven, Bronx, New York City, Westchester County, New York. He was the son of Jordan Lawrence Mott Sr. and Mary W. Smith. Jodan Sr. found the J. L. Mott Iron Works in 1828 in what is now Mott Haven in the Bronx. On his retirement, he passed the company on to his name sake. Jordan married Marianna Seaman, daughter of James Valentine Seaman and Maria Bogart Wright, on 20 April 1853 in Harlem at Reformed Dutch Church.¹ 18 July 1860, Jordan and his wife, Marianna, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Morrisania, Westchester County, New York. Enumerated in this household were Jordan L. Mott [31 New York], Mary A. [30 New York], Maria L. [6 New York], Jordan L. Jr. [3 New York], servants: Mary Cleary [24 Ireland], Margaret Asburn [20 Ireland], Julia Ryan [36 Ireland]. His personal estate is valued at $10,000.² 1 June 1880, Jordan and his wife, Marianna, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Manhattan at Third Avenue. Enumerated in this household were Jordon L Mott [50 New York], Marianna [45 New York], Jordon L. Jr. [24 New York], daughter-in-law: Katherine J. [22 New York], Augustus W. [19 New York], son-in-law: William Olliffe [35 New York], daughter: Marie L. [26 New York], niece: Margaret S. Lasak [21 New York], servants: Theresa Graham [21 New York], Kate Clarry [23 Ireland], Mary Shugenassy [24 Ireland]. Both Jordans are working as iron Founders, Agustus is a clerk and William is a druggist.³ 11 June 1900, Jordan was was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Manhattan, New York City, New York, at 2122 5th Avenue. Enumerated in this household were Jordan L. Mott [70 New York - November 1829], daughter: Marie M McLean [46 New York - February 1854], son: Augustus W [39 New York - August 1860], son-in-law: Charles F. McClean [57 New York - October 1842], servants: John W Lacy [34 England - December 1865], Thomas Calvert [29 Illinois - June 1870], Mary E Parker [47 New Jersey - May 1853], Mary Bennett [34 New York - February 1866], Kate Fitzgerald [25 Illinois - November 1874], Bridget Lynch [22 Illinois - March 1878] & Pauline Norberg [25 Sweden - October 1874]. Jordan is a manufacture at an iron foundry; Charles is a lawyer. The McLean have been married for 12 years having had no children. Jordan has a mortgage on his home.⁴ April 1910, Jordan was was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Manhattan, New York City, New York, at 2122 5th Avenue. Enumerated in this household were Jordan L. Mott [80 New York], son-in-law: Charles F. McLean [57 New York], Marie McClean [54 New York], Augustus W. [50 New York], servants: Elizabeth Tanner [42 cannot read], Anna Maywald [25 New York] & Lena Burk [19 New York]. [other information is not decipherable]⁵ Jordan departed this life on Monday, 26 July 1915 in Manhattan at age 85 years, 8 months and 16 days. Jordan was buried at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, Westchester County, New York.

JORDAN LAWRENCE MOTT, jr., as he long called himself, was born in New York city, Nov. 10, 1829. Owing to the death of his mother, while he Was nine years old, the lad was sent away to school, first at Irving Institute in Tarrytown and later in the University of the City of New York. He knew little of a mother's care and perhaps on this account gained early in life the self reliance which has always been a marked trait of his character. While greatly interested in his studies, a distraction occurred in 1849, after the discovery of gold in California. Mr. Mott, then not twenty years of age, wrote to his father, who was in Washington, asking permission to seek his fortune On the Pacific coast, whither so many other young men were flocking with high hopes. The senior Mott did not lose his character as a kind and indulgent father by being practical and shrewd in his judgments, and he sent to his son a pithy reply, which made a strong impression on his mind. He said: "You can have the privations and profits of a miner's life without going to California. You shall live in a tent in my garden, without seeing any of your friends or relatives and holding no communications with them except by mail and at long intervals; you shall do your own cooking and washing and mending. You will be deprived of all that makes your life now enjoyable, and in return I will pay you the average wages of a miner, about fifteen dollars a day; or, you can remain at home in possession of the comforts you enjoy, with the prospect of succeeding to the business I have established." [America's Sucessful Men]