Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-12-26

For many years MS play mhteS were
Indian lads; and their sports consisted In
praoticing shooting VI ith bow and arrow.
hurting javelins. Games and wild fowl
abouDded. Oapt. scotts dog killed
big " of on the path in the open be-
tween his cabin and MS public house
Herds Of deer mingled with the cattle
on the farm, and approached ~ within
eight and nine rods Of the house for
drink.
Charles NJ. Scott, when a " uug man,
went TO Lansing TO learn the harness
usiness thence 10 Plttsbnrg 10 practice
it, There, when President Lincoln
issued his call for volunteers TO save tn
Union. Mr.. Scott, without waiting to
join a regiment. his friends at home. en-.
listed for three years in the second com
pany raised in the city--company b. OF
the l2th Pa, Cavalry.
Before his term OF enlistment tx.
pired, knowing that the government
needed all the volunteers and desired
them TO continue in the service he en-
listed "till the end OF the war and
served till he was honorably discharged.
After the grand parade in Washington
he was promoted from sadler sergeant
of Co. b. to sadler sergeant Of the reg.
iment. This regiment saw hard service
throughout the Ell tire war in the cam
paign OF the Shenandoah Valley, in the
continuous fighting there between
sheridan and j 15sl Early The family
of MIR. Scott possess an interesting testi.
monial TO the hard service Of that reg.
lment under one of Sheridan's division
commando rs, in the form OF few little
Ialers, " hich the regiment "publisneo"
III the saddle and which Mr.. Scott sent
home TO the lady who became his wife.
In the Second Battle OF Bull Run"
Mr.. Scott vas wounded, fell from his
horse, and was captured ard put in a
confederate prison. but later excharg-
ed before Grant instituted his drastic
prisoner policy" Here in the suffer
ings of Southern prison pen, in long
forced marches, during which the troop
ers fell asleep in their saddles from sheer
exhaustion, in sleeping On cold, water
soaked blankets and sometimes waking
10 find water about mans chin--here
in these experiences for courtIy b. gan
the undermining of an iron constitution
and breaking of spirit, high and active
and daring.
In Oct, 1868, Mr.. Scott came into the
wilderness of Gratiot county, settled in
the new town of Alma, and began his
business here with the intention of
growing up with the young country, ss
his forefathers before him bad done. He
bought the lot and building where the
Banghart's market now stands; and
there opened his store Alma wss then
80 decidedly in the woods-approached
only by the Indian trail from
st. Johns, newly opened into
stage route, that whenever a man in
Alma spoke of going anywhere, he said
he was going outside" Mr.. Scott at
this time was postmaster OF the village,
the main street OF which was then so
primitive that just from the city hall
corner to the Wright House corner the
settlers had to jump from bog TO bog and
grab the red willow bushes TO keep from
disappearing out of sight; while the
continuation Of the main street 10 the
top Of College Hill was unique in its
wretched bottomlessness. With the ex.
ception Of that street almost oil of the
present town was forest primival, the
great elm in front of the Scott residence
being fne specimen Of it.
On Jan. ,lS6s, Mr.. Scott married Miss
Mary Weber Of Dewitt, the daughter
of two old families, the Munroes
(maternal side) and Webbers (paterDa
slde) These families also came to our
country from Scotland and Holland,
respectively, early in its history, settled
in Vermont and Massachusetts, whence
they like the SCOTS pioneered into
Clinton and Ingham counties, settling
not far from the SCOTS. The young
couple Immediately cast in their lot with
the struggling town, and Mr.. Scott
continued in his business till gradually
failing health prevented the active life
that he enjoyed.
In 1871 Mr.. and Mrs. Scott, with IL
others, formed the charter members of
the First Congregational church of
Alma, out OF which grew the First
Presbyterian church, Mr.. Scott being
the junior deacon, and he was ever
indefatigably active in the church work
until his declining health confined him
60 the house Mr.. Scott was brought up
with the blue stocking" strictness II
his Presbyterian ancestors. and himself
with Puritsnical care, observed the
Sabbath. In the De Witt home Sunday
began with Saturday sundown. and all
work ceased; and IL, during the week,
the work desired had not been accom-.