Thomas M. Scott

CASH, LEGGETT, MCMULLEN, MICHAELS, ROBERTS, SCOTT, VANHOSEN

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/9/2004 at 21:41:51

Thomas M. Scott, identified with agricultural interests in Madison county, his home being in Winterset, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, January 20, 1866, his parents being Alexander O. and Jane (Roberts) Scott, natives of West Virginia and Ohio respectively. They were married in the latter state and in October, 1866, arrived in Iowa, settling in South township, Madison county, where Mr. Scott purchased the Cummins farm of two hundred acres. There he engaged in the work of tilling the soil and caring for his crops until death ended his labors, September 18, 1904, when he was seventy-five years of age. In addition to tilling the soil he engaged in stock-raising and both branches of his business brought to him substantial success. In his political views he was an earnest republican and held the office of township trustee, but he was never an aspirant for political preferment. He manifested his loyalty to his country in another way, however. for at the time of the Civil war he enlisted as a sergeant of the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served for one hundred days. In his later years he belonged to the Grand Army post at St. Charles, Iowa. An active member of the Methodist church, he was a good Christian man and his example in many respects was worthy of emulation. His widow survived him until May, 1913, and passed away at the advanced age of eighty years in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she, too, was a consistent member. In their family were six children: Mrs. Rebecca Jane Van Hosen, now living in Springfield, Missouri , William R., who is foreman of the Reporter, a newspaper published at Winterset; Edwin S., living in Portland, Kansas; Thomas M.; Hester M., the wife of Charles Leggett, who now owns and occupies the old Scott homestead in this county; and Walter M., who was a druggist and died when twenty-eight years of age.

Thomas M, Scott spent his boyhood at home with the usual experiences of farm life, its duties, its pleasures and its opportunities. He attended the public schools and continued to assist his father until he reached the age of twenty-three years, receiving a wage of one hundred and seventy-five dollars per year during the last two years of that time. He then engaged in canvassing one summer and later was connected with a butter and egg commission business at Des Moines. He afterward followed railroading until 1892 and then returned to Madison county, where, on the 16th of March, 1892, he was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Banker, a native of Ohio. She died in July, 1909, leaving one son, Earl B., who is attending school.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Scott rented a farm in Ohio township belonging to his wife's father and lived thereon for four years, largely devoting his attention to the breeding of Aberdeen Angus cattle. He carefully saved his earnings during that period until industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase ninety acres of land in Scott township. He then began operating his own farm and continued thereon for nine years, at the same time breeding Aberdeen Angus cattle. He became the owner of a. large herd but eventually sold out. He then served for two years as deputy auditor and in 1908 was elected to that office on the republican ticket. The excellent record which he made during the first term recommended him for reelection and he was once more called to that position by popular suffrage in 1910. On his retirement he became bookkeeper and teller in the First National Bank of Winterset, continuing in that position for thirteen months, when he resigned. He now devotes his entire time to the management of his property interests. He is the owner of a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Union township and ninety acres in Scott township which he rents and from these properties he derives a substantial annual income.

On the 5th of September, 1911, Mr. Scott was again married, his second union being with Miss Jean M. Cash, who was born in Winterset, a daughter of Frank I. and Mary E. (McMullen) Cash. Her father was a native of Ohio and arrived in Osceola, Iowa, about 1850. In 1855 he came to Winterset, where he worked at the tailor's trade, being one of the first, if not the first, in his line in Madison county. At the time of the Civil war he went to the front as a sutler and with his wagon accompanied Sherman's army throughout the period of hostilities. He afterward returned and in company with Colonel Cummings opened a tailoring shop in Winterset. Later, however, he engaged in business independently, but eventually disposed of his interests and for several years was engaged in the sale of the Singer sewing machine with headquarters at Webster City, Iowa. There he passed away at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary E. McMullen, was born in Logan county, Ohio, August 21, 1837, and in 1850 arrived in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where she was married, accompanying her husband to Winterset in 1855. This was then a small village and the country around was largely wild and undeveloped. Since that time she has made her home in Winterset and has seen many notable changes. She is now more than seventy-seven years of age and is still quite active, and she makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Scott. In the Cash family were six children, of whom two died in early life, the others being: Mary L., the wife of John Michaels, of Ackley, Iowa; John L., who is living in Superior, Wisconsin; T. I., a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Mrs. Scott. The last named was educated here and taught in the Winterset schools and also in Boone, Iowa. In 1910 she was appointed superintendent of schools of Madison county by the county board of supervisors to fill out the unexpired term of Miss Gertrude Duff.

Mr. Scott holds membership in the Baptist church, while his wife is a Presbyterian in religious faith. Fraternally he is a Mason and has taken the degrees of both the lodge and chapter. In these associations are found the principles and rules which govern his conduct. His life record is one which will bear close investigation and scrutiny, for it has ever been guided by sound principles. He values his own self-respect more than wealth, fame or position and, while he has always been careful that no blot should fall upon his good name, he has also at the same time so carefully managed his business affairs that he has won success, and he has also found time to devote to public interests, various measures for the general good having profited by his cooperation and generous assistance.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”