Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ANDREW J. SCOTT. The name of Andrew J. Scott is becoming well known among the contractors of Springfield, although he is a comparatively new comer in this field, a number of his competitors have been in the business here from a score to two score of years, but our subject's skill, advanced ideas along the building line, his industry, honesty and perseverance is resulting in a lucrative business. For over twenty years he was foreman of one of our largest planing mills. A great deal of his early life was spent in the South of which he is a native, but has resided in Springfield for over a quarter of a century and is well known to the building tradesmen here. Although a Southerner, he has a commendable record as a soldier for the Union, and his life of nearly three score and ten has been a varied and interesting one.
Mr. Scott was born in Tishomingo county, Mississippi, March 17, 1845. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Searcey) Scott, and is one of a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter, namely: William died when twenty-one years of age; John L. died Christmas night, 1858, when eighteen years of age; Aaron W., died January 15, 1858, at the age of fifteen years. Andrew J., of this review; Jane Elizabeth married William Miles, and she died when twenty years of age, leaving one child, Victoria; Frank P., who married Mrs. Josie Beal, lives in Springfield, Missouri; Rufus, who was a planter at Rienza, Mississippi, died in 1902, at the age of forty-two years. The father of our subject was born in Virginia, from which state he removed to Tennessee when young and there married Elizabeth Searcey, who was a native of Columbia, Tennessee. Later they established their home in Mississippi and reared their family there. The death of Robert Scott occurred in 1858, when our subject was thirteen years old. His widow survived until 1871. They were both buried on the old homestead, this custom being employed much in the South during the past generations up to a few years ago.
Andrew J. Scott grew to manhood on the home plantation and there worked when a boy, and received his education in the common schools. As stated above his sympathies were with the Federal government and in order to escape conscription in the Confederate army at the outbreak of the war between the states, he went to Alabama, and although was but seventeen years of age he raised the First Alabama Cavalry, which regiment was soon placed in active service. Mr. Scott enlisted June 11, 1863, and was discharged July 27, 1864, at Rome, Georgia. He had gone through Georgia with Sherman in his memorable campaign and took part in all the engagements of the same. After his discharge from the Alabama cavalry regiment he went to Nashville, Illinois, and on February 11, 1865, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until September 25, 1865.
After the war Mr. Scott returned to Mississippi, and operated a flat-boat on the Mississippi river to New Orleans for three years, then went a second time to Nashville, Illinois, where he engaged in the contracting and building business for ten years, then engaged in the grocery business eight years. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1888, and for a period of twenty-two years was foreman of the Springfield Planing Mill and Lumber Company, his long retention in this important position would indicate that he gave the firm eminent satisfaction in every respect. During the past four years he has been in the contracting business and has been very successful.
Mr. Scott was married on May 19, 1880, to Laura Burns, a daughter of John C. Burns and wife of Nashville, Illinois, where she grew to womanhood and received her education in the common schools. At the time of their marriage Mr. Burns was justice of the peace at Nashville, which position he held for a period of thirty-four years continuously, discharging the duties of the same most ably and was one of the influential men of that place. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott, namely: Arthur B., born August 25, 1886, is chief clerk to the superintendent of the Oregon Short Line Railroad, married Helen Madden, and they have one child, Arthur; they live in Pocatello, Idaho. John T., second child of our subject, born September 1, 1888, is with the Whaples-Olvey Millinery Company of Springfield.
Politically, Mr. Scott is a Republican. He belongs to the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, and has been a member of the official board for a period of twenty-three years and is one of the pillars of this church.
Mr. Scott owns the apartment house where he resides at 430 Kimbrough street, also a rental here in the city.
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