JAMES SCOTT, one of the foremost business men of Smith township, is a native of the same, having been born December 27, 1827, on his father's farm. His 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 wild tract of land near Raccoon postoffice, Robinson township, 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, and educated in this county. In 1822 he selected, as his life companion, Margaret, daughter of James Stephenson, of Smith township. The young people first settled on a farm in Robinson township, this county, 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 the couple were : Ann, Robert K., James, Samuel, 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 U. P. 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. James Scott received a common school education, and followed agricultural pursuits on the home farm until 1852. He and his brother Finley then joined the throng of gold seekers bound for California, first going to New York, then sailing in the steamer "Eldorado" to Aspinwall, thence crossing the fever haunted Isthmus, partly by water, partly by rail, the rest on foot, and at length after tramping some twenty-one miles, they reached Panama. One of the men was there taken sick with the fever prevalent in that locality, and the entire party was detained a few days. When he had partially recovered, they took passage for San Francisco on the steamer "J. L. Stevens," proceeding on their journey until opposite San Pedro bay, in California. The ship then became disabled and they were obliged to lay until assistance could be brought from San Francisco. They had barely reached their destination when the sick companion, William Shields, succumbed to the fever and passed away. James Scott followed the life of a miner in El Dorado county, but not realizing his expectations of success returned to Washington county the following year, by the same route as on the outward journey. He then took charge of the "Old Egypt Mill' at Midway, conducting that business for several years. On June 12, 1855, he was married to Lizzie Galbraith, who was born in 1831, daughter of William Galbraith, of Smith township. They have had the following children: Finley S. (decease, married to Anna Riddle), William G. (a machinist of Wellsville, Ohio), Harry C. F. (living at home), Samuel G. (a blacksmith of Cross Creek village), and George R. (living with his father). The mother of this family died in 1873, and on August 20, 1878, the father united in marriage with Lizzie E. B., daughter of John Gregg, who has borne him one son, John G. After his marriage Mr. Scott located on a farm situated about two miles east of Burgettstown, this county, where he resided until 1859, then located on his present home, which is one mile and a half south of that borough. Mr. Scott was engaged in the agricultural and implement business for three years, having since followed farming and stock raising. He is well and favorably known in the township, and in politics was a Democrat before the war, having since voted the Republican ticket. His is not an active politician, but has held various township offices. He and his wife are both consistent members of the U. P. Church.

Text taken from page 1274 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Sharon McConnell of Fontana, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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