SCOTT, Kennedy

SCOTT, HARRIS, SMITH, BUNDY, MERWIN

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 6/28/2009 at 21:22:00

Kennedy Scott, who is cashier of the Stacyville Bank and one of the representative business men of Mitchell county, where his worth is widely acknowledged and where he is spoken of in terms of warm regard, was born November 9, 1859, in Columbia county, Wisconsin, a son of Joseph and Mary (Harris) Scott. The father was born February 11, 1834, in Ireland and came to the United States in his youth, settling with his parents in Wisconsin, where he was reared to manhood, and after attaining his majority he wedded Miss Mary Harris, who was also a native of Columbia county, Wisconsin. They became the parents of two children, Kennedy and Ermina E. The latter was born May 5, 1862, became the wife of C. B. Smith and died on the 12th of January, 1902.

On the 1st of November, 1865, Joseph Scott removed with his family to Mitchell county, Iowa, settling in Union township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He took up his abode upon that property and at once began its cultivation, concentrating his time, efforts and attention upon its improvement. There he lived for thirteen years and in 1878 he left that place and purchased a farm south of Stacyville, upon which he remained until his death, which occurred on the 9th of July, 1914. He was called upon to fill various local offices, the duties of which he discharged with marked promptness and fidelity. He served as township trustee, was also a school director and was likewise interested in the moral progress of the community. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a very enthusiastic supporter and earnest worker. He was also an active Mason while an organization was maintained at Stacyville. He became a charter member of the Masonic lodge and at all times exemplified in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. In politics he was a stanch republican, giving unfaltering support to the men and measures of the party. In addition to his farming interests he was a stockholder in the local creamery and he did much to advance the welfare of his community along material, intellectual, political, social and moral lines.

Kennedy Scott, whose name introduces this record, began his education in the common schools near his father's farm and afterward attended the Charles City high school. During the periods of vacation he worked in the fields and he continued to assist his father until he reached the age of twenty-three years, when he left home and went to North Dakota in 1882. There he took up a claim near Ellendale and proved up on his property, comprising one hundred and sixty acres. Here he continued until 1889, when he returned to Stacyville, since which time he has been actively and prominently connected with its business interests. He entered into partnership with C. B. Smith, who was conducting a mercantile house here and in which he continued until 1894. He then re­sumed active connection with farming interests, devoting the succeeding three years to agricultural pursuits. In 1897 he was elected county treasurer and was reelected to that office, serving for two terms in a most commendable manner, so that he left the position as he had entered it with the confidence and goodwill of all concerned. He continued to serve until 1901, when he resigned to accept the position of cashier of the Stacyville Bank. He has since remained in that connection, covering a period of more than sixteen years, and his efforts have constituted a valuable contribution to the development, growth and success of the bank.

On the 11th of December, 1890, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Minnie E. Bundy, who was born September 15, 1864, in Columbia county, Wisconsin, and emigrated with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. A. D. Bundy, to St. Ansgar. Two children have been born to this union: Zillah May, who was born June 11, 1892, and on the 14th of October, 1914, married George Merwin, of Fargo, North Dakota; and Edith May, born August 7, 1905.

Mr. Scott is a stanch republican in politics, having given stalwart support to the party and its principles since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served as a member of the city council of Stacyville and for several years occupied the position of justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. For many years he was a school director and has been deeply interested in the cause of education since taking up the profession of teaching in the country schools of Mitchell county at an early age. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Royal Neighbors. In the Woodmen organization he has served as clerk. He is also a member of the Commercial Club of Stacyville and of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as treasurer and director. His has been an active and useful life fraught with successful accomplishment and characterized by honorable purpose. He has lived in this section of the state almost continuously from the age of six years and there is no feature of the growth and development of Mitchell county with which he is not familiar. His sterling worth has gained him high regard and made him one of the influential and valued residents of Iowa.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, pages 88-90.