This is one of the few known portraits of Eliza Middaugh Mott. It was apparently taken in her middle years. It matches the dark green dress with a small white collar in the collection of the State Museum.

Eliza Middaugh came to Keokuk Iowa from Canada at age 13. She met Israel Mott and they married in Iowa. In 1850, she and Israel left with the rest of the Mott family and headed West. According to family history, they wintered in American Fork, Utah.

In 1852, Eliza Middaugh Mott came to Mormon Station with a party of Mormons. At this point, she made a decision to leave their one month old son, Warren, with her in-laws. She arrived in July. Mrs. Mott is regarded as the first permanent woman settler in the Carson Valley.

Thompson and West state that Mrs. Mott remained at home instead of attending the first recorded dance in Mottsville. The reason may be that she gave birth to Beatrice Louisa on January 10, 1854. The first recorded birth in Mottsville.

Mrs. Mott is also remembered as one of the first educators in the Carson Valley. She and Mrs. Allen established a school that met in her kitchen from 1854-1855.

In 1863, Israel Mott was killed in an accident. The family records show that, Eliza married her neighbor A. M. Taylor in 1864, and remained in Mottsville until her death in 1909.