Bourbon County Biographies
"The Why of Fort Scott"
J. G. MILLER.
Mr. Miller had made a visit here in 1858, and finding Fort Scott all that was to be desired, decided to
come back, make a home, and start in business. The
fall of the next year, 1859, saw his project realized.
He first lived in one of the officer's quarters on the
Plaza. In 1863, he put up the Miller Block, corner
of Williams and Weir Sts. This was then considered one of the finest business houses in the state.
He was a member of the Legislature in 1863. His
ideas on temperance were very strong and he would
often stand on the street corner and give a talk on
the subject. It took considerable courage in those
days to take such a stand. Once while talking to
rather a rougher group than usual, they threatened
to hang him, indeed starting off with him, when
some of the more conservative element interferred.
His wife, Sarah, was probably the fourth member
of the Presbyterian Church, as she came here in
September and the church was organized in November, and she joined a few months after. She was
active with Mrs. A. McDonald and Mrs. Wm. Smith
in the organization of the Union Sunday School.
She would go after the children and bring them to
the Sunday School room in the Post hospital to
make sure of their attendance.
Two children, Mary, and Charles F., are now residents of Fort Scott.
J. S. MILLER.
1860 was the date of arrival of Mr. Miller, and his
family of seven. A house on Williams St., about
where the Liepman Clothing store now stands was
their first home. He went at once into the hardware
business, opening a store on Bigler street. He was
at one time mayor of the town.
His daughter, Mrs. Ella Henderson, of Pendleton,
Oregon, and a step daughter, Mrs. Anna E. Baldwin,
of this city, are still living.
A. MCDONALD.
A. McDonald was probably, with the exception
of H. T. Wilson, the most prominent business man
of early Fort Scott. One of his earliest ventures,
w^as to build his own store building, a long frame
structure, running from Scott Avenue back to the
alley. One room faced Scott Avenue, the other
faced Weir Street. In the Scott Avenue room he
opened a general store, in the other a bank. He
did freighting in connection with his mercantile
business. The "McDonald Bank" was later organized as the "First National Bank." He built the
second residence to be erected outside the Plaza,
corner of Williams and Locust Sts. Mr. McDonald
went from here to Little Rock, Ark., in 1867. Later
he was congressman from that state.
B. P. MCDONALD.
B. P. McDonald was only seventeen when he
came with his two brothers, A. and J. McDonald, to
Fort Scott to try his fortune and to grow up w4th
the country. He took up a timber claim at once, selling the logs to the saw mill where he worked part of
the time. The lumber business proved profitable and
he was soon able to get into the mercantile business with his brother, and was associated with him
in the second bank that w^as formed. He was also
interested in railroad promotion and building and
followed that line in his later years. He was connected with a railroad in connection with Fort
Scott, but later sold it to the Fort Scott and Gulf
Railroad. He served in most of the companies
raised for the protection of the town during the
border troubles, and later during the Civil War.
His marriage to Miss Emma Johnson, and that
of Miss Anna Johnson to Mr. G. Judson were the
first weddings to take place among the prominent
people of the community. As they wanted to be
married by a minister and as there was none here at
that time, they , with J. Ray and Miss Sallie Williams Allison, drove over to Squire Redfield's
(about 12 miles east) and were married by Dr. Mellick. Mr. McDonald left three sons, now hving:
Gharles and Benjamin, of Kansas City, and William, of Cleburne, Texas.
JOHN McDONALD
J. McDonald came to Fort Scott with his two
brothers in 1857, but remained only a short time,
returning to St. Louis, to a farm of an uncle.
Later, he bought a farm near there, but sold it
and came to Fort Scott in 1864, and went into the
cattle business. In 1865, he bought the house on
the corner of Wilhams and Hickory Sts., where his
daughter. Miss Fannie McDonald still lives. The
front rooms and hall were added later.
He was mayor of this city, in 1868. He left two
daughters, Mrs. Jas. Moulton and Miss Fannie,
both residents of this city.
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This website created August 22, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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