Cumberland County, Maine - John G. Scott
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Biography
John G. Scott
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 296-297


John G. Scott, a retired carpenter of Westbrook, Me., a "forty-niner,"
and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Freeport, another
Cumberland County town, May 3, 1823, son of Andrew and Priscilla
(Woodbury) Scott. Mr. Scott's grandfather, John G. Scott, was a native
of Durham, Me., who followed agricultural pursuits during the active
period of his life. He reared a family of six children, of whom there
are no survivors.

Andrew Scott, who was a resident of Freeport, for a number of years
followed the sea, a great part of his active life being spent on the
ocean wave. He was a worthy and useful citizen, who voted with the
Whig party; and in religion he was a Congregationalist. He died at the
age of about forty years. His wife, Priscilla Woodbury, of Freeport,
was a daughter of Ebenezer Woodbury, of Durham, who was a soldier in
the Revolutionary War, and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. She
became the mother of four children, three of whom are living, namely:
Frances, wife of Samuel V. Litchfield, of Freeport; Julia W., wife of
E. P. Gerrish, of Portland; and John G., the subject of this sketch.

John G. Scott acquired his education in the schools of Freeport and
Durham; and, after finishing his studies, he learned the carpenter's
trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years with Sidney Skilton,
of Durham, whence he went to Portland, where he worked as a journeyman
for Cummings Brothers, Russell, and others. In 1849 Mr. Scott joined
the exodus for California, accompanying a party of twenty fortune
seekers from Freeport, the expedition being in charge of Captain
Clement Soule. They went by way of the Isthmus of Panama, being about
one hundred and fifty days on the journey; and after arriving they
proceeded to erect the first frame building ever put up in Sacramento
City - a hotel. Having finished that work, they went direct to the
diggings. During his four years' stay in California Mr. Scott was
interested in several valuable claims, among them being the Oregon,
the Harraseeket, and the Round Tent; and he was fairly successful as a
miner.

Upon his return to Freeport, in 1853, he bought an eighth-interest in
a barque, and also engaged in both the livery and the lumber business.
In 1859 he moved to Westbrook, where, in company with Frank Smith, he
engaged in the clothing business, under the firm name of Smith &
Scott, one year later retiring from that trade and entering into the
produce business, which he conducted for a year. In 1862 Mr. Scott
enlisted as a private in Company H, Seventeenth Regiment, Maine
Volunteers, for three years' service in the Civil War, under Colonel
Roberts and Captain Fogg. The regiment was stationed in the forts
around Washington for six months, and, being ordered to the front,
took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, and then remained in camp
for the winter. Mr. Scott was transferred to the Fourth New York
Battery, with which he served in the battles of Chancellorsville,
Culpeper, and Gettysburg. After recruiting for two weeks at Harper's
Ferry and Washington, where the battery received new equipments, it
was brought into active service at the battle of Mine Run; and the
following spring Mr. Scott was transferred to the First Battery. He
served in front of Petersburg, in the defense of the Weldon Railroad,
in the engagement at Hatch's Run, and in several minor skirmishes
previous to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Receiving his discharge in
Elmira, N.Y., he then returned to his native State, where he resumed
his former occupation of a carpenter, working in Portland and other
places for fourteen years; and since that time he has resided
permanently in Westbrook. He has followed his trade with skill and
success, realizing good returns for his labor until his retirement,
which took place some two years since. Besides erecting his present
residence, he has bought the adjoining double tenement-house.

Mr. Scott was married in 1856 to Elleura M. Knight, daughter of
William Knight, of. Portland. Two of the three children born of this
union are living, namely: Meldon M., a resident of Portland; and John
W., who is in the clothing business in that city. Although never
desirous of political prominence, Mr. Scott has always evinced a keen
interest in the administration of public affairs; and he votes with
the Republican party. He is a comrade of Post No. 100, Grand Army of
the Republic, of Westbrook, and attends the Congregational church, of
which he has for many years been a member.