Jones County Texas Archives - Thomas Jefferson Scott *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford American Thursday, August 18, 1927 Thomas Jefferson Scott 30 Oct 1830, IL 14 Aug 1927, Jones County, TX Wife Ð Johanna [Arrington] Scott ÒUncle JeffÓ Scott passes away at his home near Funston One of earliest settlers of Jones County dies at 97 Said to have been last man to kill wild buffalo in this section T.J. Scott, one of the pioneers of Jones county, died at his home near Funston, about 14 miles south of Stamford, early Sunday morning. He would have been 97 yeas old on his next birthday, October 30. Mr. Scott, also known as ÒUncle JeffÓ or ÒCottonwoodÓ Scott died at the home where he had lived for 50 years. Only a few months ago, Uncle Jeff and Mrs. Scott were awarded the Adolphus Hotel loving cup as longest married couple in Texas, having been wedded more than 70 years. Funeral was originally announced for Monday, but was delayed awaiting the arrival of a daughter who was en route here by automobile from Arizona or New Mexico when Mr. Scott died. She was unaware of his death and could not be located en route. It was announced Wednesday morning that the funeral services would be held at the Church of Christ at Anson Wednesday afternoon at 5:00. Burial was to be at Anson cemetery. Surviving by his wife, five daughters and two sons. One daughter - Mrs. Joe Clark, lived in Stamford. The two sons live in Jones county, Bob Scott living at Funston and Joe Scott near Phantom Hill. The youngest daughter, Mrs. Baucum, lives at the family home and the remaining three daughters live in various other states. Curtis Johnson of Stamford, whose father was a neighbor of Uncle Jeff in the early days, says Uncle Jeff was called ÒCottonwoodÓ Scott because he lived on Cottonwood creek to distinguish him from two other Scotts who were among the pioneers in the county. One of the others was called ÒPhantom HillÓ Scott and the third ÒShinneryÓ Scott, according to the localities in which they lived. The Abilene News of Tuesday carried the following interesting account of Uncle Jeff ScottÕs career: To win in many battles of life Ñ against sickness and the hardships of a frontier Ñ and to live for three years less than a century as a respected citizen in a land rich in agriculture and commerce because he and his fellows of the 1860s and 1870s transformed it by sweat and blood from a wilderness to a place of homes and happinessÑ T.J. Scott, known by more than one generation in Jones County as ÒCottonwoodÓ Scott and ÒUncle JeffÓ closed his eyes as the midnight hour arrived Saturday and yielded to the embrace of death. He passed away at his ranch home nine miles west of Anson, where he had settled more than 50 years ago. Oldest Settler Cottonwood Scott lived for 97 years and it was fitting that he, who was Jones CountyÕs earliest living settler and probably its oldest citizen, should have killed the last wild buffalo seen in the county Ñ a significant farewell to the old West by one who conquered it. That last old buffalo was dropped in its journey across the fertile plains of Jones county in 1882, 20 miles southwest of Stamford. Mr. Scott leaves behind him the woman whom he married 71 years ago in Austin. They were the oldest couple in Texas and last year were awarded a silver loving cup for that distinction. His companion, who is 90 years old and blind, does not realize that he is gone. And, as arrangements were being made for the funeral the seven living children, 45 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildre,n and two great great grandchildren gathered to witness the last rites for their stalwart sire. Death came unexpectedly, but quietly, ÒBulger,Ó his faithful bulldog companion through the last years of life, kept silent vigil at the bedside as the price of old age was paid. Death resulted indirectly from a carbuncle which had infected the blood. Native of Illinois Uncle Jeff Scott won the first grim battle with death as a lad in his teens when by indominatble will and outdoor live, he overcame ravages of consumption. It was because of a tubercular infection that he came to Texas from his native state, Illinois, settling in the vicinity of Austin. After two years his health was so improved that he returned to Illinois, but a relapse to Texas four months later. He never again left the state, devoting his energies to advancing with the pioneers through West Texas, where Indian fighting and hunting formed his chief occupations. Taking up a section of land in what is now Jones county, at that time unorganized, Mr. and Mrs. Scott, who were married in Austin in1852, reared a large family and developed one of the best known ranches and farms in this section. Mrs. Scott was before her marriage Miss Joannah Arrington. Always an outdoor man, Mr. Scott early became known as an expert hunter. Cottonwood Scott, as he was familiarly known, is said to have been able to strike a match with a .22 calibre rifle at 30 paces when he was 75 years old. Men who had hunted with him say that they never saw him miss a shot. This pioneer had been a Mason for 72 years and is a charter member and one of the leading organizers of the Anson lodge. Four years ago Masonic records showed that he was the oldest Mason in Texas to do chapter work.