Nobles County MN Archives Biographies.....Scott, John H. 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 23, 2006, 12:52 am Author: Arthur P. Rose (1908) JOHN H. SCOTT, retired farmer, residing at Worthington, has been a resident of Nobles county since the fall of 1871, making a continuous residence here equalled by only a few of the pioneers. During the greater part of this time his home was in Ransom township, but since 1900 he has retired from active life and has made his home in the county seat town. Columbus, Bartholomew county, Ind., is the birthplace of Mr. Scott, where he was born Sept. 7, 1842. His father, Jasper H. Scott, was born at Hillsborough, Ohio, May 16, 1820, and died at Traer, Iowa, May 27, 1S89. His mother, Elizabeth (Hawkins) Scott, was born at Lexington, Ky., Feb. 26, 1824; she died at Traer, Iowa, Dec. 10, 1901. Until the subject of this biography was ten years old he lived with his parents in the county of his nativity. Then the family removed to Ogle county, Ill., and that was the family home until 1858, when a residence was established in Tama county, Iowa. Thereafter until 1871, when Mr. Scott became a resident of Nobles county, Tama county was his home, although more or less time was spent away from the parental roof. He received a common school education, beginning his studies in Iowa and continuing them in Illinois and Iowa. From the town of Buckingham (now Traer), Iowa, Mr. Scott enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, in company F, of the 28th Iowa volunteer infantry, and served a little less than three years in the war of the rebellion, being mustered out May 27, 1865. His service was in the army of the west, where he took part in the siege of Vicksburg, the siege of Jackson, and the battles of Fort Gibson, Raymond, Edward's Station, Champion Hill and a number of less important battles. On April 8, 1864, he was seriously wounded at the battle of Sabine and Cedar Cross Roads, Louisiana, and was taken prisoner. He was held a prisoner by the southern army until June 18, 1864, when he was paroled and sent to New Orleans. There he was taken to St. James hospital, where he remained three or four weeks; then he was taken to Jefferson Barracks hospital at St. Louis, where he was taken care of until about the first of January, 1865. He was then transferred to a hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, where he was a patient until the close of the war. Upon receiving his discharge Mr. Scott returned to his old home in Tama county, Iowa, and for about a year and one-half engaged in farming. He then went to Dunlap, Iowa, and made his home with an aunt, being employed there about two years as foreman of a cattle ranch. Returning again to his Tama county home, he remained until the fall of 1871. Hearing of the new country in southwestern Minnesota which was then being opened because of the building of the railroad in that direction, Mr. Scott decided to build himself a home in the new country. He drove up, looked the country over, and decided to remain. He first entered the county in September, 1871, before the railroad had been built this far, although the grading was then being done. He entered a soldier's homestead upon the northwest quarter of section 24 in what was later organized into Ransom township, and became one of the first settlers of that township. The first few years of his residence here were anything but encouraging. The grasshoppers came, and with them came times that tried men's souls. Mr. Scott had total crop failures two years; another two years he reaped only a partial crop. But he stayed with the country, and today is rated among the most prosperous men of the county. He remained on his Ransom township farm until 1900, and then took up his residence in Worthington, where he has since made his home. He owns one of the finest residences in Worthington and still holds considerable valuable property in Ransom. In December, 1869, Mr. Scott was united in marriage at Buckingham, Iowa, to Sarah A. Belknap, daughter of Martin A. Belknap. To them have been born seven children, all of whom are living. They are: Nelson O., Portales, N. M.; Mary (now Mrs. Michael Sorem), Bigelow, Minn.; John R., Culbertson, Mont.; Ormanda, Ransom township; Martin J., Culbertson, Mont.; Jefferson G., Calvin, N. D.; Bessie, living at home. During his residence in Iowa Mr. Scott served as assessor in 1866 and 1867; and was deputy county treasurer of Tama county in 1867 and 1868. In Ransom township he served several years as member of the board of supervisors, and was township treasurer fourteen years. The office of road overseer and other minor offices were also held by him at different times. For many years he was a member of the school board of his district in Ransom. All his life Mr. Scott has taken an active interest in religious matters, and is now a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Worthington and holds the office of trustee of that organization. He has helped build four different churches. The first was at Buckingham (now known as Traer), Iowa; the next was the Ransom Methodist church; then the Bigelow church; and last the handsome Methodist church of Worthington. When the last named was built Mr. Scott was chairman of the building committee and also chairman of the board of trustees. The only lodge with which he affiliates is Stoddard Post No. 34, G. A. R. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/bios/scott123gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb