William W. Scott

As printed in 1911

WILLIAM W. SCOTT.

An enterprising farmer and highly respected citizen of Clinton county is W. W. Scott, who was born in 1853 in Olive township, on the farm on which he still resides, five miles south of Calamus. He is the son of William and Harriet CPearsalH Scott, the father born in New York in fRtq and the mother in Indiana. They were married in Pennsylvania and came to Clinton county, Iowa, locating on the east side of Crystal Lake, on government land, in 1844. They were there a short time, then came to the farm on which their son, W. W., now lives, entering land here also and became a heavy land owner. He erected log buildings, the house standing where the subject's residence is now

5o6 located. When he first came here the country was unimproved and he could travel as far as DeWitt without seeing a fence. In 1850 he made the long overland trip across the western plains to California in search of gold, and, being a good hand with the ax, he made six dollars per day making cabins for miners; he later mined himself. After he returned to Iowa he engaged in farming and subsequently practiced law many years in this community. He was county supervisor from Olive township, also served as constable and justice of the peace. He was a Democrat. In 1875 he left the farm to operate a general store at Calamus, and later opened a hardware business, and still later was engaged as a general merchant under the firm name of Scott & Crusan. About 1890 he retired and made his home at Calamus, where he resided until his death, which occurred on December 14, 1910. He was a very successful business man and did a great deal for the general good of his community, where he was held in high esteem by all who knew him. His family consisted of five daughters and two sons, one daughter now being deceased. He was liberal in his religious views and was active in church work. His wife passed to her rest in 1896.

William W. Scott was educated in the home schools until he was eighteen years old, then went to Wilton Collegiate Institute, at Wilton Junction, Iowa, remaining there three years. He then taught a few years in Clinton county, later engaged in the general mercantile business with his brother, in Calamus, about three years. Then he moved his stock of goods to Del'mar Junction, selling out si.x months later to his brother, after which he assisted his father in his hardware store. In 1882 he moved to a farm here which his father had entered and remained on the same three years; he then moved to Woodbury county, Iowa, and remained there eight years on a farm, then purchased the homestead of his father, which contains one hundred and six acres, and he has since made his home here. He has made many modern improvements, is a general farmer and has managed his place to good advantage.

Mr. Scott has served as justice of the peace for the past twelve years, and in 1900 he took the census of Olive township, and in 1910 took the census of Berlin. He has been township trustee. Politically, he is a Republican.

When Mr. Scott was in school he studied telegraphy and about 1897 or 1898 he and a neighbor put up a telegraph line between their homes, which developed interest until telephones were installed, and from this developed the Fanners and Business Glen's Mutual Telphone Company, which was organized in 1899 and incorporated on March 25, 1907, under the same name, Mr. Scott taking an active part in establishing this company, and he has held all the offices of the company, which in August, 1910. had four hundred telephone subscribers, the Hue entering Calamus, Wheatland. Toronto, Lost Nation, 'elton, Grand Mound, Dixon and Big Rock. The best possible instruments are used and the company is on a firm basis and is rapidly growing in importance and extent.

Mr. Scott was married on November 17, 1902, to Alice (Bills) Weiley. By a former marriage Mr. Scott was the father of these children: Clyde, deceased: Archie, of Los Angeles, California; Seth, of Grand Haven, Michigan; Roy and Willie, at home. Mr. Scott and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

As printed in Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.