BIOGRAPHY - JOHN SCOTT
John A. Scott, a retired agriculturist residing in Piper City, was formerly extensively engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 9, Mona township, where he owns a fine farm of six hundred and forty acres. A native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, he was born January 1, 1848. His father, John Scott, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania and was of Scotch descent. He married Lydia Pees, who was also a native of the Keystone state and was of German lineage. They became the parents of eight children, as follows: Franklin, a practicing physician residing in Monongahela City, Washington county, Pennsylvania; William J., who is engaged in farming in Washington county, Ohio; Winfield, a resident farmer of Mona township; George; Mary; Lydia J., the deceased wife of Lewis Dague; Sarah E., who died in 1873; and John, of this review. The father of this family died in 1886 at the age of eighty-two years, while the mother passed away in 1888. Both were members of the Presbyterian church and highly respected people.
John A. Scott was born and reared on his father's farm and, after attending the district schools of the neighborhood for some time, completed his education in the Hoge Summit Academy, of Washington, Pennsylvania. He began the study of medicine but in 1866 abandoned it in order to come west, making his first location in Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, where he worked at whatever he could find to do for about a year. He then began farming, following that occupation during the summer months, while he engaged in teaching in the winter season for three years. He made his home in Grundy and Marshall counties until 1870, when he came to Ford county, locating in Mona township, where he became extensively engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His farm, comprising six hundred and forty acres, is one of the most desirable and valuable in the community, the fields annually returning golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. He also made many improvements on the place and in addition to the work of tilling the soil also raised a good grade of stock, meeting with a gratifying and creditable measure of success in both branches of his business. He is now, however, living retired in Piper City, having gained a competence that enables him to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life without further recourse to labor.
In 1870 occurred the marriage of Mr. Scott and Miss Margaret A. Collins, daughter of Philip and Ann Collins. Their union has been blessed with five children: Marion H., Lila May, Frank R., Philip C. and Milla.
Mr. Scott is a stalwart champion of the democratic party and has always taken a great interest in political affairs. While living in Mona township he served as school director, road commissioner, school treasurer and township supervisor, discharging every duty entrusted to his care in an efficient and capable manner. He has prospered from year to year and has conducted all business matters carefully and successfully, and in all his acts displayed an aptitude for successful management. He is widely recognized as one of Ford county's substantial and enterprising citizens, and both he and his wife have gained an extensive circle of friends during their residence here.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 826-827.
