Short Biography of Jessie A. Scott

Jessie Abby (Abigail) was born March 18, 1881. She graduated from Ashland, Neb. High School in 1898. Took post graduate work in 1899. In 1900, her mother died and she took charge of the house and family. During July 1911-Aug. 1912, was librarian at the Ashland Public Library. In the fall of 1912, was appointed assistant in the Omaha Public Library, where she remained until Aug. 1914. In Sept. 1914, she was admitted to the Library School of the New York Public Library. She finished the first term, when she returned to Ashland Jan. 1915. On April 8, 1915 she was married to Dr. Frederick Hoyer Millener at that time Electrical Experiment Engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad. She lived in Omaha, Neb. until Dec.1915, when she was obliged to leave Dr. Millener. She filed papers for divorce and returned to New York Jan. 1916. She took the 2nd year course in 1917, at the same time holding the position as Teachers Assistant in the school. She received a diploma Jun 1917 and entered the New York Public Library system.

Her divorce decree is entered in record of Douglas County (Omaha) Journal 157, page 220, Docket 141, Number 305. Divorce granted Aug. 28, 1916.

She served as hostess with the American Y.M.C A. in England in 1919-1920. She was waiting to sail when the Armistice came. Because her passport and papers were in order, she was sent to England, with only a week's notice on April 8, 1919 where she remained until March 25, 1920. She returned to N.Y. May 2, 1920. From April to July, 1919, she was hostess at the Grafton Hotel, London. It was headquarters for the students among the enlisted men who were waiting to return to U.S. She also substituted at Eagle Hut, London sometimes. She was suddenly sent down to Plymouth, England, where she had charge of the house formerly run as an American Officer's club for the Navy. Part of the time, she ran this as a "boarding house." The Y.M.C.A was tied up with a lease, requiring the presence of a YMCA secretary. They were unable to sublet the place and as the rent was very high, the YMCA tried to meet part of the expense. Part of the time the place was re-opened as an officer's club. When the mine sweeping force came down from the Orkney Islands and was in Plymouth six weeks, she had big parties every week. The last and biggest party was given in Lady Astor's home, near by. She made a mistake by asking all the petty officers along with the other officers for this big dance. All the officers and petty officers came, the beautiful Plymouth girls did their best to give all the men a good time and it was considered the most successful party ever given in Plymouth.

After the mine sweeping force left, Lady Astor took over the house for her secretaries. When Lord Astor's father passed away, Lord Astor (then without the title) was in the House of Commons. He did not want to go into the House of Lords. Lady Astor campaigned for his seat in the House of Commons, hoping to keep the seat for him, if he could find a way to keep it.

Lady Astor won the election and was the first woman to enter Parliament. Jessie put on civilian clothes and helped to campaign for Lady Astor. She was given different streets to canvass. If people were against Lady Astor, the names of these people were given to Lady Astor and then expert campaigners were sent to interview them. On the night before Lady Astor left for London, she and Lord Aston had a big meeting in Plymouth, where both of them spoke. Jessie sat on the platform with them, with other notable people.

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When I graduated from the Library School of the New York City Public Library, I had to write a thesis. I chose as my subject "Great Private Book Collections in the United States since 1890." When I re-read the thesis in 1967 it seemed very interesting, so I gave it to the San Diego Public Library, San Diego, California, telling them if not able to use it, give it away or destroy it.

Much to my surprise, they added it to the book collections and it is now cataloged as a reference book.

Source: "Personal Papers of Jesse Scott Millener" ³⁶⁷⁵

Millener, Frederick Hoyer, M. D., Buffalo, son of Joel H. and Emma P. (Hoyer) Millener, was born in Tonawanda, N. Y., June 8, 1872. He was educated in the public and high schools of Buffalo and Tonawanda and later at De Veaus College, Suspension Bridge N. Y., and in 1889 began the study of medicine at the Jefferson Medical College and Hospital at Philadelphia, Pa., from which he was graduated with a certificate of Honorable Mention and the degree of M. D. in 1893. Immediately he returned to Buffalo and began practice. He is a member of the staff of the Buffalo Eye and Ear Infirmary, a member of the Erie County Medical Society and the Academy of Medicine.

Source: "Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York" ³⁰⁹

Genealogy

Jessie Scott Millener was an avid genealogist, and did much work on the Scott Family Genealogy. The initial work on this site was based on her research. She had made binders for family members with all the letters from Mary A. J. Reid and all of her work on the Scott and Irvine families in Virginia. Much of her work was hand-copied from library books.