Biography of Douglass Scott Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan

Copyright (c) 1998 by Jill Olmack. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb 
Archives.

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

Biography of Douglass Scott - extracted from The History of the Lake Huron Shore- 
Illustrated 1883


Douglass Scott was born in Detroit in 1842. His father was one of the pioneers of that 
city, having lived there upward of forty years. In 1861 Mr. Scott enlisted in the 2d 
Michigan Cavalry, of which Gen. Phil. Sheridan was colonel. Mr. Scott was one of ninety 
men who made the famous charge upon the force of Gen. Chalmers, July 1, 1861, at 
Blackland, Miss.  He remained in service two years and eleven months, four months of 
which he was a prisoner, confined at Libby and Macon, Ga. He was discharged for 
disability, but re-enlisted, and continued in the service until the war closed.  Mr. 
Scott was a fighting soldier, and made an enviable record.  In 1866 he came to Alpena, 
and his first work was in a sawmill. He is a scaler by occupation, and has followed 
that a portion of the time. About the time the city was incorporated, lawlessness 
prevailed to an alarming extent. Riots were frequent, and roughs handled dangerous 
weapons without regard to law or safety.  While Mr. Carpenter was mayor, a riot had 
occurred in which revolvers were used, and the mayor ordered Mr. Scott to take a 
revolver from a rough who was flourishing his weapon in the street. Mr. Scott did so, 
and at a meeting of citizens he was requested to act as marshal, the citizens agreeing 
to stand by him in his effort to preserve order. He accepted the position and served in
this capacity six years and nine months. It was a hard and dangerous service, especially
during the first two years.  Several attempts were made upon his life, but he is a man 
made of stern stuff, and was too good a soldier in the field to be routed by a crowd of 
roughs. He put an end to lawlessness, and brought order and safety to the community. He 
was sheriff of the county in 1881 and 1882, and deputy sheriff two years.  He has been 
deputy U.S. marshal four years. He now has charge of the cedar business of Bolton & 
McRae. He has a wife and two children. Mr. Scott is not a demonstrative man, but is 
full of nerve, and is cool and courageous.  He has rendered Alpena good service, and is 
just the man for an emergency of whatever kind it may be.