Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-09
NJ. H. McCord'S EuIogy Of
THE HON. II. B. SCOTT.

The Merrill Advocate contained the
following euIogY Of the Hon. T. B.
Scott delivered by the Hon NJ. H.
McCord in that city on the 30th day of
April, the day set for the dedication OF
the new City Hall: He spoke as follows:
1t was my good fortune to know the
late Hon. Thomas B. Scott Intimately
and we'll. | knew him in adversely and
pros oerity. | knew him as private citi
zen, | knew him as a public servant,
and While there are many ADLER pens
among our citizens yet to the extent OF
my ability to form a correct judgment
of his life and character, few men are
better qualified to speak Of Linn than
myself. | was his intimate, personal
and political friend, and I have many
reasons to know that that friendship
was thoroughly reciprocated. More
than forty years ago, then only Il boy OF
nineteen years of age he came to
Wisconsin and settled upon a piece OF
land in Columbia county. Many times
have | heard him speak of the hard
ships which the settlers of those early
days endured, and none were poorer or
perhaps suffered more from privations
incident to pioneer life than himself
He made trips to Milwaukee from his
home with a yoke of oxen and a lumber
wagon, taking only ten bushels OF
wheat at a load, which he sold in mar
ket for fifty cents bushel. It was in
this hard school of adversitv and
experience that he learned to sympa-
thize deeply with all those whose lot
was cast in similar circumstances, and it
was this that led him in after years TO
do SO many acts of kindness and gener-
osity, in helping those who were strug-
Cling for 4 maintenance in whatsoever
calling. He did not remain long how
ever III the pursuit of that highly
honorable, but often unremunerative
calling farming, for as he expressed it.
he literally starved out; and soon remov-
ed to Grand Rapids where he engaged
in numbering He was without capital,
without friends and without acquain-
tances, but not without that which was
4 better than capital or better than
acquaintances. He was possessed of a
| sterling integrity which his converse
ton and conduct soon impressed upon
all with whom he came in contact and
which readily gave to everybody con-
! tidence in the man. 1t was his habit
through life to put the worst side out
| have myself heard him talking tc
men, even while seeking financial
favors from them, in the most discour.
aging manner of his business affairs and
| his prospects Of paying promptly, but
everybody who knew HIM not only haC
confidence in his integrity but IN his
ability to do as he agreed He was no
only a good judge of property but {
good Judge of men and character, thus
while he assisted in many ways hun
dreds of people, unheraled, he was
seldom deceived or defrauded.
His mind was keen, bright and active
and by his untiring energy and persis
tent hard work, great skill and business
tact he accumulated a magnificent
fortune, which, could he have lived {
few years longer, would have beer
exceeded by that of very few men il
this great state. But it was not to be
SO. \ fatal malady fastened itself upor
him and all that the best medical skill
all that kind and tender relatives anC
devoted friends could do, could not
shake it off. Almost in the prime O
life, and certainly in the zenith of hi:
usefulness he was taken away. In the
death of Thomas B. Scctt this city lost
a benefactor and every inhabitant
thereof friend Well do [ remember
how earnestly, how unselfishly he
took hold of every project calculated t.
aid or build up our city, and think
speak truly when l say to-day, that haC
there been no Thomas B. Scott, there
would have been no city of Merrill
The 5000 to 10000 volumes of vel
selected books which are TO find
Judgement in this magnificent structure
! that ale to furnish instruction anC
amusement to the people high and low
rich and poor for all time to come, the
munificant gift of this splendid man
will be more honorable and endurin: