Scott, Robert Alexander

SCOTT, MOORE, SMITH, GREEN, BALDERSON, ROBINSON, BURKIS, TIPTON, MISKIMINS, HUTCHINSON, WHERRY, ALFRED

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/3/2008 at 10:07:19

SCOTT, Robert A.
Farmer; Sec. 26; P. O. Newton; born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, March 30, 1845. Married Eliza MOORE in Ohio in 1867; she was born in Ohio May 24, 1545*; they have three children - Alice O., John A. and Elba J. Has eighty acres of land, valued at $30 per acre. They are Republicans.

Note: Transcriber's note: The book does say "1545", but this is most certainly a typographical error. ~ "Independence Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
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Scott, Robert Alexander

One of the influential citizens of Jasper County is Robert Alexander Scott, who, after a strenuous life as an agriculturist, is now living in honorable retirement. A man of excellent endowments and upright character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem, being loyal to the up building of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further its interests along material, moral and civic lines.

Mr. Scott was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, March 30, 1845, the son of John G. and Isabel J. (Smith) Scott. The father was born in Wales and was the son of Job Scott, who came with his father to America when the former was only four months old, locating in Pennsylvania, near Parkersburg, and later moved to Belmont, Ohio, and there the death of Job Scott occurred in February 1884, at the advanced age of ninety-five years, he having been born on May 25, 1789. There were eight children in his family, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely: John G., father of Robert A., of this review, was born June 30, 1816; Harrison, now deceased; Henry died in Warren County, Iowa, in 1911; Jefferson went to the frontier at the age of twenty years and was never again heard of; Mary Ann, who married a Mr. Green, lived in the southern part of Iowa, and she died in 1911; Sarah Jane married a Mr. Balderson and lives in Chicago; Elizabeth Scott Robinson lives in Illinois; Rebecca Scott-Burkis living in Ohio. The family is of a sturdy stock and all live to an advanced age.

John G. Scott, father of the subject, was a cooper by trade, but after he came to Iowa he engaged in farming, becoming well known in the county and was influential among the pioneers, being a fine old gentleman personally of whom it was said, "He has no enemies." Being a man of exemplary character, he was highly respected by all who knew him; he was fearless in the discharge of his duties when he knew he was right and he held various township offices. His death occurred on August 7, 1905, at the age of eighty-nine years, his widow, who was a native of Ohio, surviving until February 25, 1910, reacting the age of eighty-four. They were the parents of three children, Lovina J., who married David Tipton, lives at Baxter, Iowa, they being retired; Sarah Frances, who married Joseph Miskimins, is now deceased; Robert Alexander, of this review, was the oldest of the three.

Mr. Scott received a good common school education in his native county and he lived at home until his marriage, on January 10, 1867, to Eliza Moore, the daughter of John and Eliza (Hutchinson) Moore. Her father was born in Ireland and he came to America when a child with his parents and settled on a farm in Guernsey County, Ohio, and there the daughter, Eliza, was born on May 25, 1845. She was the next youngest daughter in a family of six children, namely: Nancy J., deceased, married J. B. Wherry, who formerly lived in Jones County, Iowa; Mary, who married William J. Wherry, lived on a farm near Wyoming, Jones County, until Mr. Wherry's death; William James is living retired in Jackson County; Samuel G. is in the mercantile business in New York city; John Humphrey, the youngest, enlisted in the Union army for service in the Civil War, at the age of sixteen years, and he was captured and confined in Andersonville prison, where he died.

Soon after the marriage of the subject he came to Jasper County, Iowa, and located on a farm south of Baxter, of one hundred and twenty acres. Here he devoted himself to farming successfully until about twelve years ago. He then bought two hundred and twenty acres nine miles south of Newton, a part of the Jesse Long place, which he still owns. It is a valuable and well-improved place. About ten years ago he bought property in Newton and retired from active farming and stock raising, having since lived quietly in his beautiful home in this city. He was very successful in his life work, having always applied himself very carefully to whatever he had in hand.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott are the parents of three children, namely: Alice Orena, born September 25, 1867, married George Alfred, and they are now living in South Dakota and have three children. John A., born March 14, 1871, lives on a farm south of Newton, and they have one child. Elba Job, born May 25, 1875, lives in Newton.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Baxter; Mrs. Scott is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps.

Mr. Scott has always taken an abiding interest in the general development of Jasper County and has always stood ready to aid in any worthy movement. He has made a host of warm personal friends since coming to this county by his exemplary life, his public spirit and his industry. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 576.