FINLEY SCOTT, a skilled blacksmith and energetic husbandman of Smith township, is a son of Finley and grandson of Abraham Scott. Abraham Scott was born and reared in Maryland, and when a young man came to Pittsburgh, Penn., afterward settling in Washington county with his brother Alexander. He purchased a tract of wild land on Raccoon creek, Robinson township, this county, where his life was passed in agricultural pursuits. He was married to Jane, a sister of John Finley, the founder of Finleyville, and reared the following children: Rachel (Mrs. James Russell), Mary (wife of Thomas Fletcher), Ann (married to James Kerr), Jane (wife of David White), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Scott), Susan (married to John McBride), Abraham, Finley, Holland and Samuel. The father was a Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church at Raccoon. Finley Scott was born in 1800, in Robinson township, this county, and here educated. In 1822 he married Margaret, daughter of James Stephenson, of Smith township. The young people first settled on a farm in Robinson township, remaining there a few years, when they rented a neighboring farm, afterward purchasing a place in Smith township where they lived twenty years, and finally moved to the home where the remainder of their lives was passed. The children of this couple are Ann, Robert K., Samuel, James, Finley, John, Levi, Jane F. (Mrs. William Cowen) and Margaret (wife of Thomas Ackleson). Mr. Scott was the architect of his own fortune, and owned 450 acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred in 1879. He was a Democrat and held various township offices. In church connection he was first a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown, this county, afterward uniting with the Associate Reformed Church, in which he was an elder. Both he and his wife are buried in the U. P. cemetery.
Finley Scott, the subject of this biography, was born December 10, 1831, on the "Hanover Farm" in Smith township, receiving a common-school education. In early youth he learned the blacksmith's trade with Josiah Scott, of Burgettstown, which he followed until 1852, when, with his brother James and a few others, he started for California. They traveled to New York, then took passage to Aspinwall by the steamer "Eldorado;" they crossed the Isthmus, walking the last twenty-one miles, and upon arriving at Panama one of their number was attacked with the "Isthmus fever." He soon was able to continue the journey, and they sailed for San Francisco on the steamer "J. L. Stevens," but when opposite San Pedro bay, the steamer was disabled. Assistance was soon brought from San Francisco, but not long after reaching the end of their journey, William Shields, the sick companion, died and was buried at San Francisco. Finley Scott proceeded with his friends from San Francisco to Eldorado county, and followed mining with fair success. Mr. Scott afterward worked at his trade in California, but eventually returned to Burgettstown, this county. In September, 1857 he was married to Theresa A. Crawford, who was born August 1, 1838, daughter of Thomas Crawford, of Burgettstown, Penn., who has borne him children as follows: France L. (an engineer on the P. C. C. & St. L. R. R.), Thomas L. (an engineer on the same railway), Samuel J. (deceased in infancy), Clara A. (living at home), John E. (an employe of the B. & O. R. R. Co. at Cincinnati Ohio), Ella M. (living with her parents), Theresa Bell and Laura A. (twins, living at home), Annie E. and Charles L. (both residing on the home farm). Mr. and Mrs. Finley Scott began married life in Burgettstown, this county, where he followed his trade till 1866, and then moved to a farm about one mile and a half northwest of that borough, in Smith township. In 1881 he removed to his present pleasant home, situated on the Florence road two miles from Burgettstown. He has since divided his time between his trade and agricultural pursuits, shipping some milk to Pittsburgh. Personally Finley Scott is a very pleasant and entertaining conversationalist, and is a popular and respected citizen. In politics he is a Democrat. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown.
Text taken from page 1225 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]