FRANK SCAMMON

Frank Scammon, who in 1881 became one of the founders of the Worth county Index, of which he has been editor and manager since 1883, is well known not only in Northwood, where he makes his home, but throughout the northern part of the state, within whose borders he has resided since early manhood. He was born in Saco, Maine, February 4, 1847, a son of William and Hannah (Smith) Scammon, God-fearing people of education and character, who were the founders of a refined home. The Scammon family is of English origin, the ancestors of Frank Scammon having settled at Fort Popham, Maine, in 1613. Colonel John Scammon, of his majesty's Massachusetts Bay regiment, was a noted Indian fighter and also served with some distinction in the Revolutionary war.

Frank Scammon pursued his education in Thornton Academy of Maine, in which he completed a course with the class of 1864. He was graduated from a farm in 1865, from the United States Navy in 1870 and from the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, Iowa, in 1872. His early experiences covered teaching, naval service and the further continuance of his education through his seminary course. His naval experience continued from July 16, 1866, until December, 1870, on board the U. S. S. Vandalia, the United States Flagship Piscataqua, afterwards the Flagship Delaware, in trips to South America, India, China and Japan. He was a shipmate of the late Real Admiral R. D. Evans for more than three years. He was ship's schoolmaster of the Piscataqua and Delaware from November, 1867, until December, 1870. In 1881, in company with O. D. Eno, he founded the Worth County Index and in 1883 became its editor and manager, which connection has since been maintained, and he has made the paper one of the leading country newspapers of the state.

On the l0th of January, 1878, at Osage, Iowa, Mr. Scammon was married to Miss Mary Sweney, a daughter of Hugh and Esther (Phillis) Sweney, people of the highest personal worth. Mrs. Scammon is a graduate of the Cedar Valley Seminary-a member of its famous first class, that of 1871. She taught successfully for many years, contributing much to the development of the educational interests of the communities in which she labored. She had two brothers who served with distinction in the war of the rebellion and one brother, Colonel J. H. Sweney, was a member of congress from Iowa from 1890 until 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Scammon have been born three children: Margaret Esther, now the wife of A. L. Frisbie, an editor of Grinnell, Iowa; Hugh S., who married Jean, daughter of the late Joseph J. Marsh, of Decorah; and Katherine.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and fraternally Mr. Scammon is connected with the Odd Fellows, in which he has served as grand master, and with the organization known as The Greater Iowa. In politics he is a republican and he served as postmaster of Northwood from July 6, 1908, until July 1, 1914. He has tried to contribute his share to the development of city and county, both as an editor and as a private citizen.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 531 & 532

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, October 15, 2006