Capt. John G. Scott, Boiler Inspector at Galena, has jurisdiction over the Fifth Inspection District of the United States, constituting the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries above Keokuk, Iowa, the Red River, and that part of the Missouri River and its tributaries above Yankton, Dak., and the Lake Superior regions bounded by the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin. This is a Federal office, and has been held by the Captain for the last ten years.

Capt. Scott has had an extended river experience as a steam-boat engineer, and for a period of nine years (during which lie was a resident of Fulton he was Chief Engineer of the Diamond Jo Steamboat Company. He has also officiated in the same capacity}' for the Minnesota Packet Company. In early manhood he served a thorough apprenticeship as a machinist and blacksmith at Pittsburgh, Pa., and commenced his experience as an engineer as early as 1848. He labored as a machinist a number of years, and served for a time in the forging rooms of the Holmes edged tool factory at Pittsburgh, where he became an expert as a finisher, and by his close acquaintance with the master temperer of tools, obtained a fine knowledge of this art. He worked in different places in Pennsylvania, and naturally became generally acquainted with the manufacture of iron and steel.

The father of our subject, Hugh Scott, was in early manhood engaged as a scythe manufacturer, and later took up general blacksmithing in and around Pittsburgh, and was noted for his skill as a mechanic. He died at the age of sixty-five years. He was born in the Keystone State, and descended from Scotch ancestry, as also did the mother, Mrs. Jennie (McCorayne) Scott. The latter was born and reared in Washington Count}-, Pa. She survived her husband, and died in her native State, at the age of seventy-two years. Both were active members of the Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of six sons and five daughters, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are living. The sons, like their father before them, follow black-smithing. John G., our subject, is the only one living in the West, the others preferring their native State.

Capt. Scott lived with his father until the death of the latter, although away some of the time, working to obtain money so that he might pursue his education. When ready to establish domestic ties of his own he was married to Miss Anna Delany, a native of Ireland, who came with her parents to America when quite young. The latter died soon afterward, and she was reared b}' friends and strangers. The children of her union with our subject are recorded as follows: Jennie, Kittie, and Belle died young; Frank married Miss Mina Houghton, and is engaged in an iron manufactory at Dubuque; Estella is the wife of Dr. J. F. McCarthy, of Dubuque.

Capt. Scott was nearly three years in the service, and received his appointment as Assistant Chief Engineer, U. S. N., Mississippi Squadron, Dec. 2, 1862. On the 4th of June, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Chief Engineer, which post he held until the close of the war. He saw some active service, but escaped unharmed. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Subordinate Lodge No. 12, at Dubuque, and in the Masonic fraternity is connected with the Blue Lodge, and Metropolitan Lodge No. 49, at Dubuque, he is also a member of the G. A. R.

Transcribed & Contributed by Christine Walters Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889),