Dr. Maxwell has never permitted his professional duties to absorb him to the extent of releasing him from all of his responsibilities as a public citizen. He has always voted the republican ticket and takes a keen interest in all municipal affairs, and that his constituency and the general community regard him favorably is indicated by the fact that he has been city clerk since 1889; no man ever held an office, however insignificant it might be, continuously for twenty years unless he held the respect and confidence of the community.
Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, his local affiliation being with Arcadia Lodge, No. 249, A. F. & A. M., he is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Modern Woodmen of America, Ames Camp, No. 458, the basic principles of which organizations serve to guide his life.
JACOB D. Scott.
One of the best known stockmen in this section of the state was the late Jacob D. Scott, who for twenty-eight years was a resident of Indian Creek township, Story county. The son of Robert M. and Mary (Drake) Scott, he was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of March, 1854, his parents also being natives of the Keystone state. In 1867 they came west, settling on a farm near Keokuk, Iowa, where they remained, however, but for one year, at the end of that time removing to jasper county. They were residents of the latter county for ten years and in 1874 they bought a farm one-half mile north of Elwell in Indian Creek township, this county, which is now owned by O. N. Jory, and here they continued to live until Mr. Scott retired in 1890, when they removed to Maxwell. Mrs. Scott passed away on the 13th of March, 1904, and since that time he has made his home with his children. He is now living with his youngest son in Greene county, Missouri.
The boyhood and youth of Jacob D. Scott were very similar to those of most boys who are reared in the country. He attended the district school when not occupied in performing his share of the farm work, and indulged during his leisure in such sports as are usually enjoyed by young people. At the usual age he laid aside his textbooks and assumed the responsibilities and duties of manhood. Deciding to follow the vocation of farming, he rented land in the vicinity of his home, where he continued to live until he was thirty years of age.
On the 21st of August, 1884, Mr. Scott was joined in marriage to Miss Cynthia Elizabeth Olinger, a daughter of James M. and Rebecca. J. (John) Olinger. Her father came to Story county from Indiana in 1854 and continued to live in this state until he passed away on the 8th of April, 1907.
After his marriage Mr. Scott rented land in Polk county, which he farmed for two years. Having purchased, in the meantime, eighty acres