The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-22
MOTIFS TO Celebrate
GOLDEN WEDDING DAY.;
RECALL EARLY CITY

The celebration of their golden we'd
ding, which is set for Sunday, has
been the occasion of early-day remin-
iscences by Mr. and Mrs. w. l.. Mott,
of West Richmond, and their friends.
The Motifs have been residents of
Richmond since 1880 and are well
known to many of the older citizens.
especially to the congregation of Reid
Memorial church, where they have
been regular attendants.
Richmond had population of only
10000 when we first came here" said
Mr.. Mott Friday. There were only
a half dozen houses between the rail
road and in the ground between Main
street and the railroad.
There we're only half dozen
houses on this side of the river be-
tween Main street and the railroad
Main street did not exist then, all traf-
fic coming over the old covered bridge
and the only roads being the National
road, which led down the face of the
river bank to the bridge, and a road
where West Fifth street now runs
There was no free postal delivery,
all citizens going to- the postoffice for
their own mail. A street car system
did exist, though equipped with cars
pulled by mules This line ran out as
far as Earlham and followed the Ma
tional road down the river bank and
across the bridge.
Had Long Climb
1.-The long steep flight of steps we
had to climb to get up to West Rich
mond from the end of the bridge"
said Mrs. Mott, was the only objection
that prevented our buying the property
on which the Hubbard printing shop
now stands. That place and the whole
corner with it, was offered US for $8OO,
but after l had made that climb once,
Il decided | would not be equal to 1t
any more Several of our friends, how
ever, built up there, and for long
time had to wade through mud to get
to their houses, as there were not
.sRen any streets laid out"
This whole stretch of land north of
the National road, according to Mr..
Mott, was in the old Baxter farm,
which was bordered on the west by
what is now West Fifth street. In
addition to the Baxter house and a
few later built on the farm, there were
only few houses along the National
road and the West Fifth street road.
The Judge Fox place, the Dougan resi-
dence, the Hugh Maxwell place, and a
lew other houses, scattered along the
National road, made up all of West
Richmond then.
City Prosperous
That the prosperity of the city OF
1880 was fully equal to that of the
modern Richmond with its $4,000 pop
ulation, is the conviction of Mr.. Mott
when the Gaar-Scott factory was in
the height of its prosperity then" he
said, 'the Swayne-Robinson plant was
making a large number of farm ma
chimes, the Hoosier Drill company, al
though it has since been enlarged, was
employing large force. There was
also a furniture factory which made
school and church furniture. which has
since moved to Muncie. 1t stood where
the Davis factory is now There was
a mill works too, where milling ma
chinery for flour mills, was made.
The Wayne Works was another fac
tory which was an important factor II
the early industrial history of the
city. 1t was here that Mr. Mott, who
is a machinist, was working when hi
retired from active work two year:
ago.
Married in Muncie,
Mr. and Mrs Mott were married II
Muncie, where her father Rev. o. NJ
Todd, served the Presbyterian church
for many years. He also was know
to many Richmond residents, havin:
supplied pulpits here in First Presby
terrain and United Presbyterian, nov
the Reid Memorial church.
Two children we're born before thu
removal to Richmond, Edward o
Mott now living in east Richmond
and T. A Mott, who is a manufacture
in St Louis They with three sisters
Mrs. Frank Harris, of Muncie, Mrs
Charles Wilcoxen, of Michigan City
Mrs. Jennie Niles, of Richmond, AM
half brother, Mr. John Todd,
banker of Indianapolis are expected t
attend the quiet family gatherin;
which will be held Sunday.