Valentine C. Mott, a well known Kansas pioneer, now deceased, was one of the substantial citizens of Harper county, where he was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising to the time of his dcath.[sic] He was born in Branch county, Michigan, January 4, 1855, a son of M. P. and Ann Eliza (Hanford) Mott. The father was born September 6, 1823, in Delaware county, New York. In 1850 he removed from New York State to Branch county, Michigan, where he died September 13, 1886, at the close of an active and successful business career. His wife was also a native of New York State, a daughter of Seth and Nancy (Brownell) Hanford, born March 20, 1826. Valentine C. Mott was a brother of Ferris Orlando Mott, of Harper county, and for a more extended history of the Mott family see sketch of Ferris Orlando Mott. Valentine C. Mott was united in marriage April 22, 1897, at Anthony, Kans., to Miss Ella Nora Friday, a native of Madison county, Illinois, born June 6, 1864. She is a daughter of Adolph and Martha (Shippen) Friday, the father was a native of Germany, born October 28, 1832, and came to America with his parents when nine years of age. At this early day they located on a farm in Madison county, Illinois, where the father, Leopold Friday, was killed in a saw mill accident in 1843, leaving five children: Robert, Adolph, Wally, Edward and William. Adolph Friday was a Kansas pioneer, coming to this State in 1876, he located in Sedgwick county, where he remained two years and in 1878 went to Harper county and took up government land in Odell township, where he was successfully engaged in farming until his death, February 21, 1891. He was one of the well to do farmers of Harper county. His marriage to Miss Martha Shippen took place January 21, 1861, and four children were born to thi sunion;[sic] Matilda Elizabeth, born April 6, 1862, died October 4, 1862; Ella Nora, widow of Valentine C. Mott, the subject of this review; Louis William, born March 4, 1871, and Wally May, born September 7, 1874, married J. B. Woodard, December 7, 1893, now resides at Enid, Okla. To Valentine C. Mott and wife have been born three children: Lota, born October 10, 1898; Nellie, born February 14, 1901, and Nora, born December 1, 1906. Mrs. Mott now resides near Danville, Harper county, and the family is prominent in that section.