Tilden Seymour Scott
Tilden Seymour Scott, who is a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Brown Township, Delaware County, Ohio, has been a resident of Eden nearly all his life and has been identified at different times with various business enterprises. He was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 6, 1839, and is a son of Seymour and Louise (Elmer) Scott.
Seymour Scott was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, and was a stone mason by trade. He moved from his native place to Delaware County, New York, where he was subsequently married. He next moved to Florence, Erie County, Ohio, where he followed his trade, assisting in the erection of the first furnace at Vermilion. Upon removing to Franklin County, Ohio, he followed farming until April 1, 1839, then located at Lockwin, where he conducted a store at a time when there were but two buildings in the place. He remained there one year and on April 1, 1840, bought out a general store at Eden, in Delaware County, Ohio, and settled on the property now owned by James Leech. He continued to conduct this store until 1863, when he sold and moved to Centerburg, where for a period of seven years he conducted a general store. In 1870 he retired from active business and returned to Eden where he lived at the home of his daughter until bis death, in April, 1877. He was a large property owner at one time, but bad disposed of most of his holdings. He married Louise Elmer, who was a daughter of Calvin Elmer, who at an early period came from New York State to Eden and located where Robinson's blacksmith shop now stands. Two children were born of this union: Louisa, who died in Delaware, July 15, 1877, was the wife of John A. Carothers; and Tilden S. The mother of Mrs. Scott died April 9, 1846.
Tilden Seymour Scott was reared in Eden and attended the local schools and also the Delaware public schools for two terms. He worked in the store with his father, but had in the meantime learned the trade of a carder and cloth dresser. He acquired a steam grist mill, which had been established in 1849, being the first one in the county, which he operated, and in addition did carding, pressing and dyeing, as well as cabinetmaking. When his father left Eden in 1863, Mr. Scott and his brother-in-law purchased the store, but after conducting it a short time traded it and the mill for a farm in Oxford Township, Butler County. He never moved there, however, and after a couple of years disposed of it. In the meanwhile he engaged in farming half way between Eden and Delaware. In 1866-67 he was at Smith's Ferry and Island Run, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and upon his return to Eden estabished his home in the house in which he now resides. He engaged temporarily in business at Centerburg in 1869, and in the following year he and his brother-in-law bought the stock and brought it to Eden, where for some years they conducted a store. Mr. Scott had in 1870 traded for a store in Delaware which he conducted until 1876, carrying a line of boots and shoes, hats and caps and gentlemen's furnishings. At the end of that time he sold out in Delaware and returned to Eden where he continued his store until 1878. He then resumed farming in Brown Township and continued until the early nineties, when he sold out. During the past fifteen years, in season, he has traveled about selling engines and threshing machinery and fertilizers. On November 19, 1863, Mr. Scott was united in marriage with Octavia B. Thrall, who was born in the house in which she now lives, April 25, 1841, and is a daughter of William Kilbourne Thrall, who was the first postmaster here, the post office being named Kilbourne in his honor. He was born in Grandville, Ohio, October 14, 1809. and was about 20 years old when he came here. For many years he operated the old water mill which he had constructed in partnership with O. D. Hough, and became a man of importance here. He married Phœbe Thurston, and of their children, Mrs. Scott was the only one to grow to maturity. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott, namely: Harry Seymour, born April 7, 1805, married Levetta Bowers and they have three children: Hazel, Donald and Grace; William, born October 8, 1869; and Lillian, born October 9, 1873, married Harry H. Hipple, and they live in Delaware. Politically. Mr. Scott is a Republican and at one time served as township clerk.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908