Olmsted County MINNESOTA Biographies.....William Gilbert SCOTT May 23 1846 - May 12 1908
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File contributed for Minnesota Biographies Project by:
Sandy Belshaw scarletgen@comcast.net December 7, 2003, 11:23 am

Author: Joseph A. LEONARD

  
History of Olmsted County, Minnesota
Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1910, 697  pgs.  
pp 452 - 453
William Gilbert SCOTT, who died May 12, 1908, was for many years one of Olmsted 
county's best and most deserving citizens.  Born at Bridgewater, Oneida county, 
New York, May 23, 1846, he was a son of Joel Ives and Nancy Ann (CLARK) SCOTT, 
both of whom were natives of New York state.  Their children were Fannie S., 
Benjamin F. and William Gilbert.  Joel was born August 15, 1815, died September 
1, 1894.  Nancy Ann, his wife was born February 20, 1816, died November 11, 
1903; they were married about the year 1837.  The father was a farmer and 
followed that occupation in New York until 1862, when he came to Olmsted 
county, Minnesota, and engaged in agricultural pursuits in section thirty-four, 
Salem township, until his death.  He was a good honest citizen, was a prominent 
in local affairs of importance and held the office of town supervisor for a 
number of years.  Their son, William Gilbert SCOTT, the immediate subject of 
this memoir, received his early education in public schools of New York and 
Olmsted county, and also assisted his father with the work on the home farm.  
When fourteen years old he was brought by his parents to Olmsted county, and 
after completing his attendance in public schools, entered the Clinton 
Preparatory School.  This institution, however, he was forced to leave owing to 
poor health, and having been reared to hard work on a farm, naturally turned 
that business as a means of livelihood.  He located upon the old home farm and 
in time acquired a few hundred acres adjoining.  This also was healthful work 
and for years he was successful engaged in farming and stock-raising, 
organizing a framers' co-operative creamery near his farm; also organized 
several societies of equity, co-operating with J. A. EVERITT, of Indianapolis.  
He was for several years president of the local equity movement.  Aside from 
these interests Mr. SCOTT showed remarkable ability as an inventor, and many 
improvements on cultivators, expanding wheels and pulleys, agricultural 
implements and bobsleighs were perfected by him.  He also was the author and 
owner of a private trout hatchery.  He was one of the first to advocate and put 
into local streams bass fry and was ever alert to have the game and fish laws 
enforced.  He was always striving to better the existing conditions, not only 
in his own life, but in others as well.  In politics he was independent and 
progressive, fearless in argument, preferring to cast his vote for the man he 
thought best qualified to fill a position, regardless of party affiliation.  
For many years he advocated the position now taken by the progressives in both 
parties.  On September 24, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma M. 
HABER, and to them five children were born as follows:  Frances K., B. Ives, 
Alice A., Wilhelm G. and Gilberta.  Mr. SCOTT was an ideal father, affectionate 
and kind but firm, always insisting on the truth and honesty of purpose with 
his children--the two principles upon which he based his religion.  Mr. SCOTT 
was one of those public spirited men and conscientious citizens who have done 
so much toward making Olmsted county one of the best in the state of Minnesota.




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