Fred Scott
Fred Scott, a leading citizen of Wells Township, where he owns 145 acres of well improved land, devotes it to general farming and is numbered with the substantial and representative men of this section. He was born on his father's farm in Cross Creek Township, near New Alexandria, O., March 7, 1877, and is a son of William T. and Margaret (Elliott) Scott.
William T. Scott was born in Cross Creek Township, Jefferson County, December 18, 1828, and was a son of Rev. Andrew Scott. The latter was of Scotch-Irish extraction. At an early date he came from Washington County, Pennsylvania, to Jefferson County and settled in Cross Creek Township, building his first house in the midst of the woods. He was one of the early Methodist preachers in this section and was known and esteemed all through the township over which he traveled to minister to the people's spiritual needs. He died on the farm in Cross Creek Township and his burial was at New Alexandiia. He was the father of the following named cbildren: Elizabeth, Wesley, William T., Thomas, Caroline, Isabella, James, David and Adam Clark. William T. Scott assisted his father to clear the pioneer farms the latter acquired and later bought one on which he lived until about fifteen years before his death, when he purchased the farm which now belongs to his son, Fred Scott, from Mark and John Willits, and here his death occurred in September, 1898. He married Margaret Elliott, who survived him for six years, being aged sixty-eight years at the time of her death. She was a daughter of Andrew Elliott, of Cross Creek Township. There were nine children born to William T. and Margaret Scott, namely: Mary, who died when aged four years; Andrew, who lives in Kansas; Henry; Carrie, who is the wife of T. H. A. Wise, of Pittsburgh; Elmer, who died young; Howard, who is pastor of a Methodist Church at Cleveland; Ida, who resides at Boston, Mass.; Walter, who is an attorney-at-law in Boston; and Fred, who has remained on the old place in Wells Township.
Fred Scott was yet young when the family moved to Wells Townsliip and he obtained his education in the country schools. When his father died, 208 acres of land were left to Ida, Walter and Fred Scott. Later Walter and Fred added forty acres but still later they sold 103 acres. In 1909, Fred Scott bought his brother Walter's interest, the latter having become a professional man instead of farmer. General farming, together with raising some first class stock, is successfully carried on. Mr. Scott owns a very valuable Percheron draft stallion, Highland King, weighing 1.800 pounds, a noble animal, which is well known all over Jefferson County. Mr. Scott takes a great deal of interest in his land aud has been careful to secure and preserve all the legal papers pertaining to it. He has the first deed ever granted for Section 35, Township 5, Range 2, which was given to Samuel Coope, of Fayette County, Peimsylvania, on October 16, 1805. It bears the signature of Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, and of James Madison, Secretary of State. He also has every deed and transfer ever made for his farm which is a part of the above section. This indicates a methodical, practical mind and that Mr. Scott possesses such is demonstrated in the way he manages his numerous business undertakings.
On October 9, 1901, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Grace McHugh, who is a daughter of John W. and Sarah (Umpleby) McHugh, who came to Jefferson from Monroe County. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have one child, Gladys Elizabeth. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Scott is a Republican but cares nothing for public office. He is a stockholder in the Miners and Mercliauts Bank at Smithfield, O., and for some years has been interested in the local telephone systems. In association with E. E. and M. B. Cole, he organized the Smithtield Telephone Company, which later became the Ohio Valley Telephone Company, of which he was president. Subsequently this company was consolidated with the Jefferson and Harrison Telephone Company, and Mr. Scott remains a leading stockholder.
20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910