The Van Buren press., 1861-02-22
From the Ldfls Rock Gazette.
James A. Scott.
Old Settlers...Number Z.

s'-N '''' HttttSf RitttIeS are not as fnuth
demand as they might otherwise be f; but a.,
had no hand whatever. as well as most OF
the readers OF the Gazette, in bringing ahout
the present troubles, have determined 20
80 on with my undertaking. hoping for (if
not expecting) return to times when we
may look ahead for something besides wars
and rumors of wars and com piicstions o.
troubles
The death Of long esteemed frienl rem
ders 1t necessary, in o measure, that
should offer some remarks upon his past
history; and the most appropriate way OF
doing this. perhaps. would be TO embodv
them in the form Of an old-settler article.
hardly think it just to friendship or old
associations to permit those we love to pass
away without notice or mention Mr..
Scott Was not one of the Oldest settlers :
ami he would not have been attended to, in
following out the regular order Of calculs-
ton which had made, had we both lived
Tor many years to come. l write entirely
from memory. being far removed from his
relations or any one who could assist in the
matter OF dates. or contribute anything,
whatever. of interest in the following
sketch and to those who sickle for exact
ness. have only to regret the circumstance
es that prevent precision. and to acknowl-
edge that l may be. at times, even as lar Al
a twelve month out of the way-porhaps
more.
In some respects. the history of Mr..
Scott may be regarded as a mere transc, ipt
OF that OF many Of our citizens Soon al
ter attaining to his majority in his native
State. Maryland. was the custom of m os.
yonng men of the Atlantic border. he struck
out for the West. After the usual vicissi-
tudes attendant npOn such cases, in strug-
Cling for livelihood and home, he made
his way to Arkansas Territory. This was
nearly thirty years ago. In one particular
he differed from the numerous crowd that
each Succeeding year sentabroad they usu-
ally fonnd field for their cxertions in the
Great West-at some point comparatively y
easy of access to their old homes but llc
met with no satisfactory employment or
resting place until he reached the utmost
verge of the Far West-cven beyoni the
borders Of the White settlements This OF
course. was at Fort Gibson. the Post then
furthest removed of all in the Unilei States
from the limits Of civilization. After re-
naming short time at This place he came
down to Fort Smith, and was Suter to the
troops stationed there. From thence-lS3l 1
l believe it was-he was a citizen of Ark
ansas until he took up his abode at his late
residence. Elk Mills. in Mcdonald coanty,
Citizen Of ts st.ts sass 10 h Tie asyy ii II his hs aiass
for ho was barely within the boundary OF
Missouri, and was always as keenly alive
to the interests of Arkansas, and as well
informed in all her affairs, as ii he dweit
within her centre country.
The summer of 80 he spent at Coffee 5
Trading House, afterwards WarrcnS, Oh
Red River, some htty niles southc .st o! tao
Wichita Mountains. His health had be-
come baI and he conceived that a sojourn
of few months on the praries-unlergo
ing the more than half savage lie that suclI
a region imposes-would restore it. B..
sides this, he delighted in adventures--an.
the wild Indians, butfaloes, mustangs. game
aud all the makings up OF the country. fur
nished a full supply.
He returned and located at Columbus, d
town now forgotten, but would have been
what Van Buren, now is had not the latte,
been purchased by Messrs. Thompson al,
Drsunen. the prcprietors Of the former.
In 1887 he married Miss Frances Thomp
son, daughter of David Thompson. Esq ,
OF the firm just mentioned. The next yeal
he began the mercantile business at Van
Burel-that town having been laid out snd
partially settled. Two years afterwards h.
became candidate for the State Senate an1
WAS successful. This was in the ever me.
morable 1S4O. His competitor was the ia
nous, if not notorious. Maj. Andrew Jack
son Rains, man OF extraordinary addres.
and ability. The canvass will not be for
gotten in Crawford county by those who
participated-nor will Crawford ever b,
able to wipe away the disgrace with which
she then stained herself by honoring an un
lettered sharper over the gifted and true.
hearted Turner. Mr.. Scott, it is but cand
or to say, was democrat, ami OH the s,ron.
side in the county but this prestige wa
only nominal tor the shameless support.
ers of Tyree Mussett, almost to man. voi
ed for Rains. And, besides. Maj Ram
was not second to Fowler, in . stun,
speech. / 40 not recoilect many orators
that were more eloquent.
| In the two sessions Of the Legislature il
which he served. Mr.. Scott was an active
,tiuen ili member; not one oi those crea
lures incapable OF framing bill or shap
ing a sentence OF decent English, or dom.
aught TO: the compensation they receive bu
to insult and domineer over the enemies O
their masters. Ii Arkansas had possesse,
suificiency of Legislators OF tine cast o
Mr. Scott, sne would not now have to Ia
men: the squanderinS of the vast estate.
that have lailen to her through the liberali
ty OF the General GOVERNMENTS weaitl
that might have proved tho means of plac
ing our people in far better conditi..,n I,
rspel aboiitionism than ley are.
After winding up his mercantile affairs
MIR. Sc"..i. retired to his farm few mile
oslow Van Buren. SubsequentIy-ln l84
tho removed to his Touring establishment
before nauled. in Mcdonald county. Mis-
souri,. He continued to reside At this pIac
with the exception Of a trip or two acros
the plains to California. until his death o
the I9tn inst.
1t would transcend ell reasonable bound
to enter iato details of the lie OF Mr.. Scott
but there are soms points in his history an
character, which would not be allowable
pass. however imperfect and hurried AZ
sketch Of him mignt be. He was a man
marked psculiarities--of traits that q
rarely united in one individual.
lie was intensely fond OF the sports
} tho chase. the rod. and the tuIf. In Il
n,o.t pressin0 businssss hA could slwa,