J. D. SCOTT. The Scott family were early pioneers of Washington county, and are of Scotch descent. Joseph Scott, the oldest representative, 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 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 (wife of S. J. Dennis, a merchant of Wellsville, Ohio), born October 20, 1839, and Joseph D. (our subject). 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. Joseph D. Scott was born November 13, 1843, on the same farm which is yet his home, and during his earlier years attended the common schools and worked on the place. On December 25, 1867, he was married to Mary E. Donaldson, who was born March 19, 1848, daughter of Richard and Mary (Bigger) Donaldson, of Hanover township, this county. The children of J. D. and Mary E. Scott were William D., Edith M. (deceased), Ora B. and Sarah E. After his marriage Mr. Scott located for a short time on the Donaldson homestead in Hanover township, where he followed farming for a time, then engaged in the mercantile business at Bavington, Penn., thence moving to Cannelton, Beaver Co., Penn. This line of business proving unprofitable, he came in 1876 to his present farm, where he has since been engaged in agriculture. In politics Mr. Scott is a firm Democrat. Both he and his wife are members of the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 1458 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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