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 ROBERT SCOTT. � Preeminent among the cornerstones of commerce in Selma is the Walter Scott Company, dealers in groceries and hardware, whose store is at 2014-16 Second Street, under the direction of Robert Scott, the company's president and manager. His father, the late Walter Scott, was the founder of the firm and was rated as one of Selma's most important busi- ness men. A Canadian by birth, he was born at Paris, that country, on January 24, 1835. and when a young man came to Michigan to work in the lumber camps. There he married Miss Martha Scott, who, though of the same name was of no kinship with him, and in 1869, with their first child, Mary (now the wife of G. W. Woods of Selma), they moved to Lancaster County, Nebr., where he took up a homestead of 160 acres. He also there availed himself of his preemption and timber-claim rights, and proved up 480 acres in three different tracts near Bennett. He eventually became the owner of much Nebraska land and engaged extensively in the stock business. In 1873, the elder Scott diversified his work by engaging in the general merchandise business at Bennett, Nebr., and soon built up a good trade, but for three or four years in succession the grasshoppers destroyed crop after crop and that whole section of the country was devastated, so much so that even the Indians hurried away to keep from starving. Under the fearful stress of these awful conditions, Mr. Scott's business was utterly ruined, and the holder of a mortgage took his homestead, upon which, at great labor and expense he had put out an extensive apple orchard, one of the first in Lancas- ter County. This apple orchard contained some very choice fruit trees, which were sheltered and protected by three rows of cottonwoods. and this Mr. Scott had to sell in order to save himself. The very next year was an excel- lent one for apples, and such a bumper crop did the buyer of the homestead harvest that when he had boxed the apples and shipped them to Lincoln he was able, from the proceeds, to pay for the entire 160 acres. Mr. Scott had been a teamster and freighter when he first came to Nebraska, and he hauled from Nebraska City to the new settlement in Lancaster County before Lin- coln was founded, and before the Union Railway was in full operation. After the grasshopper scourge he reengaged in the stock business, and owing to the plentifulness of free ranges, he prospered ; he bought heavily of rail- road, school and other lands and was soon on the road to prosperity again. His next move was to Stromberg, Nebr., where he and his son-in-law. G. W. Woods, engaged in the general merchandise business for about twelve years. Eventually they sold out and bade goodby to scenes with which they had been so closely identified, and came to the Pacific Coast. Here they settled in the Lewis River Valley, in Washington, and again engaged in the general merchandise business, at Woodland. Realizing, how- ever, that that place was too small for him. Mr. Scott made a trip to Central California, visiting the vicinity of Selma, and he was so well pleased with all that he saw, and what his prophetic vision enabled him to forecast, that he bought land for himself and his son-in-law, three miles north of town. Then, having decided to come to Selma for the purpose of improving his purchase, he brought from Washington his entire family, and the party arrived on November 1, 1891. He at once started to improve his ranch, and a few months later, in March. 1802, started in business as well, buying out J. F. Hall, of the firm of Ross & Hall, dealers in general merchandise, the firm becoming Ross & Scott. In 1805. Mr. Ross also sold out to Walter Scott, and the firm name was changed to Walter Scott & Co. The firm continued to prosper and business increased so rapidly, that in 1901 the com- pany was duly incorporated under the name of the Walter Scott Company, with the following officers: Walter Scott, president; Hattie M. Gill, vice- president ; Charles Schweandt. secretary ; and Walter G. Scott, treasurer and manager. In a side-hill dugout on the homestead near Bennett, Nebr., Walter G. Scott was born, October 8. 1870, as was also his second sister. Hattie M., now the wife of S. H. Gill. Their mother died in Nebraska, and was buried near Palmyra in that state. The father later married again, taking for his second wife Mrs. M. J. Mitchell, a widow, her maiden name being Martha J. Thomas, and by his second wife Mr. Scott had one son. Robert. Mrs. Scott was the widow of M. J. Mitchell of Nebraska, and she had two sons and one daughter by her first husband: Mrs. A. E. Williams, of Los Angeles: H. M. Mitchell, machinist of Hanford ; and Ernest, who died when twenty-one years of age. On the death of Mr. Scott, in 1000, Mrs. Scott moved to Los Angeles, and has since made her home there. Walter G. Scott continued to manage the business until 1906, when he sold out his interest. Robert Scott and Mrs. Gill continued to conduct the store under the name of Walter Scott Company until 1914, when they divided the establishment, Mrs. Gill taking the dry goods and organizing the firm of S. H. Gill Company (Inc.), and Robert Scott taking the grocery and hard- ware departments and retaining the firm name of Walter Scott Company. The present officers of the incorporated company are : President and mana- ger, Robert Scott; vice-president, Mrs. M. J. Scott, the mother of Robert Scott; second vice-president, Mrs. Adah Scott, wife of Robert; secretary and treasurer, Alice S. Bemusdaffer; director, L. L. Cory of Fresno. The firm occupies a large double store and a large warehouse at the rear, also owning and operating still another large warehouse. Robert Scott was born in Selma, February 2, 1893, and attended the public and high school of his native town, later taking a course at Heald's Business College at Los Angeles, graduating from that institution in 1910. He early began to work in his father's store, first as messenger and delivery boy, then clerk, and finally rising to the position of president and manager of the establishment, and now devotes his time to the business his father founded. Fraternally he is a member of the Native Sons, and past president of the Selma Parlor. He is an active member of the California Raisin Grow- ers Association and also of the California Peach Growers, Inc. The marriage of Robert Scott, which occurred in Los Angeles, in 1911, united him with Miss Adah C. Conklin, of that city, and one child has been born to them, Norman Hugh. On September 4, 1917, Robert Scott volun- teered in the United States Navy for service during the World War ; he trained for two months at Goat Island, then was ordered to Norfolk, Va., where he studied and trained as chief gunner in the Ordnance Department for three months, graduated, and was appointed instructor of recruits, which position he held four months, then was transferred to Washington, D. C, remained there until December, 1918, when he was sent back to Goat Island, and received his honorable discharge on December 24, 1918, and arrived home on Christmas eve.