The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson County, Ohio,
in April, 1837, the second son of Merchant Scott, of Jefferson
County, Ohio, of Irish and Scotch descent. His mother's name
was Mary Stringer, of Irish descent. John attended school in Jefferson County, Ohio, until fourteen years of age, and moved with
his family to Humboldt, Kansas, in 1857. Three years later he
commenced business on his own account, and continued it until the
town was burned by Confederate bushwhackers, after which he
immediately recruited a company of Indians and entered the Federal service in May, 1862, as tirst lieutenant. In June of the same
year he was captured and incarcerated at Fort Smith, and in
August following he was exchanged at Cassville, Missouri,
and returned to his regiment. In October, 1862, he was mustered
out by Major Van Antwerp, General Blount's adjutant-general.
In the same year he commenced the sutler business, at Bentonville,
Arkansas, for the Second Indian Regiment, and moved with them
to Fort Gibson in the spring of 1863, continuing in that department until 1865, when he was mustered out. After the war he
went to Kansas, and returned to Fort Gibson in 1871 and there
established a small store, with a limited stock of general merchandise. In the same year he married Miss Margaret Coody, daughter
of Daniel Coody, a Cherokee and niece of General Ruecker's wife.
By this marriage he has one boy. Walker, born August 14, 1872.
Mrs. Scott dying in 1873, he married Miss Belle Harnage, daughter
of John G. Harnage, a noted man among the Cherokees, having
tilled almost all the principal national offices. By this marriage
he has four children, viz.: Gibson R., born October 19, 1877;
Emma, born August 16, 1881; John S., born June 21, 1883. and
Raphael, born September 11, 1889. Mr. Scott at present carries a stock of $18,000 to $20,000 in general merchandise. He has a
tine two-story brick building, fifty by seventy-five feet, an engraving of which will be found in this volume. Mr. Scott handles a
great deal of cotton annually, he has considerable farm interest,
and a line two-story residence, barns, gardens, orchards, etc. He
is a man of gentlemanly bearing, five feet ten inches in height
and weighs 150 pounds. He is cheerful and affable in manner and
yery popular. As a business man he has few superiors, possessing
as he does the full confidence of the public, and the respect and
esteem of all who know him. Mr. Scott is also postmaster at Fort
Gibson.
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