Opal Dorothy Bell and Harry VanTine Scott

HARRY VANTINE SCOTT, son of SARAH HARRIET JORDAN and RUFUS IRVING SCOTT, was born August 19, 1876 in Richmond, Wayne, Indiana,^{13, 8} and died January 4, 1960 in Wilmette, Cook, Illinois.¹²⁰

He married OPAL DOROTHY BELL on July 30, 1898 in Clinton, DeWitt, Illinois,⁵⁷⁷ daughter of SUSAN REGINA PEDDISON and JAMES WESLEY BELL. She was born January 18, 1877 in Clinton, DeWitt, Illinois.

• Descendant Reports
  • William Scott Descendant Report (Ancestor of Harry V. Scott)
  • Edward Erwin Descendant Report (Ancestor of Harry V. Scott)
  • Jacob Clements Descendant Report (Ancestor of Harry V. Scott)
  • William Campbell Descendant Report (Ancestor of Harry V. Scott)
  • Francis Stuart Descendant Report (Ancestor of Harry V. Scott)

Children of OPAL DOROTHY BELL and HARRY VANTINE SCOTT:

1. JAMES DONALD SCOTT, b. November 4, 1899, Clinton, DeWitt, Illinois;¹³ m. MARGARET RUSSELL BREMNER on April 25, 1931 in Cook County, Illinois^{120, 2085}; d. September 8, 1978, La Jolla, San Diego, California.^{250, 2113}



Marriage Announcements and News

Weekly Pantagraph, August 5, 1898⁵⁰⁵⁹

Married at Clinton.

—Mr. Harry V. T. Scott and Miss Opal D. Bell were married at Clinton last Saturday. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Bell and is well known in this city.

Newspaper Articles

Rock Island Argus, January 22, 1910⁹⁶⁸¹

REFUSES TO BE TURNED DOWN.

The conversation turned to a discussion of young men who had made good in the face of unequal handicaps.

"Did you ever come across an auburn-haired chap from Davenport who signs his John Henry as Harry V. Scott?" inquired the one who prides himself on his intimate knowledge of current social and commercial history in these parts."There's a chap of whose early struggles I happen to know something. Of course you are aware that today he is the vice president of one of the largest concerns in our neighboring city.

"Harry was bookkeeper in a country town lumber office out in Iowa. He was a good one, and he knew that he was. He took the job when very young and held it down for a considerable time, and never had been called for an error. There was a cranky old auditor who periodically dropped into the village to check up his accounts. Harry did not object to this, but the auditor seemed to take delight in picking at him, criticising little things apparently in an effort to make him feel that he was not as efficient as he plumed himself on being. Harry countenanced the gaff until his patience was worn, and he made up his mind that the next time the auditor called him, when he was guiltless of any inaccuracy in the keeping of his accounts, he would forthwith throw up his job. The grouch appeared on his regular trip. It was the same old story. Harry held himself to his promise and informed the auditor that he was through that very night. He was asked if he would not remain until some competent man could be found as his successor. Not him. He admits himself that he did not have over five dollars in his clothes when the following day he set out for Davenport. He did not waste any time in seeing the sights of the city, but started out bright and early in quest of a meal ticket. He knew the clerical side of the lumber business and he decided he would canvass the offices of the concerns engaged in that line. He showed in the office of the U. N. Roberts company. He was received by the head of the company, but was politely told that there was not a vacancy at that time. His name was taken and he would be notified at the first opening. Harry was on his way, but he was not to be discouraged. He returned the next day, and received the same answer, with the further explanation that it was useless for him wasting his time calling at the office until he had been notified to come. Momentarily young Scott was crushed, but after he had reached the open air he pulled himself together and determined on a fresh advance on the morrow. When he reappeared before Mr. Roberts the latter wanted to know if his memory was affected and that if it was so dull that he could not understand the proprieties of business; that time was too valuable to be thus sacrificed in rehearsing a matter which had previously been repeatedly passed upon. This speech gave the young fellow from the country time to get a toe hold, and he proceeded to tell the veteran lumberman what he wanted to do and what he was capable of doling. Incidentally he made a proposition to go to work at anything for $1 a day, because he needed the work, and, more, he needed the money, and he did not conceal the fact from the man on whom he was seeking to force himself as an employe. His persistency and consummate confidence in himself impressed the lumberman. Mr. Roberts suggested a selling trip on the road. Scott said that would be just to his liking. A route list was brought forth. Scott had never been in any of the towns. Mr. Roberts blue penciled dealers on whom it would be useless for the new traveler to call, as they had been drummed for years and had proved 'dead once,' some of them having broken with the Roberts concern because of former business misunderstandings. Scott would accept no more than $1 a day for 30 days, the company, of course, to pay his traveling and living expenses while he was one the road. Scott told his new boss that at the end of the 30 days he would fire himself, for it would not be necessary to tell him whether had had made good or not. Scott's first visits in the places on his route were on the concerns that had been off the calling list of his company. He told the dealers the circumstances under which he had been engaged in his new position. He put up a strong line of talk, as you may appreciate, when it is stated that he got a good order from every last one of them. The boss in Davenport did not know what to think of the orders that were pouring in from the territory on which the new man had been assigned. There is no use to go further. Scott did not lose his job when the 30 days were up. He continued with the Roberts interests, and today he is the vice president of the Gordon-Van Tine company, one of the largest mail order lumber establishments in the United States. For a long time after his first affiliation with the Roberts company as traveling salesman he was dubbed by his intimates as 'Dollar-a-Day Scotty.'"

