California Biographies, Santa Cruz County
HIRAM DANIEL SCOTT. 

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

Source:
History of Santa Cruz County, California 
Pacific Press Publishing Company
San Francisco, Cal. 1892
By E. S. Harrison 

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

HIRAM DANIEL SCOTT. 

Even before tjie era made famous by the discovery of gold there had been adventurous men, attracted by the soil 
and climate of California, who had sought homes on these fair western shores and had brought to the Spanish aris- 
tocracy of the region a glimpse of the energy and enterprise for which Americans are famous the world over. 
Among those who identified themselves with the west during the Spanish regime, mention should be given to the 
late Hiram Daniel Scott, for years one of the prominent ranchers of Santa Cruz county. In common with the ma- 
jority of the pioneers, he was fond of mining and experienced all the changes of good and ill fortune incident to 
that occupation. When he came to this county there were few Americans, but he found the Spaniards friendly, and the 
Indians as well (of whom there were still a large number), gave him the kindest of treatment, their friendship at times 
proving of great personal benefit to him. 

Born at Pittston, on the banks of the Kennebec river in Maine, January 28, 1822, Hiram Daniel Scott was a member 
of a large family, all of whom were forced to assume the task of self-support at the earliest possible age. Taking up 
the life of a sailor he rose by steady promotions until he was made second mate of a ship and in that capacity he 
sailed the high seas, visiting many of the ports of the western hemisphere. As second mate of the sailing vessel J. C. 
Whiting, he sailed into the beautiful bay of Monterey during the year 1846. The ship had sailed from New York and had 
rounded the Horn on its way to San Francisco. Life as a sailor had grown distasteful to the mate and the view of 
the land near the bay was so inviting that he deserted the ship. For several days the captain waited for him, mean- 
while instituting a thorough search, but a Spanish family befriended him until the vessel had left the port. The little 
Spanish settlement of Santa Cruz presented no resemblance to the present progressive city. The houses were made of 
rough boards and shakes and contained no furniture not absolutely essential. As a rule, they were barren of com- 
forts, yet the people were happy and contented in their peaceful community by the sea. 

When in 1848 news came of the discovery of gold at Sutter's mills, Mr. Scott and a companion were building a ves- 
sel on the beach, at a point in front of the present site of the Sea Beach hotel. The vessel was large and was being built 
for trading purposes along the coast. Although only about one-half completed when the news came, the men dropped 
their tools and abandoned the boat in order to hurry to the mines. It is not known how long Mr. Scott remained at the 
mines, but his remarkable success at that time is known. On leaving the mines he went to the present site of the city 
of Stockton, where the firm of Scott, Bonsall & Doak built and controlled the ferry and also built and operated a large 
hotel. This was known as the St. Charles and was the first hotel in Stockton; it was built at a cost of $100,000. Hun- 
dreds of cattle crossed the ferry every day at a rate of $1 per head, and other charges were in proportion, so that 
money came easily. 

Returning to Santa Cruz county in 1852 Mr. Scott bought for $25,000 a tract of land which was known as the San Au- 
gustine ranch, but which is now known more commonly as Scott's valley. The ranch was situated six miles from town 
and was utilized for the raising of potatoes, hay and fine horses. In addition he bought a ranch on a creek that after- 
ward was given his name. During 1850 he was joined by two sisters, namely : Lucy, who afterward became Mrs. Ferguson, 
of Linden, San Joaquin county; and Sarah, who married Thomas Cooper, of Watsonville. The two girls came by- 
way of Panama and their passage cost $1,000. A few years later the father, Capt. Daniel Scott, and two brothers, Ed- 
ward and Joseph, came to the western coast. During 1854 Hiram D. Scott returned to the old Maine homestead and 
after a visit with old friends brought to the west the remaining members of the family, including his step-mother and 
two younger brothers, Henry and Frank ; also a sister, Delia, who afterward became the wife of Jerome Porter; and an- 
other sister, Victoria, now Mrs. Snow, of Watsonville; together with the youngest sister, Carrie, now Mrs. Sanborn, 
of San Francisco. The only surviving members of the once large family are Mrs. Sanborn, Mrs. Snow and Frank Scott, 
of San Francisco. 

The marriage of Hiram Daniel Scott took place in San Jose August 11, 1861, and united him with Miss Agnes Cum- 
ming, a native of Ontario, Canada, and a woman of endearing qualities of heart. Three children blessed their union, 
namely: William N., of Sacramento; Frances A., wife of E. H. Ford, of Wilmington, Del.; and Miss N. Maude, who re- 
sides with her mother at No. 19 Vine street, Santa Cruz. The framework of their residence was brought around the 
Horn in 1849 on a sailing vessel and is still in a fine state of preservation. The house was one of the very first frame 
structures erected in the town and was then, as now, the center of a warm hospitality graciously extended to all whose 
good fortune it was to be entertained within its walls. During his latter days Mr. Scott retained his interest in mining 
ventures. At one time he was connected with the Silver Mountain mine in Alpine county, but that prospect had a 
disastrous termination. After an absence of five years from Santa Cruz he abandoned mining temporarily and returned 
to bis home in Santa Cruz, but the fascination of the mines still lingered with him and a few years later he began to 
mine near Phoenix, Ariz. A fair degree of success was rewarding his efforts in that region when, in 1887, he died at 
Casa Grande, near the location of one of his mines. Many years have come and gone since he passed away. Changes 
have been wrought in the landward aspect of the beautiful bay on which his vision first rested from shipboard in 1846, 
but the same sun still brings harvests of grain and fruit and the same balmy air wafts contentment and happiness to the 
dwellers by the sunset sea. 

Mr. Scott employed several Indians and was put in charge of the grandchildren of Captain Frukee of the Piutes. Many 
of these have become famous, among them Chief Natchez, who became chief of the Piutes. Sarah afterwards became 
prominent as a lecturer, known as Princess Sarah, and others have also attained prominence. Princess Sarah was edu- 
cated in a convent by Mr. Scott for a period, this constituting the foundation of her education.