James R. Scott 1829-1899

SCOTT, BUCKBEE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 4/1/2015 at 23:58:46

DEATH OF JAMES R. SCOTT
~
THE OLDEST NEWSPAPER MAN
IN IOWA
~
Connected With the Dubuque Daily
Herald for Forty-Two Years – A Man Known and
Liked by the Whole City
~
James R. Scott, for forty two years was connected with the Daily Herald, and the oldest newspaper man in Iowa in continuous service upon one and the same paper, died at his home in this city on Sunday morning the 22nd day of January, at 10 minutes past 10 o'clock. On New Year's Day he was taken ill with the grippe that had been so prevalent for several weeks, but he did not give up his business and retire to his home until Thursday, the 5th day of January, and then only at the urgent solicitation of his associates in the office. Even after that he paid one or two visits to the office, but not to do any work, when his venturing aboard was attended with risk. About four days before his death sharp symptoms of pleurisy manifested themselves, to such an extent as to alarm his physicians, but the disease had taken such a fierce hold that little could be done except to alleviate the sharp pains by which he was beset.

Mr. Scott, originally a moulder by trade, became connected with the Daily Herald in the year 1857, four years before the beginning of the Civil War. It was then published by Col. J. B. Dorr, who was an aggressive and pushing editor, and managed to have himself at his paper at the front and talked about most of the time. Mr. Scott retained his connection with the paper trough it's subsequent changes down to the closing day of his life. He was an employee under the various administrations of J. B. Dorr, D. A. Mahoney, Stilson Hutchins, John Hodnett, P. Robb & Company, and Ham & Carver. His duties during this long period were such the same, collector, commercial editor, and superintendent of the city circulation. But at different periods he discharged other duties according to the exigencies of business. During the war, and for a few years after, he wrote the mail. He had charge of one of the weekly books for years. He looked over certain of the exchanges. He gathered up each day many items of local news. He nightly read his own proofs, and was as careful and as painstakingly with the figures of a market quotation as it was possible to be. In former years he did part of the night work, remaining until midnight; but for many years past he has abbreviated this, and of late has left his desk first at 11 o'clock, then at 10, and finally at 9:30 each evening. No man could be more regular in his habits, so much as that his co-workers declared they could regulate their watches with his goings and comings. He would walk into the office promptly at 9 each morning, and his departure in the evening was equally as regular at the appointed hour. And so of all his movements, visiting different parts of the city on appointed days.
One of his peculiarities was to always take the mail from the post office to the Herald office three times a day, morning, noon, and night. This he certainly did for 35 years and probably for the entire 42 years, rain or shine, winter or summer, snow or blow. When mail carriers were introduced he continued the habit, for although he had nothing against them, yet they could not deliver the mail quite as well as he did.

His business as collector and subscription agent brought him in contact at one time and another with everybody in the city. It is not too much to say that he was one of the best known men in town. He was known to and liked by everyone. He had a dry humor about him and was wont to say droll and sensible things that people liked. He would tell a person the truth as he understood it, but was perfectly free from guile and never injected any poison with his comments, so that his presence was always welcomed and his sayings often quoted. “As Scott says,” was current over the whole town with those who knew him best.

Mr. Scott was born at Catskill, New York, on December 23, 1828, and therefore was a little past 70 years of age at the time of his death. While a boy he lost his mother, and his father moved to Albany, and he worked for several years on a farm near that city. Afterwards he went to Connecticut, and worked at different times in Winsted, Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and other towns. In the latter city he was married . The maiden name of Mrs. Scott was Buckbee, and she was the daughter of a lady who became the second wife of Mr. Scott's father. Thus, Mr. Scott married his step-sister, although no relationship existed between the, except that their parents were married after losing the first husband and wife. Mrs. Scott, a lady well known, died in December a year ago., Miss Jennie Scott, the only child, is the only remaining member of the family. Mr. Scott had four half-sisters all married and residing in Connecticut; and a half brother, Alfred J. Scott, who lives at Winsted.

He learned the moulder's trade, and in 1855 came to Iowa with the intention of taking up government land and settling down as a farmer. He walked as far west as Independence, but found all the government land in that section taken up. So he returned to Dubuque and went to work at his trade with the establishment that is now the Iowa Iron Works, but then, we believe was run by Rouse & Williams, and in after years became Rouse & Dean. Here he worked for two years, until 1857, when, he stated, he became connected with the Herald.

Its not to much to say that he was one of the best known man in the city, and very popular with all who knew him. His abounded good nature, his even temper, his quaint humor, his kind disposition, his freedom from malice and censoriousness, his truth and his implicit honesty, made him a favorite with all. His funeral will take place this Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the First Presbyterian Church. His pallbearers have been chosen from his office associated, and as a further token of respect the Herald office will be closed from 3-4 o'clock.

The esteem in which Mr. Scott was held was evidenced by a meeting held in the Herald office yesterday afternoon. The meeting was called for the purpose of taking suitable action on his death, and those who attended were the newspaper publishers, editors, city editors, reporters, printers, and former members of the profession. Among those present were the following”
Mayor C. H. Berg
John S. Murphy
D. D. W. Carver
Charles McLean
Jos. Morgan
P. J. Quigley
F. A. Gniffke
Lawrence Gonner
George Wybrant
Peter Kiene
John Ingram
A. L. Pizer
John P. Walsh
D. W. Frazier
Louis Murphy
Ernest Holtz
D. J. Sullivan
J. R. Flynn
T. J. O'Loughlin

Mr. F. A. Gniffke, publisher of the National Democrat, and the oldest newspaper man president, and Louis Murphy was chosen secretary. A committee consisting of Messrs. Berg, Carver, Murphy, Morgan and McLean was appointed to draft resolutions of respect for the deceased. The committee offered the following resolution.:

WHEREAS, Death has terminated the career of James R. Scott, for forty years the commercial editor of the Herald, the newspaper worker of Dubuque deem it due to his memory formally and solemnly to record their appreciation of his worth.
WHEREAS, While a man of marked individuality and strength of character, so gentle and considerate was he of others rights and sensibilities that in the many years of identification with the press he never made an enemy of a co-worker, but endeared himself to all by hos unfailing geniality, ready sympathy, and helpfulness

Dubuque Daily Herald Jan. 22, 1899