SAMUEL SCOTT. The steady advance of Springfield in population and commercial and manufacturing importance has made the real estate interest a most inviting field for the exercise of business talent of the highest order. One of the most successful operators in realty in this city is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. His father, John Scott, was a product of Monroe County, Ind., but about 1841 he came to Missouri and settled in Ozark County, where he made his home for a few years. From there he moved to Carroll County and thence to Springfield, where his death occurred in 1865, when sixty years of age. The nine children born to his marriage with Miss _______ McNeely were named as follows: Nancy, Sarah, Rebecca, Susan, Elizabeth, Mary, Samuel, and two who died young. The maternal grandfather of these children, Mr. McNeely, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Samuel Scott, our subject, was born in Monroe County, Ind., March 12, 1838, and as he was but three years of age when he came with his parents to Missouri, all his recollections are of this State. He attended the common schools of the county, and August 10, 1862, when twenty-four years of age, he enlisted in Company J, First Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, United States service, and later was transferred to Company G, participating in several skirmishes. He was in the hospital from October, 1863, until the winter of 1864, at Springfield, after which he rejoined his regiment near Fayetteville, Ark., and served until cessation of hostilities. Afterward he came to Springfield and worked at the carpenter's trade. On May 30, 1878, he married Miss Fannie Gray, daughter of Thomas and Minerva (West) Gray, and a native of Clinton County, Mo., born August 19, 1854. After marriage Mr. Scott bought his present farm, then consisting of ninety-five acres, and on this has made his home since. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion he and Mrs. Scott are Methodists. He has ever been public-spirited and progressive, has aided all worthy enterprises and taken a deep interest in educational matters, having been school director for some time. In 1889 he laid out Scott's Addition to Springfield, and has sold about seventeen lots. He is a man of unblemished integrity, has ever been industrious and persevering, and has a host of warm friends. The father of Mrs. Scott, Thomas Gray, was born in Tennessee and is of English origin. At an early date he came to northern Missouri and settled in Clinton County. He was married in Kentucky to Miss Minerva West, but later moved to Indiana and thence to Missouri. Thirteen children were born to them as follows: Sarah, Catherine, Vienna, Harriet, Matilda, James, Thomas Jefferson, John, Charles, one died in infancy, Henrietta, Fannie and _______ Three of the sons; were in the war of the Rebellion, James in Company G, Twenty-fourth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served three years; he was in many skirmishes and died from the effects of hard service. Charles was in the same company and served three years. Thomas J. was in a Missouri Volunteer regiment and also served three years. All the above mentioned children are deceased except Henrietta, now Mrs. Gresham, and Mrs. Scott, wife of our subject. Both he and his estimable wife were members of the North Methodist Church, and in politics he affiliated with the Republican party. His wife is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Scott. Although eighty-seven years of age, she enjoys comparatively good health and is highly esteemed by all. She was born in Wayne County, Ky., and her father, Alexander West, was a pioneer settler of that State. He was a soldier of the Mexican War and held the office of major. For many years he was a slave owner and he was also a wealthy merchant. When a little past eighty years of age he passed to the silent majority. His father, James West, lived to be one hundred and eleven years of age, and his second marriage occurred when he was one hundred years old.
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