Santa Cruz County Biographies

J. W. LINSCOTT

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        A gentleman who has held the office of county superintendent of schools 
for eight consecutive years, being elected the last time without opposition, 
must possess more than ordinary qualifications. Such, however, is the record of 
Mr. J. W. Linscott.
        He was born May 7, 1848, in Jefferson, Lincoln County, Maine. His early 
life was spent upon his father's farm, and his first education obtained in the 
public schools of his native village. Later he attended Lincoln Academy and the 
Watsonville Classical Institute, graduating from the latter. He prepared for the 
Colby University, but, on account of ill health, at the age of eighteen was 
compelled to give up studying.
        He began his career as a teacher at the age of seventeen. Except a year 
spent at the Waltham Watch Factory, and such time as he was compelled, on 
account of ill health, to remain at home, he was continuously engaged in the 
profession until January 1, 1891. During eight years of his incumbency as 
superintendent of schools of Santa Cruz County, the superintendent's salary did 
not justify the giving of exclusive attention to the duties of the office, so he 
held the position of principal of the Watsonville School.
        He came to California via the Isthmus, arriving in San Francisco the 
21st of April, 1868. His cousin, J. A. Linscott, had previously arrived and 
lived in Santa Cruz County, and this was the objective point of J. W.'s trip. 
When he arrived here, H. E. Makinney was county superintendent of schools, and 
three days after his arrival, through the superintendent, he secured the 
Railroad District School near Watsonville. In less than a fort�night from his 
arrival in California he was teaching. He boarded at O. H. Willoughby's, working 
on the farm during vacation, and at such other times as the duties of his school 
did not demand his attention. He taught in the Roache district for one year, 
also at the Beach School, and in September, 1872, was elected principal of the 
Watsonville School, which position he resigned January 1, 1891, to devote his 
entire time to the duties of county school superintendent, the salary having 
been increased so as to justify that course.
        In 1879 Mr. Linscott was a candidate for county superintendent. He lived 
in a Republican county, but in the Democrat end of it, being comparatively 
unknown at Santa Cruz. Notwithstanding this, he came to Aptos with five hundred 
majority, but was defeated, his Democratic opponent receiving the vote of the 
Republican end of the county. I mention this fact merely to show the esteem in 
which he was then held by those who knew him, although they were his political 
opponents.
        He was married, December 4, 1870, to Emma Scott, of Watsonville, 
daughter of R. J. F. Scott, one of the pioneers. He has seven children living, 
five boys and two girls; the eldest, Harry A., nineteen years old, and a 
teacher; the youngest, Leo, aged six. The others are: Clara May, Raymond, Anna, 
Roy, and Clyde.
 
HISTORY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.-  E. S. Harrison, 
Pacific Press Publ. Co., San Francisco, 1891