HARRY C. SCOTT. Joseph Scott, the oldest representative of the Scott family in Washington county, was born about 1761 in Scotland, coming to America during the latter part of the eighteenth century. He first located in York county, Penn., where he was married to Martha Paden, who was born in 1763. Prior to 1788, when Washington county was very sparsely settled, he came from York county, and made a home in the eastern part of Hanover township, this county, near Raccoon creek, securing control of an immense tract of wild land. A cabin was erected, which furnished them protection, and although deprived of many of the luxuries of life, they were soon able to build a comfortable home. The story of the struggles, hardships and privations of early pioneers has often been told, and the lives of this earnest and self-reliant couple were similar to those of their comrades who undertook the arduous task of making the wilderness "to blossom as the rose." Industry finally was rewarded; they became wealthy and highly respected citizens, and passed the remainder of their lives surrounded by children and friends. They died at a ripe old age, in full connection with the "Old-School Presbyterian" Church, in which they had been reared from infancy. Politically the grandfather was a Democrat. To this worthy couple were born two sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to an adult age. Joseph Scott, a son of the pioneer Joseph, was born in 1800, and passed his early life on the farm of his father, amid the privations of a frontier home, receiving a limited education in the subscription schools. In 1830 he was married to Isabelle, daughter of Samuel Nelson, and the following children were born to their union: Louisa (Mrs. John Camden, of Mt. Pleasant township), born February 19, 1831; William (a farmer of Beaver county), born October 26, 1833; Margaret, born February 5, 1835 (died unmarried January 5, 1865); Mary Jane, born August 20,1837, deceased in infancy; Elizabeth, born October 20, 1839 (wife of S. J. Dennis, a merchant of Wellsville, Ohio), and Joseph D., born November 13, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Scott resided on the home farm during life, and he devoted his entire attention to agriculture. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife were members of the Robinson U. P. Church. He died September 28, 1873, and his widow survived him until September 10, 1886. They are buried in Florence cemetery. Benjamin Scott was born June 2, 1792, in Hanover township, Washington Co., Penn. He received a subscription-school education, and, working in his father's mill, learned the business, which he followed several years. When a young man he was married to Susan McKinley, who was born in 1800, daughter of Hugh McKinley, of Washington county, Penn. They settled on a farm near that of his parents, and the mill having been sold, he afterward devoted his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, meeting with signal success. Their children were born as follows: Alexander, Joseph, Sophia, Benjamin, Sarah Jane, Patterson, John, Susan and Elizabeth. Mr. Scott took an active interest in the welfare of the Democratic party, and he and his wife were, both socially and financially, leading members of Cross Roads Presbyterian Church. In 1877, after long and useful lives spent together, both parents passed from earth, the father aged eighty-five and the mother aged seventy-seven years. Patterson Scott was born March 18, 1835, in Hanover township, and was reared to farm pursuits, receiving his education in the common schools. On October 16, 1868, he was united in marriage with Eliza J. Miller, who was born March 16,1837, in Harrison county, Ohio, daughter of Daniel, and granddaughter of John Miller, who was born in 1806, in Frederick county, Md. John Miller came to Rumley township, Harrison Co., Ohio, where he purchased land of the Government, at one time owning 215 acres. On arriving at Rumley township he was obliged to cut his way through the woods, around his lands, and camped out while building his cabin. He was the father of nine children, viz.: Daniel, David, John, Jacob, Joseph, Catherine, Hannah, Polly and Sarah. Daniel Miller (father of Mrs. Patterson Scott) was born in 1788, in Frederick county, Md., and coming to Harrison county, Ohio, with his parents, shared all the hardships of pioneer life. In 1817 he was married to Susan Lowmiller, who was born in 1796, in Dauphin county, Penn., a daughter of John and Catherine (Long) Lowmiller, who came to Harrison county in 1800. The children of Daniel and Susan Miller were as follows: Catherine, Elizabeth, Sarah, John, Henry, Susanna, Rebecca, Margaret, Abigail and Eliza J. (Mrs. Patterson Scott). Mr. and Mrs. Scott began wedded life on the home place in Hanover township, where he carried on general farming and an extensive stock raising business. Mr. Scott was a representative farmer; in politics he was an enthusiastic Democrat, and served in various local offices. He died October 24, 1883, and was buried in Florence cemetery. The children of his family are as follows: Henry C., Margaret C., Susan E. and John M. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Scott has had charge of the farm, which is now managed by her son, Harry C. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, with which her husband was also actively identified.

Text taken from page 1449 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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