DAVID SCOTT, b 31 May 1795

SCOTT, SKINNER, PERKINS, ROBBINS, DOUGLAS, GARRISON, GIBSON, RUSSELL, COOK, ATHERTON, ROSENBERGER, HENDERSON, DUPRAY, COBB, ELLISON, HANLEY, PENCE, HUNT, BEEVER

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 11/13/2004 at 12:32:43

This name is familiar to nearly all the early pioneers of this county, as the settlement of Mr. Scott dates from July, 1836 - ten years before Iowa was admitted into the union as a State. At that date five families came from Indiana and located in South Fork and Monmouth Townships. These were the families of Edward Redding, Joshua Beer, Michael Zimmerman, Ira Pingrey, and the subject of this notice. Mr. Scott selected a location near the mouth of Beer Creek where he lived a few years, then removed to Mill Rock in Monmouth Township. Here he purchased a tract of land from which he constructed a good farm, and where he spent the remainder of his life.

The subject of this notice was born May 31, 1795, in Kentucky, and when approaching manhood left the Blue Grass regions, and going to Indiana was married there to MIiss Holly Skinner. This lady was born in Virginia, Nov. 14, 1803. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Scott continued residents of Morgan and Jackson Counties, Ind., until 1835. That year they left the State and spent the following winter in Edgar County, Ill. From there they came to Iowa Territory, making the journey overland with ox-teams, and settled in this county.

The first time Mr. Scott had occasion to visit Dubuque he was obliged to make his own road, and the round-trip occupied eight days. The tract he thus made was closely followed by the settlers for many years thereafter. He was an expert with his rifle, and by this means kept his family well supplied with wild game. The household included fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to years of maturity. One daughter, Edith, became the wife of Calvin Perkins, and died in Fayette County, Iowa; Hannah died when young, in 1838, and was the first person who died in Monmouth Township, and her remains lie buried in the cemetary on section 13; Sarah J. became the wife of Amos Robbins, and died in Jones County; Elizabeth A. died in Indiana; Rosana died in this county; Malinda married W.F. Douglas, and died in Oregon; Joseph resides at Lost Nation, in Clinton County; Emily was first married to Silas Garrison, who died, and she is now the wife of James Gibson at Oregon; Marion is a resident of Monmouth Township; Lucinda (Mrs. Russell) and John both died in this county; Amanda was first married to Wilson Cook who died in the army, and she then became the wife of Ranson Atherton; William W. died in the army during the late war; David also served as a Union soldier, and is now a resident of Woodbury County.

Marion Scott, the second eldest son of our subject, was born in Morgan County, Ind., Dec. 12, 1834, and was only two years old when the family came to Iowa. He has since that time been a resident of Monmouth Township. He was bred to farm pursuits, and practically "grew up with the country." In 1856, at the age of twenty-two years he was married to Miss Priscilla Rosenberger. This lady was born in Illinois in 1835, and died at her home in Monmouth Township, this county, Dec. 26, 1863, leaving four children, three of whom are living: W.A. is a resident of Jones County, this State; Holly married Samuel Henderson, and lives in Monmouth Township, this county; L.W. remains at home with his father. Mr. Marion Scott settled where he now resides in 1858. On the 16th of February, 1865, he contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Phoebe (Cobb) Dupray. Mrs. Scott was born in Essex County, N.Y., Spril 28, 1833, and is the daughter of John B. and Mary (Ellison) Cobb. Her father came to Iowa with his parents in 1839, and the first post-office in Monmouth Township was at his house, he officiating as Postmaster. He also occupied various other local offices as the country became settled up. He followed farming, and departed this life July 18, 1879. The wife and mother had died March 1, 1865. Mr. Cobb was for a number of years an invalid, having suffered a stroke of paralysis.

Nine children comprised the family of Mr. and Mrs. Cobb: Edward is a resident of Cerro Gordo County; Phoebe, Mrs. Scott was the second born; Sarah is the wife of John Hanley, and resides in Nicollet County, Minn.; James is a resident of Franklin County, Ind.; Caroline (Mrs. Allen Pence), Jared A., and John are residents of Cerro Gordo County; Eunice the wife of Josiah Hunt, and Florence, Mrs. Amos Beever, are residents of this county. Miss Phoebe came with her parents to Iowa in 1851, and was married in this county to William Dupray, who was a native of Ohio. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company A, 9th Iowa Infantry, and died in the service. Of this marriage there were no children.

The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Scott were named respectively: Samuel W., Grace, Fred W., and Bert M. They are living at home. Mr. Scott cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. John C. Fremont in 1856, in which year was organized the Republican party, and he has since been a firm supporter of its principles. He has been a man looked up to in his community, and has held the various local offices. He has a fine estate comprising 500 acres of land with good buildings, and carries on general agriculture in a skillful and successful manner. He occupies no secondary place among the honored pioneers of this county.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)