Reprinted from Ashland Gazette, 1957

Musical Scotts

Another in the series of Gazette articles on old Ashland families, this one tells of the Scotts.

 

When in August, 1945, H. W. Schuldt purchased Scott's Grocery, one of the oldest stores in Nebraska, conducted continuously by members of one family, changed hands. The store was operated by a Scott for 71 years.

William Clement Scott, Sr. was born in Fairfield, Va., in 1817. He was married in 1845 to Maria Frances Crawford. After many years in Richmond, and after losing his furniture factory in a fire, he and his wife and their family of eight children came to Nebraska. The second son, Frank Hall Scott, at the same time went to New York City where he entered the publishing business. The last 25 years of his life, he was president of the old Century Magazine Company.

The family first settled at Camden, a small town near Crete no longer in existence, and in 1870 moved to Ashland. In 1874, William Clement and his oldest son, William Clement, Jr., purchased a grocery store from Mr. Paddock. This store was on Main Street and later was moved to the present location of Harold's Market. The frame building was later replaced by the present brick building.

Besides William Clement, Jr., and Frank Hall, the other children were Jessie, Hugh, Harriet, George, Dick, Anne and Arch. Jesse, Anne, and Arch married and left Ashland. Harriet married J. R. Watts, who with his brother-in-law, Hugh, had a jewelry and watch-repair shop in Ashland a number of years and later moved to Atlanta, Ga. Dick Scott was postmaster of Ashland from 1887 to 1891 and also had a shoe store with Mr. Reece for a short time. Later he and his family moved to Denver. George had a clothing store in Ashland for many years.

When the family came to Nebraska, in addition to the regular and household furniture and books, they brought a square Steinway Piano, two violins, guitar, flute and triangle and boxes full of music in sheet form. The "Scott Orchestra" entertained not only the family, but the community many a night. The Steinway piano was moved dozens of times to churches and halls. Many years later, the piano was sold and was burned up in a fire.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott, Sr., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 10, 1895. Mr. Scott died the following May. Mrs. Scott died in 1923 at the age of 97. They both took an active part in the Congregational church, Mr. Scott raising a good share of the money for the first church building.

William Clement Scott, Jr. was born Feb. 10, 1846, at Vincennes, Ind., and died in Ashland April 11, 1922. On Dec. 14, 1876, he married Miss Mary Zerviah Shedd of Denmark, Iowa. She was a sister of Hibbard H. Shedd, a prominent citizen of Ashland for many years, owning a clothing store later taken over by G. L. Scott, brother of William Clement. During the Civil war at the age of 16, William Clement enlisted in the Indiana Volunteers three years and was in several battles. A resident of Ashland over 50 years, he always supported the projects contributing to the growth of the town. Mrs. Scott, Jr., who died Aug. 8, 1900, took an active part in all civic and church affairs. The Ashland Woman's Club was organized at her home. In 1888, she reorganized the missionary society of the Congregational church to take in both home and foreign work and was its first president. Mr. and Mrs. Scott had five children, John, Jessie Clement, Dorothea, and Elizabeth. All are living except Dorothea who died Feb. 19, 1923.

John A. Scott was in business together with his father until the latter died. He then owned the store until he sold it in 1945. On May 2, 1929, he married Elizabeth Ann Stanley, a member of an old Pioneer family of Ashland. They have two sons John William and Donald Stanley. Both are married, John William residing in Omaha, and Donald Stanley in Taft, Calif.