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JAMES SCOLLON. During many years James Scollon, esquire, has been prominently identified with the life and interests of Benton county, a splendid business man and a successful agriculturist. He is a native son of Ireland, born in county Fermanagh, in November, 1829, a son of James and Rose (McManus) Scollon, who lived and died in their native Ireland, the parents of the following children: James; Phillip and Felix, of Calhoun county, and John of Dixon county, Iowa; and Margaret, in Ireland.
James Scollon was reared on a farm in his native land, receiving a good common school training for those days, and about the year of 1849 he sailed for the United States, spending seven weeks on the voyage, and he was obliged to cook his own food during all that time. During his first nine months in this country he worked in a grocery store in New York city, from there went to Essex county, New York, and thence by the water route to California. He remained in the Golden state for four and a half years, and was quite successful in his search for the precious metal, bringing some of his gold with him to New York, and from there he sailed for his native Ireland to marry the lady of his choice, bringing his bride with him on his return trip. For a time thereafter Mr. Scollon was employed at railroad work at Belle Plaine, Iowa, and in 1867 bought eighty acres of land in section 19, Union township, and in 1871 took up his abode thereon. He later sold the first purchase and bought the present home in section 17, which contains one hundred and forty acres of land, all splendidly improved and valuable and fertile land. During the past twenty years he has held the office of justice of the peace. He is a well read man, a substantial citizen and takes an active and helpful part in the progress and welfare of the community.
Mrs. Scollon died in 1897, when sixty-four years of age. She bore the maiden name of Ellen Doran, and she became the mother of seven children, John, Constantine, Rose, Margaret, Lewis, Frank and Mary B. Constantine, Rose and Margaret are deceased. Squire Scollon is a member of Holy Cross Catholic church in Kane township.
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