Rock Island Argus & Daily Union, January 8, 1913⁹⁶⁸⁰

BLACKLISTS AND BURNING CHARGED

Harry V. Scott of Davenport in Sensational Allegations Against Lumbermen.

PURSUE MAIL DEALERS

Mysterious Destruction of Gordon Van Tine Company Plant Referred to.

Systematic blacklisting and boycotting of mail order firms by retail lumber dealers, coupled with mysterious fires, constant espionage of mail order concern officials and bribery of railroad employes was charged against the "northwestern lumber trust," by Harry V. Scott, vice president of the Gordon Van Tine company and of the U. N. Roberts company, both of Davenport, Iowa, and also of the Funck Lumber company of St. Louis, yesterday at the opening session in Chicago of examiner's hearings in the federal suit to dissolve the "trust."

Mr. Scott, the first witness, was the stand most of the day. He was questioned by Clark McKercher, special assistant to the attorney general, and gave much evidence in substantiation of the government's claim that the lumber dealers of the middle west have formed an illegal combination to fight the competition of the mail order houses.

CHARGES MANY CRIMES.

Some of the sensational things Mr. Scott testified to were:

Receipt of two anonymous letters by himself and one by his wife, threatening their lives.

Mysterious destruction of the Gordon Van Tine plant three years ago by fire.

Bribery of employes of the three concerns to obtain lists of customers and the bribery of railroad employes to keep track of shipments.

Systematic check on all customers and the refusal of retail dealers to sell material to customers of mail order houses.

Cutting off sources of lumber supplies and refusal to sell lumber materials to mail order customers except at exorbitant prices.

Swamping the concerns with requests for catalogues and estimates of goods to increase the overhead expense.

The witness testified that the warfare became so bitter he and his associates organized several other concerns and kept it secret that they were associated with them. He said their associations with the concerns finally became known and their business fell off rapidly.

THREATENED HIS WIFE.

"They employed any means short of murder," he sad. "Both my wife and I received threatening letters. Our plant was burned down three years ago. They had detectives in our plant bribed our employes, tracked all of our shipments and then warned dealers in the town to which we shipped.

"I can't say the retail dealers were always in evidence. I know that at different meetings of the secretaries' bureau addresses were given on how to meet the mail order competition, and these were published in "black and white" books.

"We didn't have a free market in the purchase of sash, door and window materials. Several dealers refused outright to sell to us. The competition wasn't fair."

The hearing will be continued today.

Davenport Democrat and Leader, December 18, 1922²¹⁴⁶

MRS. H. V. SCOTT GIVES DELIGHTFUL TEA AT THE OUTING CLUB

Mrs. Harry Van Tine Scott of 2124 Main street, entertained this afternoon at a charmingly appointed holiday tea at the Outing club. 125 Tri-ciy friends being her guests.

The cherry red and evergreen colors of the Christmas season were everywhere in pretty detail, the south reception room—where the hostess received—having baskets of the winter bouquets, red berries, and poinsettia with red and white candles, and shaded lights.

In the dining room the tea table was in red and white with poinsettia centerpiece in vividly brilliant sprays, white was tapers being in silver holders.

Assisting the hostess about the parlors and in pouring were Mrs. Carl. Vollmer, Mrs. Julius Hiller, Mrs. E. C. Roberts, Mrs. D. J. Clausen, Miss Clausen, Mrs. Henry Von Maur, Mrs. Wm. Henigbaum, Mrs. Isaac Deutsch, Mrs. Harry K. Spencer, and Mrs. B. H. Biederbecke.

