The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-30
Death Enters the White House and Steals
Another Member of the Family.
Rev. DR.. John W. Scott, the Venerable Father.
in.Iaw of the President. Summoned by the
Grim Messenger Yesterday Afternoon.
Body to Be Buried Alongside His Wife's
at Washington. Pa, Friday Morning.
His Leng Career as an Educator-Death Of Ex.
Senator G. N. Fitch, Of Indiana. Brave
Soldier and 0ld-Time Politician.
REV. j. w. SCOTT DEAD.

REV. j. w. SCOTT DEAD.
The Presidents Father-in- Law Dies of Ex-
haustion Due to Old Age.
Special 10 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Nov. 29.-Rev. DE-. John
Witherspoon Scott. the venerable father
in-law of President Harrison, died this aft
ernoon at ten minutes after 4 o'clock. at
the age of ninety three years. He died in
the executive mansion. where he went with
his daughter and son-in-law when they
made it their home.
DIR. Scotts ILLNESS was of short duration.
He went to indianapolis with the party
that accompanied Mrs. Harrison's remains.
He bore the fatigue of the trip very we'll.
and returned to Washington in his usual
health. On Saturday, Nov. Is, he caught
cold. and was compelled to 60 to bed and
place himself under the DOCTORS care.
At 6 o'clock this morning he was perfect
ly rational and held short conversation
with Lieutenant Parker. who had been
sitting ND with him. At $50 the family
were called to the bedside, as the nurse
thought he was then passing away. They
remained in the room until IL O'Clock and
then left, the patient having made another
rally. Throughout the day, until about Q
o'clock. the family thought there was q
chance for his recovery. based upon the
great vitality shown by him. At 2 o'clock
DE-. Scott again began to decline and died
at ten minutes past 4. There were present
at the beside, the President Mrs. Mckee.
Russell Harrison and wife. Lieutenant
Parker, Russell Scott, his grandson. and
DR.. Tnnis Hamlin, pastor of the Church of
tho Covenant, of which Dr. Scott was q
member. John w. Scott the only surviv-
ing son, and Mr.. Mckee were the only
members of the family absent. Before
leaving the house DR.. Hamlin offered pray er
In the library with the family.
Funeral services will be held in the East
Room OF the White House Thursday after
noon. at 8 o'clock. Dr.. Hsmlinu will
officiate. The funeral party will
leave this city Thursday evening
for Washington, Pa. where the
body will be inferred Friday morning. as
requested by DE-. Scott. beside his wife.
who was buried there in 1876, and his son.
Capt. Horace Scott. who died of consump-
tion. Captain Scott served under General
Harrison during the war. The funeral
spAEty.wilI return immediately to Washing
ton. Judge Scott will not be able to at
tend the funeral, as he has just reached
come East TO attend the funeral of Mrs.
Harrison.
The death of DR.. Scott makes the ninth
that has occurred within the family and
the attendants of the executive mansion
since the commencement of President Har-
rison's administration. They were those
of Mrs Pruden, wife of the executive clerk
Major Pruden: Mrs. Scott Lord. sister Of
Mrs. Harrison; Mrs. Hslford, wife OF PrI-
yate Secretary Halford; the coachman; the
lamplghter, who has been employed in the
White House for quarter OF century;
Frank A. Cox, the telegraph operator; Mrs.
Harrison. CAPTAIN Dinsmore, chief usher,
and DIR. Scott.
DR.. Gardner, the attending physician.
says the immediate cause of death was ex-
haustion, due to old age. He retired q week
ago last night with q cold. and on Tuesday
was unable to get up. The cold was fol-
lowed by low fever. which greatly pros
trated him. When this had run it's course
q slight reaction and rally ensued, on
Thursday. lasting forty-eiR Rht hours. Satur-
day night there was turn for the worse.
and he rapidly sank into q letharglo state,
with titful periods of consciousness. Not
withstandlng his advanced age, DR.. Scott
had never been the victim of any organic
disease. and seldom required the services OF
q ply ysician, and then only for passing all
ment. He died because the machinery of
his body was worn out.
The White House was closed to visitors
to-day and the usual semi weekly meeting
was omitted. Secretary ElkIns and Post
master general Wanamsker saw the Presi-
dent for few minutes this morning. Mon
selgnor Satolli. the Papal legate, accom-
panied by Archbishop Ireland and the Rev.
Father O'Gorman called at the White
House to pay their respects TO the Presl-
evet, as he has denied himself to all visit
Ors. The distingulshed churchmen had a
pleasant chat with Mr.. Halford and left q
message of sympathy for the President
A Long and Honorable Career.
John Witherspoon Scott, educator and
clergyman, was born in Beaver county,
Pennsylvania, Jan. g. 1900. making him
nearly ninety three years old. His father
was Rev. George McElroy Scott. graduate
of the University of Pepnsylvania in 1893,
who afterwards studied theology with Rev.
Stanhope Smith. president of Princeton
College, and In 1899 was called to Mill
Creek Church. Beaver county, Pennsyl-
vania. being .he pioneer Presby terian min.
lister to locate in western Pennsy lvania,
where DR.. Scott was born. Young Scott
attended q preparatory school taught by
his father. and, after teaching five years.
he entered the junior class of Wash
lnBtOu COlloRo, IeuUbS lNauld, III loSl.
He graduated two years later. after
which he spent o year at Yale under the
instruction of Prof. Silliman. fitting him.
self for teaching experimental chemistry.
From 1924 to 1928 he was professor OF nat
ural science and mathematics at Washing
ton College. He then went to Ohio, and
from 1888 to 1S45 filled q similar position al
the Miami University. He assisted in
founding Belmont College, on whose fac
ulty he renamed until 1S49. when he ac-
cepted a call to Oxford Female College, OF
which he became president In 1850. He re-
mained there ten years. From 1860 to 1865
he was in Indiana, filing q chair in Hap-
over College. After serving ss principal In
the Presbyterian Academy In Springfield.
ILL.,. and at Jefferson, Pepnsylvania. he
retired from the teachers profess
sion in 1881, having devoted fifty-seven
years in successful college work.
He had been ordained q clergyman in the
| Presby terian Church in 1880. and in addi-
tion TO college work, frequently preached
| to the students on Sundays. The degree Of
| ID. d., was conferred on him by Augusta
| College IN 1887. In 1885 he had married
| Miss Mary Z. Neal. daughter of John Neal,
| who was cashier of q bank at Washington.
| Pa. They celebrated theii golden weddin z
| in 1875; n year before the death of Mrs.
Scott DR.. and Mrs. Scott had five chill.
| dren. three dauehters. Mary. who died
young; Elizabeth. who married Russell
] Lord; Caroline, who married Benjamin
| Harrison, and two sons, Henry NJ. and
John n. Mrs. Lord died in Washington
| two years ago: the son Henry is also dead