Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


DAVID SCOTT. � The Kerman district is fortunate in having such a 
public-spirited citizen as David Scott, rancher, of the Empire Colony, and 
formerly justice of the peace of Township 11, and a lawyer of many years of 
experience in the Middle West. 

Mr. Scott is a native of the Buckeye State, having first seen the light 
of day at Saint Paris, near Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, on November 
19, 1868. His parents were Rev. David and Mary J. (Lippincott) Scott, both 
natives of Ohio, the father having been born in Logan County, the mother in 
Lima. Rev. David Scott was an able pioneer preacher of the Baptist Church 
in Ohio where he continued his faithful work until 1873 when he located in 
Beloit, Mitchell County, Kans., and engaged in farming as well as continuing 
his work of preaching the gospel and was instrumental in organizing churches 
all over the northwestern portion of Kansas. After many years of faithful 
service in the vineyard of the Lord, the Rev. David Scott retired in 1890, 
and continued to reside in Kansas until his removal to Harrisonville, Mo., 
where his devoted wife passed away in 1896, after which he returned to 
Ohio where he died in February, 1904. At Myrtletree, Ohio, he organized 
the first Baptist Church and preached the dedicatory sermon when the first 
church building was erected, and fifty years later attended the dedicatory 
services upon the occasion of the completion of a new church edifice, on the 
same site, when he preached the dedicatory sermon. During the Civil War, 
Rev. David Scott was a first lieutenant in the Forty-second Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, which was in command of Gen. James A. Garfield, who later be- 
came President of the United States of America, being inaugurated on 
March 4, 1881, was shot July 2, by an assassin, and died September 19, 1881. 

The Rev. David Scott and wife were the parents of nine children, three 
of whom, all boys, are still living, the subject of this review. Judge David 
Scott, being the second youngest; Tully Scott, the oldest brother, is Asso- 
ciate Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado ; L. W. Scott, the other 
brother, is a broker, residing in Kansas City, Mo. 

When about five years of age, David Scott removed with his parents 
from Ohio to Kansas where he attended the public school of his district, and 
also at Chillicothe, Mo., and for one year had the privilege of attending that 
splendid educational institution of the Baptist Church, William Jewell Col- 
lege, situated at Liberty, Mo. Afterwards he became contest clerk, in the 
United States Government Land Office at Oberlin, Kans. Having decided to 
enter professional circles, David Scott took up the , study of jurisprudence 
and in due time was admitted to the bar, taking up the active practice of law, 
which he followed at Oberlin, Kans., until 1890, when he drove overland to 
Lewistown, Mont. Here he opened a law office and established a newspaper, 
the Montana Democrat, later the Lewistown Democrat; also finding time 
to engage in mining. 

In January, 1907, Mr. Scott removed to Goldfield, Hey., where he opened 
an office for the practice of his profession, also becoming interested in mining 
property, and purchasing a twenty-eight-acre claim, but owing to the financial 
panic of 1907 he did not develop his mine. In December, 1909, he located at 
Kerman. Fresno County, where he purchased a forty-acre ranch of raw 
land, in the Empire Colony, located on Thompson Avenue, between Belmont 
and McKinley. He leveled and improved the land, planted alfalfa, built a 
residence, and engaged in the dairy business, continuing until August, 1916, 
when he rented his ranch and located on Madera Avenue. 

Having a desire to reenter professional life. Mr. Scott became a candi- 
date for the office of justice of the peace, for the Eleventh Township. Fresno 
County, at the primary election held August. 1914. receiving the nomination 
over three opponents and later was duly elected for a term of four years, 
taking the oath of office in January. 1915, serving till January, 1919. 

On December 7, 1895. in the state of Montana, Mr. Scott was united 
in marriage with Miss Clara M. McKoin, a native of Helena, Mont., and a 
graduate of the Helena High School. Her parents were pioneers of Oregon 
and Montana, being engaged in ranching and stock-raising. This union has 
been blessed with two children: Rena, a graduate of Kerman High School; 
and Doris, who graduated from Fresno High School. 

Fraternally, Judge Scott is a member of Judith Lodge, No. 30, Knights 
of Pythias, at Lewistown. Mont., and in political matters supports the Demo- 
cratic ticket. Judge Scott has won a host of friends by his just decisions, is 
a highly esteemed and progressive citizen and always gives his aid to the 
advancement of all movements for the betterment of the community.