Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 464.
 
ALEXANDER SCOTT

     a capitalist and farmer of Grass Valley, was born in Armagh county,
Ireland, on May 3, 1849. John Scott, his father, was a native of the same county
in Ireland and married Susannah Henry, also a native of the same place. The
father died in Ireland, and the mother now lives at Holly Beach, New Jersey. Our
subject attended the national schools of Ireland until 1864, and came to the
United States in 1868 and settled in Orange county, New York. He did farm work a
year there, then went to Philadelphia and clerked for three years, after which
he took up the grocery business for himself until 1877. In that year he came to
Portland and engaged in the flax industry in Jefferson City, having learned the
business in his father's flax mill in Ireland. Six months later, he came to The
Dalles for the winter and the following spring, 1878, took land on Tygh ridge,
one mile north from Kingsley, being one of the first settlers and wheat raisers
in that section. For fourteen years he continued there then sold his half
section to John Whitten. In the spring of 1888, Mr. Scott was forced to take a
business in Grass Valley, where he had endorsed some papers. It was the only
store there and he ran it as Scott & Company, for twelve years. Then he entered
into partnership with the three Heaths and they continued three years longer.
Then the business was absorbed by the C. C. Company, our subject becoming
vice-president and director in that company. Our subject had traded a half
interest in his store to the Heaths for eight hundred acres of land. This land
is now valued at twenty-five dollars per-acre and raises twenty-five bushels per
acre on summer fallow and fifteen bushels spring wheat. Mr. Scott owns a
combined harvester and is one of the leading grain producers of the county. He
is also director and secretary of the Citizens' Bank. Mr. Scott also owns
Sherman addition to Grass Valley, originally forty acres, over half of which has
been built up. It is the very best part of the town. He also owns a fine
two-story dwelling besides considerable other property. With A. B. Craft, he
erected the first warehouse and they later sold out to the W. W. & M. Company.
They also built one at Kent and sold to, the same company. Mr. Scott bought the
Sherman addition from the E. O. L. Company for a thousand dollars. He had
previously bought a quarter section from the government and had a government
title for five years while here in business and built various buildings. Then
the E. O. L. claimed the land and won it in the supreme court, so our subject
purchased back forty acres for a thousand dollars and they kept-one hundred and
twenty acres. The government returned the two hundred dollars he had paid and he
has now a claim pending against the company for nine thousand six hundred
dollars for improvements.
     On November 3, 1874, at Philadelphia, Mr. Scott married Elizabeth Whitten,
who was born in Armagh county, Ireland, a sister of John D. Whitten, who is
mentioned in this work. Mr. Scott has one brother, John, one of the largest
wholesale grocers in Philadelphia and one of-twenty-five who handle the entire
product of the American Sugar Refinery. He also has a brother in St. Louis,
William H., engaged in the millwright business, and Nathan, at Columbia Falls,
Montana, and one sister with his mother in New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have
three children living, Ethel J., Anna E., and Linden D., aged-seventeen,
fifteen, and thirteen, respectively. They also have five children who are now
deceased, whose names and ages at the time of their death are given below : John
A., two and one-half years ; William H., six years and eleven months; George D.,
aged four and one-half years; Annie, eighteen months ; and William J., fourteen
years. John M. and Annie died in the same week of that dread disease,
diphtheria. Mr. and Mrs. Scott and their children are all members of the Baptist
church. Politically, he is a Republican and as active as his business will
permit. Mr. Scott is one of the substantial, heavyweight business men of Sherman
county. He has achieved marked success in his endeavors and has also maintained
a reputation for integrity, uprightness and fair dealing, which have won for him
confidence and esteem from all who know him.
     Since the above was written, Mr. Scott has sold some of his property in
Grass Valley and has invested in Portland. He has purchased a fine residence at
692 East Ash street in that city and is transferring his property from Sherman
county to Portland.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.