Randolph  County,  Indiana

Oliver  Perry  Mote


            The gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph is one of the worthy native sons of Randolph county and we are glad to give our readers a brief outline of his life record, for he is deemed eminently worthy of representation along with the industrious citizens of the locality embraced by this work, owing to the fact that he belongs to the energetic class that has contributed to the later-day progress of this favored section of the great Hoosier commonwealth. He enjoys the respect of all who know him for he has led an honorable life, and he is known to be a man of practical intelligence and mature judgment.
            Oliver Perry Mote was born in Wayne township, Randolph county, June 1, 1860. He is a son of  Henry and  Emilla (Mikesell) Mote. The father was born near New Madison, Ohio, June 7, 1816. He was a son of  Jonathan and  Mary Mote.  Jonathan Mote was born in Georgia in January, 1788, and in 1810 he emigrated north to Ohio, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cleared and farmed until 1860 when he sought another new country, removing to the state of Iowa where he bought six hundred acres of land, which he farmed on an extensive scale until his death in 1873. His wife died in early life in 1835.  Henry Mote, our subject's father, grew to manhood amid pioneer conditions and assisted his father with the work on the farm. Owing to the newness of the locality where he lived when a boy he had little opportunity to obtain an education. In 1856 he moved to Randolph county, Indiana and located in Wayne township, where he purchased one hundred and seventy-six acres, which he cleared and farmed practically until his death on November 28, 1878. Politically, he was a Republican, and he was justice of the peace for a number of years. He was an influential man in his neighborhood and was respected by all who knew him. Fraternally, he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and  Emilla Mikesell were married in 1836. She was born February 14, 1818, near New Madison, Ohio, and her death occurred July 3, 1911, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. To the parents of our subject thirteen children were born.
            Oliver P. Mote grew up on the home farm and received a common school education. In 1878 he began farming for himself on the home place. In 1892 he moved near the village of Crete. In 1902 he purchased seventy- five acres there which he has since farmed, making a specialty of tobacco raising.
            Politically, Mr. Mote is a Progressive. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and religiously he belongs to the Christian church. He was township trustee from 1904 to 1908, filling this office to the satisfaction of all concerned.
            Mr. Mote was married September 29, 1883 to Emma A. Thomas, who was born October 16, 1864 on the farm where she now lives. She is a daughter of Henry and Mary A. Thomas
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson

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