Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Reuben A. Scott
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
REUBEN A. SCOTT, who now follows general
farming on section 22, Willowdale
Township, Dickinson County, was born near
Logansport, Ind., May 15, 1836, and is a son
of Alex and Unity (Watt) Scott, the former a native
of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina.
The paternal grandparents were natives of Scotland.
The father went from Ohio to Kentucky,
whither he had removed when a small child, and
before the land was surveyed removed to Indiana
and took up a claim.
Our subject first engaged in farming with his
father until eighteen years of age and then embarked
in the tinware business. During the progress
of the late war, he offered his service to aid
in the protection of the Union, and on the 8th of
September, 1861, became a member of Company E,
Ninth Illinois Cavalry. The first active engagement
in which he participated was at Village Creek,
Ark., and his service was cavalry scouting for
some time. At that battle he was shot in the ribs
of the left side and still carries the ball. With his
command he went from Pilot Knob, Mo., to Black
River and from there to Jacksonport, at which
place a portion of the company were engaged in a
skirmish. It was afterward detached as escort to
Brig.-Gen. Benton on the 2d of July, 1862, and
marched to Augusta, where they celebrated the
Fourth with a grand celebration and a review of
the General's brigade. The following day they
broke camp and marched to Clarendon, whence
they went to Helena, Ark., on the 14th of
July. On the 10th of October, Mr. Scott reported
for duty to his regiment, which was then stationed
four miles from Helena. He never left the command
on account of his wounds, but for a time was
not able for duty. For three months he was on
constant duty as picket and scout. On the 10th
of January, 1862, his regiment moved with the expedition
up the White River, disembarked at
Duvall's Bluff and then scouted for several days.
The troops then returned to Helena and from
there went to Memphis, Tenn., and on to Germantown,
where they remained until the latter part of
August. Several skirmishes occurred in the meantime.
At Senatobia, Miss., the Ninth Cavalry, on the
25th of May, drove three hundred from their position
with a loss of forty killed and wounded. Returning
to Germantown on the 23d of June, Mr.
Scott there remained until August 24, when he left
for La Grange, Tenn. He was promoted to be Corporal
November 1, 1861, and was made Sergeant
May 13, 1863. December 4, 1863, Mr. Scott lost his
right arm at the battle of Moscow, Tenn., and was
discharged in Memphis on the 7th of April, 1864.
After being wounded, Mr. Scott was sent to Memphis
and was soon afterward taken with the smallpox,
which kept his arm from healing, and he was
unable to rejoin his command for some time.
On the close of the war, our subject returned to
Indiana and was engaged as a book canvasser, and
sold patent rights for five or six years. In 1865,
he married Harriet D. Healy, who was born August
30, 1843, and died March 23, 1866, leaving one
child, Harvey A., born February 7, 1866. The latter
is now married and is employed in Smith's drugstore
in Abilene. Mr. Scott was again married, in
1875, his second union being with Miss Mary E.
Ballerton, a native of Indiana. They have one
child, Gracie A., born February 8, 1877.
Mr. Scott continued, to engage in the book business
until 1870, when he came to Kansas, and located
on section 22, Willowdale Township, where
he secured eighty acres of land in this county and
eighty in McPherson County; the latter he disposed
of and added to his eighty in this county thirteen
acres. He has now disposed of his property in
McPherson County, and now has about ninety-
three acres altogether. He is an enterprising farmer
and one of the substantial citizens of the community.
During his residence here he has made
many warm friends and has secured the confidence
and good-will of all. He now receives a pension
of $45 per month in recognition of his faithful
service. He was a valiant and true soldier during
the late war, and the same characteristics which
marked his career at that time are now indicative
of his life.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP