The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-03-21
JOHN E SCOTT DEAD
Our Respected City Clerk
Passes Away This
Morning.
THIRTY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Continuously Elected by Both
Parties for His
Ability.
Courteous and Trustworthy, He
Made Many Friends-Ris
Early Career.

John Edward Scott. who for nearly
two score years has faithfully and i'm
partially performed the duties of City
Clerk of this city is dead. He died at
his home No. 1856 Pacific avenue at
half past one o'clock this morning.
Although momentarily expected. the
end came suddenly and Unexpectedly.
All the members of his family had re-
tired with the exception of his wife and
her sister. They were with him when
death ended his brave struggle.
The sad news of his death spread like
wild-flre and the entire city. 1t may be
truthfully said. is In mourning. Mayor
Wanser was among the first to be in
formed of his demise.
CLOSED UP THE OFFICE.
Without moments delay he ordered
Mr.. Seott's Office closed and directed
City Marshal Graham to place the flag
on both old and new City Halls at half
mast He also Instructed Marshal
Graham to drape the City Hall N mourn
ing. Mr.. Scott's desk in the Aldermanic
chamber was heavily draped and an
order was issued by His Honor to ap-
propriately drape every public building
In the city in respect to the memory of
,such a tried and trusted public servant.
Not only has the city lost a valuable
Official. but an esteemed and beloved
sitizen.
Many of the business houses on New
ark avenue raised flags at half-mast out
of respect to his memory. There was no
man in the city. 1t is said, who enjoyed
a larger circle of trusted and true friends.
He leaves a wife and four children. two
boys and two girls, viz. misses Edna
and Annie and Fred and Arthur.
URGED TO REST.
More than year ago Mr. Scott began
to complain to his physician and friend,
DR.. w. w. yarick, who advised him to
take life easier. Mr.. Scott nnally pur-
chased a summer home at Asbury Park,
and there obtained the rest that he so
much needed. In December last. Bright's
disease developed and he lost strength
BEGINNING OF THE END.
One week ago last Tuesday. ne attend
and the following day became so weak
that he was compelled to take to his
bed. He kept up ms courage until Satur-
DAY morning. when he became irrational
at times He fingered al the point OF
death until yesteraay morning, wren
he seemed TO gain strength, and DR..
.Var.ck expressed some slignt hope for
AT eleven o'clock last night there was
a turn for the worse. lie became un-
=" mus HIS II EARLY LIFE.
morning of May. 5. 1872, in a neat little
cottage on Washing ton street, situated
on the present site Of 'The Jersey City
His father. Charles Scott. was a car
pe..,er. nis molner came from Roehes-
ter, New York. When only six years OF
attended old No. ], oyer which that
veteran principal, Mr.. George H. Lins-
ley, presided
fourteen years of age. He was popular
with his companions and always ready
to indulge in any innocent pastime, but
dustrious and improved every moment of
OFTEN LICKED HIM.
At a recent dinner of the scholars of
old No. / School Principal Linsley paid
m.rth BY announcing that It had been
the the Sshfe diTni6ed City Clerk over his knee
faot rule He coneludei by declaring
that Mr.. Scott. although mischievous
was respectful and always bright.
At the age of fourteen Mr.. Scott de-
clared his intention Of earning his own
strated with him, but he was determined
to go to work and finally they very re-
luctantly gave their permission; It was
up he recommendation of Principal
Ii. y that the. then City Clerk Cas-
s.dy took Mr.. Scott Into his Office as his
assistant. 1t required only few months
the duties of the Office and it Is said upon
excellent authority that Mr.. Cassidy $
confidence In him was 50 great that h he
practically turned the business or the Of
fice over to Mr.. Scots care:
PALATIAL OFFICES.
The duties of City Clerk at that time
,Of -fl11r<1 n q q @
later. The City Clerks office. when Mr..
Scott entered it as Mr. Cassidy's oif1ce,
consisted of two small rooms In ram
shackle building where Duffy's livery
stable is at present near the corner Of
Montgomery and Greene streets. The
building was occupied by the old ''Tele--
that the present city Hail was com
pleted and ready for occupancy It is
sad that MT scott % @ @personsily M MsIpervisesd
from the old office to the one in the City
Hall. which for many years has been
once nee IN = the new office. Mr.. Cassidy
NJ. SCOTS charge sxclusIysays. l ana Mr; q.
the city yAGMAYg Glsrk EhaGs GonkrGous.y ME GaSs1sy
His inyariable courtesy won for him
friends by the score. everyone who knew
him trusted him implicitly;
ok f0r better e. gDIticaI ssrsn sscaned thsn fe
Democratic Nomination for County CLERK,
and was elected. He retained his Office
Of City Clerk until April, 1855. when ne
was formally sworn In as County Clerk
That was the turning point or John
Seott's political life.
It was thought that Mr.. Scott was 9
Democrat. but even at that early age
that reticence which characterized him
always raised a doubt in the minds OF
some politicians There was some talk
of appointing successor to MI. Cas-
sidy, some one who was older than Mr..
CLERK PRO TEN.
Mr. Scott made no move In the matter:
He afferward said that he had performed I'd
f7he duties OF Assistant Clerk faithfully
and to the best of his ability, and he
felt that the cIerkship was due to him.
Oresfes Cleveland was Mayor at the
time, and Mr.. Scott. at his request was
tenn. That Council, in May; 1855, was
made up as follows ~ First Ward, Thos
Earle. William Clarke and Thomas B.
Deckers: Second Ward. Isaac Edge.
Thomas Gaffney and John McBriGe; Third
Ward. Horatip NJ. Eye. Rufqs K Terry
and Stephen Quaif; Fourth Ward, James
n. Davis. John W.Pangborn ana William
81. Nafew; Fifth Ward. Azariah Drake
Charles H O,Nein and Henry kinck
Sixth Ward; Patrick DUH. Patrick Sneer'
an and John Lennnr " IL - s.,
A casual glance over these names Wi
show fhe class of men VINO were ~
e1,arge Of the cityss affatrs at that time
The frst night that the cou4enl qel me- Is,