William Marshall Scott was born in Green County, Kentucky in 1837, the third child of Price Scott and Nancy Millen Scott. He married Elizabeth Jane Elkin, the daughter of Abel Elkin and Eliza Warren, about 1861. In 1873 he migrated to Sherman, Texas. In 1874 his oldest daughter Emma died, followed in 1876 by his wife Elizabeth. They are buried side by side on a hill in the northwest corner of Grayson County. His sister, Lydia, who married Jesse Warren Thompson, also went to the Sherman area. This letter, written 7 years before his death in 1919, to William Marshall's older brother James Alexander Scott, born in 1832, who remained in Green County on the old home place. It was found in the family bible of James Alexander Scott that was given to James' great, great grandson, Herb Scott, by Kathleen Joyce Scott, the great granddaughter of James A. Scott. Kathleen still lives on a part of the farm settled by Alexander Scott and his son James in the early 1790's. Alexander is William's great grandfather.
My Dear Brother Jim,
I have been persuading myself to visit you this fall, was cause of failing to write you sooner, but prudence dictates not come as my physical conditional will hardly justify - yet I am up & going like a boy & do some things in business - way like a man. Maggie's health is good, but not so strong, walks slow - steps short, can see to go about house OK. Far as I know our kinfolk are all fairly well. Had quite warm summer, but cool now to use blankets. I wrote you sometime passed, but you failed to answer, so if convenient, write me soon. I learned George had gone into the milling business. Tell him to be careful of himself as good men are scarce. And Jessie Warren now climbing the hills & jumping the rocks on trucks propelled by gasoline. Reckon he drubs it his CAR. Suppose it is a FORD. Have I one? Mine is a CAN'T-A-FORD. No, wouldn't have one & and a dollar as I expect to get across soon enow. Our cotton good & our farmers happy because prices are high. We are ginning all day & to 12 in night & have 200 bales piled away to gin, are ginning 70 bales per day & yard crowded with wagon cotton, often 50 wagons at same time. Each wagon load worth $100. It would do you good to be here now. See & consider - COTTON TOBACCO . Our Baptist Association closed last Friday & now we are having Evangelistic Meeting in full swing conducted as union & preacher in charge, "Brown Methodist". Quite an able man & people attend by thousands. Hope much good will be accomplished. I would be so glad to see you & all my people there but alas. Hope George's condition is better & Millie. I love her ,why don't she write me, & Lee & his darling & dear Lulu. Tell her to write me & tell me her husband's name & the rest of the family. See cousin John 'Florida' is back with you. How does he like Florida? Sister Lydia, Mattie & Harve's wife are visiting at Childres 200 miles west of Sherman. She and her brigade all well. So are Marven Warren, Emet Atherton, & Roy Cook & families & my Co. all up. Our heavenly father has taken care & protected us long time, let's love him more & serve him better.
Love to all,
Bro. Will
Notes:
1. 'Maggie' was Maggie Sue Gee Fitch [1832 - 1917], the second wife of Will. They were married in 1878. They are buried in West Hill Cemetery in Sherman.
2...'George' is George Price Scott, born May 9, 1865 to James A. Scott and Isabella Etherton.
3...'Millie' is the wife of George. She was born Milliard Emily Bale, March 3, 1873 to Simeon Bale and Elizabeth Lancaster Bale.
4...'Lee' is Lee Scott, born September 30, 1891, to George and Millie Scott. Lee Scott and Ethel Minnie Saltsman are the parents of Kathleen Joyce Scott.
5...'Lulu' is Lula Scott, born December 12, 1889, to George and Millie.
6...Lula Scott wed John Ivo Bale about 1913.
7...'cousin John Florida' is believed to refer to John Thomas Scott, born October 4, 1856, to Alexander Hardin Scott and Kibby Etherton. If true, he would be a second cousin or second cousin, once removed. This depends on the relationship of two of the Alexander Scott's in early Green County.
8...'Mattie' is Mattie Scott Watson, wife of Dan Watson and daughter of Elisha Scott, the second cousin of 'William Marshall Scott.
9...'Harve' is Harvey Owen Scott, the brother of Mattie. His wife is the former Bess Patterson.
10...'Marvin B. Warren', born August 18, 1874, was the son of Garrett Warren and America Thompson, the sister of Jesse Warren Thompson.
11...'Emet Atherton' is Emmett Atherton [May 7, 1880 April 6, 1970] He wed first Mattie Everett Warren on May 5, 1905 in Green County, Ky. [March 10, 1882 - 3-23-1913]. She was the sister of Marvin B. Warren. Second he wed Maude Mae Brinkley [December 1, 1890 - December 8, 1981] on April 12, 1912 in Sherman, Texas. She was the daughter of William Robert and Mary Louisa Rhea Brinkley, Jr.
This page was created on November29, 1999
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