Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-02-03
BIOGRAPHY Of MRS. SCOTT.
Interesting Sketch Of Her Eventful
Life and the Early History
OF Oratiot.
SHE WAS A LEADING SPIRIT
To Overcome the Many Discourage
ments and Hsrdships of Pioneer Life.

Mrs c. NJ. Scott was born OF sturdy
Scotch and Dutch ancestors, for many
generations colonists. In the early days
OF American colonies her forebearers, on
her fathers side the Webbers. emi-
grated from Holland TO Massachusetts,
also her forebearers, on her mothers
side, the Monroes, emigrated from the
Scotch highlands 10 Vermont.
Before Michigan was admitted to the
Union, her maternal grandfather, Jesse
Monroe, moved from large farm near
Buffalo TO Detroit and then through the
primeval forest northward, sometimes
at the rate of five miles day, 10 Ingham
county, at that time in full possession of
wild Indian tribes, III which section,
especially at Lansing, many of the
family have ever since resided, and been
prominently connected with the best
and brightest life of our state capital.
Shortly after the Civil War in which
her husband served, Mary Webber was
married 10 Charles NJ Scott son of
a family of intimate friends, first
pioneers into Clinton county, at Dewitt,
Clinton county, Michigan, where Mr..
Scott's family had lived and owned a
large tract of land for many years, his
7.
war of 1872, having moved from Massa-
chusetts To the wilds of Michigan. now
Clinton county while il was yet ter
ritory, and having purchased his land
direct from the United States govern
ment and receiving, on real parchment,
the presidents own signature to the
deed
There were no railroads in Gratiot
then and our beautiful section had the
unsavory and miserable appellation OF
starving Gratiot' But the irrepros-
sible pioneer instinct of their ancestors
was i'll the young couple and during the
dead of winter they started in by
stage coach through the primeval woods
for their new and wild home, Alma.
rough and primitive river town named
after the place of one of the bloodiest
battles of the Crimean war, fought by
England, France and Turkey against
aggressive Russia
The road house or tavern, neceS-
sary and beneficient institution in those
days, was the old Meyer House, dong
since burned), near V. NJ. Wilson's
home.
On what is now east Superior street
Mr.. Scott opened a harness store, good
business for the logging and numbering
town. Mr.. Scott also became post
master which Office he held for some
years; the mail in those days being
brought in by government riders when
the swamps rendered the roads impasS-
able to the stage Agents of lumber
firms also brought in gold in their saddle
bags, from st. Johns, 10 deposit with
the postmaster till the logs went down
the river each spring and many were
the thrilling stories told of adventures
with and escapes from the road agents
Mrs. Scott was "A woman of high
personal cOurage-physica as well aS
spiritual. She was skillful horscwO-
man. and repeatedly drove magnificent
road horse, her own aud father pet 10
and from her home in Clinton county.
making the trip in less than "a day.
This horse few men dared TO handle and
her friends fearfully prophcsicd that 1t
would be the caus3 of her death. While
the stage driver in those days went
with an armed escort. il was remarked
/ that She always went alone, az "a
| tearing pace and unarmcd. though
skilled with the rifle. She was 20 have
need, later. of all the courage with
which God had endowed her, when
! through weary wears she minisrcrcd
! holy love. 20 once robust but then in
valid husband. ceaseleSsly racked with
pain. whose lips were never heard TO utter
complaint. And later still when through
a series of years she kept all thought of
intimate friends from herself, a. she
| bravely, calmly, smilingly counselled,
guided, heartened Others, pointing them
| to Christ, while her own body was drawn
J by suffering
In those early days the tiny village
struggled eastward along the main
street. The Adventists were then prom
inent in our midst and the old settlers
say that the anvils, the saws and the
axes then made their mcrriest music on
| Sunday.
| Mrs. Scott has told the Younger
| Almaites that where the Wright House
| stands was a swamp hole, and in fact
| the whole main street was swampy;
for the settlers, traversing il during the
! spring time were forced 10 jump from
| hillock TO hillock and grab hold of
willows TO keep from sinking into the
marsh
From the very first Mr. and Mrs
| Scott were identified closely and active
" with every movement for the general
welfare of the village. For example,
the people had tried repeatedly 10 get n
railroad and had been repeatedly tricked
out of il and imposed upon by fake bo-
nus men and were discouraged. They
needed little incentive to try again.
Mrs Scott and some other ladies, un-
expectedly to the men, attended a meet
ing held upstairs in the old Hubert
block, tnear Mr.. Holmes store and many
years ago burned), and when this last
meeting was about 20 break up and TO
no purpose, she and Mrs. Ralph Ely
came forward with "A message of cheer.
Mrs Scott had previously made house
to house canvass OF the ladies and got
them To- pledge themselves to- raise $500
for bonus. and she and Mrs. Ely signed
the note. The public spirit on the part of
their wives so heartened the citizens that
the necessary amount was pledged and