Davenport Democrat and Leader, January 8, 1923²¹⁴⁴

Retires as President of the Chamber

One of the most successful administrations of the civic interests of Davenport ended today when Harry V. Scott of the Gordon-Van Tine company retired as president of the Chamber of Commerce. One of Mr. Scott's innovations was the "Aldermanic Pen" by which the membership of the chamber is divided into blocs, and one member of the board of directors is made an alderman for each bloc. He represents this number of members on the board and their complaints and suggestions are voiced thru him.

Davenport Democrat and Leader, November 16, 1923⁵⁷⁶

Harry V. Scott Resigns His Position With the Gordon-Van-Tine Co.

ANNOUNCEMENT was made today by the Gordon-Van Tine company of the resignation of Harry V. Scott, vice-president and general manager of the Gordon-Van Tine company and the U. N. Roberts company, to take effect Dec. 1.

Horace G. Roberts, present treasurer, will take over Mr. Scott's duties as vice-president and general manager of the above firms and their subsidiaries. W. C. Claussen will become treasurer, succeeding Mr. Roberts.

Mr. Scott and his family will leave shortly for Chicago, where they will make their future home, and where Mr. Scott will go into business for himself. His plans are not ready for publication at this time, but will be announced in the near future.

The departure of Mr. Scott to enter other fields takes from Davenport not only one of our leading business men, but a man who has been active in the upbuilding of the community as well. He helped organize and served as first chairman of the Greater Davenport committee, and has been on numerous boards in various civic enterprises, and last year served as president of the Davenport Chamber of Congress.

Mr. Scott's resignation severs a connection of many years' duration with the U. N. Roberts company, where he served as salesman, sales manager, vice-president, and since 1917 as general manager of the U. N. Roberts company and the Gordon-Van Tine company, which he helped organize 17 years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been prominent in the social life of Davenport and the Tri-cities, and the good wishes of a legion of friends will go with them as they leave for their new home.

Davenport Democrat and Leader, December 3, 1923²¹⁴⁵

MRS. W. H. HENIGBAUM GIVES LUNCHEON FOR MRS. HARRY V. SCOTT

Mrs. W. H. Henigbaum of East River road, Camp BcClellan, entertained at a charmingly appointed luncheon at her home this noon as a farewell courtesy for Mrs. Harry V. Scott who with Mr. Scott is leaving the last of the month for a new home in Chicago. There were covers for 24 at the table. There are a number of informal affairs and small parties during the coming week for Mrs. Scott whose many friends are keenly regretting her leaving the city.

Among the parties for her is a luncheon bridge of Saturday at which Mrs. Frederick Lamb is entertaining a few frineds at the Outing club.

Chicago Tribune, March 25, 1938²¹²¹

Mrs. Harry V. Scott of 900 North Michigan avenue will return from Coral Gables, Fla., the latter part of April, stopping at Sea Island and Aiken en route. Mrs. J. Donald Scott, the former Peggy Bremner, and her two children, who also are in Coral Gables, will return to their Lake Forest home about May 1. During the absence of his wife and children young Mr. Scott has been staying in town with his father.

Obituaries

Chicago Daily Tribune, January 5, 1960¹²⁰

Harry V. T. Scott

Harry Van Tine Scott, 83, former president of the Rinn-Scott Lumber company, 2759 S. Kedzie av., died Monday in the home of his son, J. Donald, at 2029 Chestnut av., Wilmette. Mr. Scott, who lived at 900 N. Michigan av., retired four years ago. Other survivors are his widow, Dorothy B.; four grandchilden, and a great-grandchild. Mass will be said at 10:30 a. m. Thursday in SS. Faith, Hope, and Charity church, Winnetka.

Census Records

Date	Location	Enumerated Names
July 1, 1880568	Des Moines, Polk, Iowa	Rufus Irving Scott Sarah Harriet Jordan Harry VanTine Scott
188583	Des Moines, Polk, Iowa	Rufus Irving Scott Sarah Harriet Jordan Harry VanTine Scott
June 8, 1900575	Clinton, DeWitt, Illinois	Opal Dorothy Bell James Donald Scott
1905330	Davenport, Scott, Iowa	Harry VanTine Scott Opal Dorothy Bell James Donald Scott
April 27, 1910570	Davenport, Scott, Iowa	Harry VanTine Scott Opal Dorothy Bell James Donald Scott
April 19, 1930420	Chicago, Cook, Illinois	Harry VanTine Scott Opal Dorothy Bell James Donald Scott
April 20, 19403228	Chicago, Cook, Illinois	Harry VanTine Scott Opal Dorothy Bell
April 3, 19509581	Chicago, Cook, Illinois	Harry VanTine Scott Opal Dorothy Bell