"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1201.
 
THOMAS SCOTT

     Scott's Mills, named for their promoters, Robert Hall and Thomas Scott, are
familiar to the residents of Marion county, and constitute a landmark of
importance. Built by Robert H. Scott about 1866, the mills were jointly
conducted by the brothers until 1892, when Thomas Scott became the sole owner,
and has since had their entire management. The most modern machinery forms the
equipment, of the mills, the capacity of which is sixty barrels per day, the
entire wheat crop of the district being used in the consumption. At one time the
brothers were very extensively identified with lumbering, and for carrying on
their business owned two thousand acres of timber land. Both became prominent in
the general affairs of their neighborhood, and were accounted among the most
substantial and reliable of its upbuilders.
     Of sturdy Scotch ancestry, the brothers were natives of Bamff's Mills,
Roxburyshire, Scotland, Thomas Scott being born December 8, 1840. He was the son
of John Scott, the remainder of whose family consisted of Robert H. Adam, a
resident of Manitoba; John, located in upper Canada; James, deceased, as a
soldier in the English army for twenty-one years having served in the Crimean
war and Indian mutiny; Jane, a resident of Scotland; and Betsy, now Mrs.
Marshall, also of Scotland. These children profited by educational opportunities
as their circumstances permitted. Thomas Scott was educated in the public
schools, and in his youth saw a great deal of milling in his native land. At the
age of fifteen he started out to make his own living, serving an apprenticeship
of three years in a grist mill, receiving in return for long hours and hard work
about $30 for the first year. An unfortunate accident in the mills resulted in
enforced inactivity for a year or so, but after recovering he went to work with
renewed energy, following his trade until coming to America in 1866. He at once
became identified with the mills erected here by his brother, and which at the
present time are among the modern and well equipped grist mills of the valley.
Mr. Scott has a fine and paying business, and while catering to an extensive and
permanent trade has made hosts of friends; and laid by a competency himself. He
is a self-educated and self-made man, his success the result of his, own
efforts, and, in the pursuit of his labors, he has won the esteem and confidence
of his fellow citizens. In political affiliation he is a Democrat, and though
never desirous of official recognition he has several times been elected to
office, serving, as postmaster for about eight years, justice of the peace, and
is at present acting as notary public.  In all matters of public enterprise he
has been a prominent factor and liberal contributor. Mr. Scott is alone in the
enjoyment of his prosperity, for he has never married.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.