Jesse W. Scott, a farmer on section 7, Montmorency Township, is a son of Asa and Elizabeth (Taylor) Scott, natives of Ohio who settled in Hopkins Township, this county as early as 1839, and afterward moved to Montmorency Township, where they resided the remainder of their lives, he dying May 17, 1883, and she March 19, 1884. They had 16 children, namely: Jesse W., Mary T. , Elkanah R, Ellen, James, Ada B., Francis, Anna, Asa, Jr., Desdemona, John, Dolly, Eugene, Carrie, Frederick S. and Philip S., the last two are twins.
Mr. Scott was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1839, and ever since he was old enough to labor he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has resided in this county ever since he was three and 3 and a half years old, with the exception of six months spent in Missouri. His school education was such as was usual in the common schools of his boyhood days.
He was first married March 13, 1863, in Como, Hopkins Township, to Sarah Z. Scott, daughter of Solomon W. and Hannah (Davis) Scott, natives of Ohio. Mrs. S. had one child, Ida M., and died May 1, 1867 in Missouri. Mr. Scott was again married, in Sterling, Ill., Sept. 22, 1869, to Charlotte A., daughter of Solon and Charlotte (Smith) Stevens, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They had seven children, - Charlotte A., Martha, Anna C., John, Etta M., Emma A. and Susan. Mrs. Scott was born in the Keystone State and she and her husband are the parents of Ernest, Charlie P., Goldie G., Wayne E. and Pearlie. The first named died in infancy.
Mr. Scott is now the owner of 240 acres of land, all but 20 of which are in cultivation. He is a Republican in bis political views, and has beld the offices of Collector six consecutive years, Road Commissioner four years, Overseer of Highways several years, etc.
Portrait & Biographical Pg 778
Jesse Scott was born July 24, 1790, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania and in 1802 came with his parents as far west as Morgan county, Ohio, where he lived until March, 1839, when he started for Illinois, by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, in a one hundred ton keel boat, propelled by horse power. On this boat he built a cabin 16 by 16 feet in size, and divided into two rooms in which the family lived, and the goods were stored during the journey. Upon reaching Rock river he turned his boat into that stream and followed it upwards until he reached Como, where he landed June 1, 1839. At that point he made a settlement, and has resided there ever since, a space of over thirty~six years. On New Year's day, 1815, Mr. Scott married Miss Anna Sherman. Their children have been: Asa, born January 26, 1817; Jane, born March 5,1818
Josiah, born May 18, 1819; David, born December 6,1820; Hiram B., born January 6, 1822; Adrial, born November 30, 1823; Joel S., born September 30, 1825. John, born May 26, 1827; Mary E., born June 4, 1829; Maria, born February 14, 1831; Caroline A., born August 8, 1832; Annis E., born February 22, 1834 and Emeline, born January 7, 1842. Of these children, Emeline died May 6, 1845; Annis E. September 12, 1845; Hiram, June 21,1850, and Joel S. November 8, 1855. Asa married Miss Elizabeth Taylor. The names of their children are given in the biographical sketch of Mr. Scott which will be found in the history of Montmorency township. Jane married Isaac H. Brittell; children, Almona, Charlotte, Orange, and Claudius. Josiah married Miss Harriet J. Coryell; the biographical sketch of Mr. Josiah Scott, giving names of children, will be found in the history of Hume township. David married Miss Louisa Stone; children, Eoline, Gertrude, Luther, Winfield, Theodore, Otho, Devrose, and Willie. Adrial married Miss Mary Sloan; children, Orson, Joel who died in infancy, Willie, Eddy and Ida. Joel S. married Miss Polly Stillian, by whom he had one child, Esther; Mrs. Scott died, and Mr. Scott married a second wife, the children by this marriage being John, Marion, Jane, Shereer, Alice, Annis, Amy, Oscar, and Addison and Eliza-twins, the latter dying in infancy. Mary E., married Edward Scott; children, Clifford, Eunice, Hershel, Frederick, Eva, Albert, and Jessie; Frederick died at the age of fifteen. Maria married Lewis A. Davis; children, Edgar, Evamalia, Jane, Lizzie, and Bertha. Lizzie died in infancy. Caroline married Alphonso Brooks; children, Augusta, Romanzo, and
Elthier. Mr. Scott is now eighty-seven years of age, and in many respects has lived an eventful life. His fund of anecdotes and reminiscences of pioneer life is inexhaustible, and their relation in his peculiar manner highly interesting. Mr. Scott made trading trips with his boat for several years after he came to Como. The boat, with its motive power, was a curiosity, and caused universal surprise wherever it made its appearance. He is probably the only man who ever did, or ever will, succeed in propelling a heavy boat against the strong current of the Mississippi river, by horse power; Mrs. Scott died in Como in 1876.
Bent-Wilson History of Whiteside County
