Thomas W. Scott Biographical Review

THOMAS W. SCOTT, deceased, was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, December 2, 1808. His father, Amos Scott, was a native of the same county, born in 1777, of Scotch-Irish ancestors, who were among the early settlers of this country. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and resided in Maryland until 1814, when he removed to Kentucky. The journey was made with teams to the Ohio river, and thence down that stream on flatboats. Mr. Scott located near Georgetown, Scott county, and was engaged in planting until 1832, when he came to Schuyler county, Illinois, and settled on land in Buena Vista township, which his son Thomas W. had purchased; there he and his wife spent the remainder of their days; her maiden name was Nancy West, and she was born in Montgomery county, Maryland; she was the mother of two sons and five daughters. Thomas W. was a child of six years when the family removed to Kentucky, and there in the Blue-Grass State he was reared and educated. In 1829 he came to Illinois, making the trip on horseback, and located at Rushville, which was but a hamlet; the surrounding country was thinly settled, and much of the land was yet owned by the Government. He embarked in the mercantile trade at Rushville, opening the first store of the kind in that place; he carried on a business there until 1835, and then returned to Scott county, Kentucky. He bought the Blue Springs farm, five miles west of Georgetown, and cultivated this land with slave labor; he lived there until 1851, when he sold out and returned to Rushville, Illinois. He was engaged in conducting a general loan and brokerage business until his death, which occurred January 22, 1885. Mr. Scott was twice married; his first wife was Adeline Johnson; she was born in Scott county, Kentucky, and died there in 1834; the issues of this marriage was one son, R. J., now living at Brookfield, Missouri, a physician. The second marriage was December 20, 1840, when he was untied to Catherine Fitzgerald. She was born one mile from Lexington, Kentucky, October 30, 1822, a daughter of Jesse Fitzgerald, a native of Colfax county, Virginia. The paternal grandfather, William Fitzgerald, was also a Virginian by birth, but removed to Kentucky, being one of the earliest white settlers there. On account of the hostility of the Indians, he with several others lived for some time in the fort at Boone Station. Later he purchased land in Fayette county, and resided there until his death. Jesse Fitzgerald was a young child when his parents moved to Kentucky. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and owned land one mile from Lexington which was cultivated by slaves. He married Lucretia Shellars, a native of Maryland and a daughter of William Shellars. Mrs. Scott has nine children living: Josephine, Eugene J., Mary F., Thomas W., Catherine, Leonidas, Winfield, Mentor and Florida. The parents were both consistent members of the Christian Church. Mr. Scott cast his first vote for General Jackson, and was all his life an ardent supporter of the principles of Democracy. He was a man of much force and integrity of character, and his name is honored among the pioneers of Schuyler county.