Col. O.H.P. Scott, born 1815

SCOTT

Posted By: Karen Bergquist Uhr, volunteer
Date: 10/30/2012 at 15:48:16

GONE TO REST
Death of Col. O.H.P. Scott of Farmington

On Sunday evening after a severe illness of three of four months duration Col. O.H.P. Scott, of Farmington, breathed his last.

Col. Scott was born in Washngton county, Ohio, March 3, 1815, and was christened Oliver Hazard Perry Scott, after the distinguished naval hero of that period. At the age of 11 years his parents moved to McConnelsville, in the same state, where he resided 30 years. While there, and while yet a young man, Col. Scott was a superintendent and contractor on the Muskingum river and Hacking canals, and on railroad and river improvments. Coming to this county in 1856, he was engaged in the DesMoines river improvement at Croton, Benftonsport and Farmington. He settled at Farmington, and when the Des Moines navigation chimera was abandoned, he became the owner of the dam and water privilege at that place.

In 1861 Col. Scott raised a company for the 3rd Iowa cavalry, and on the 30th of August, was comissioned captain of company B, and was promoted major, October 25, 1862. On the 3d of August following he resigned, and on June 7, 1864, he was commissioned colonel of the 48th Iowa infantry. About this time he was tendered the charge of the government workshops at Nashville, where over 1500 men were employed.

Col. Scott seems to have had a liking for large enterprises. After the war he had a contract on the Illinois state house and also on the new capitol building at Des Moines. He was also extensively engaged in coal mining, employing at times 50 or 75 men.

In 1877 he received the democratic nomination for member of the legislature, and was elected by nearly 200 majority, although the republican majority in the county that year was over 200. He was one of the most active, influential and creditable members the county ever had.

He was good in circumstances financially having the finestr residence in Farmington, and owning about 700 acres of land, more than half of which is coal land. He was a man of polite and agreeable manners, and was genial and kindly in his disposition. He was popular both among his neighbors and employees. He was a man of excellent judgment, and his natural inclination to active business pursuits made him a great benefit to Farmington as well as the county. His loss is a public one which not only Van Buren county, but the whole of this section of the state will regret.

Source, Newspaper unknown
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