HENRY T. SCOTT

 

 

SCOTT, HENRY T., San Francisco, California, President of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, and executive officer of the various interests, was born near Baltimore, Maryland, in 1846, the son of John Scott (a Quaker preacher and a strong supporter of the Union) and Elizabeth (Lettig) Scott.  His paternal ancestors were among the earliest residence of Maryland, and the Scott home, now occupied by Mr. Scott's sister, was deeded to the family by Lord Baltimore.  In 1867 Mr. Scott came to California, where he has achieved a notable position and success.  He was married to Miss Elsie Horsley of England, and is the father of three children.  They are W. Prescott, Harry H. and Mary Scott (now Mrs. Walter Martin).

 

Henry T. Scott obtained his education in the public schools and at Lamb's Academy, in Baltimore, Maryland, and shortly after leaving the latter institution he removed to California.

 

Not long after his arrival in San Francisco he secured employment, as time-keeper, in the Union Iron Works, which at that time, though a comparatively small concern, was the leading corporation of its kind on the Pacific Coast.  Here, by zealous devotion to his duties, as well as by sheer ability, he rose rapidly, filling various responsible positions and finally, together with his brother, Irving M. Scott, becoming an indispensable part of the corporation.  The Scotts, indeed, came to be regarded as the chief part, if not the whole institution.  When, in 1883, it was organized as an incorporated company, Henry T. Scott was made the First Vice President of the Union Iron Works.  Two years later he became President, an office he filled with distinction up to the time the corporation changed hands.

 

During the Scotts' control of the Union Iron Workers the establishment was developed from a comparatively unimportant local concern to one of world-wide reputation, chiefly as a builder of battleships and cruisers for United States Navy.  The Oregon, the Charleston, and the San Francisco were among the first notable achievements in this line--vessels that always a little more than "came up to specifications."  The Oregon, in fact, bids fair to become historical in more than one respect, for a movement is now on foot to have it lead to the naval procession through the Panama Canal, in celebration of the opening of the waterway.

 

Mr. Scott' s interests have now branched into a wide and varied field of activity, earning him with the title among his associates, in the financial world, of "Pooh Bah."  He is, perhaps, best known as President of the Pacific Telegraph & Telephone Company, which operates in the states of California, Oregon, Nevada and the western part of Idaho.  This company has the largest single system of any telephone company in the United States, as well as the most extensive long distance lines and the greatest number of exchange plants.  Its capitalization is $50, 000,000, and its subscriptions have reached a higher figure than those of any other company of its kind, and under the management of Mr. Scott it is rapidly expanding.

 

Ever since the subject of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal, was first broached, Mr. Scott has been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the project.  He was one on the original organizers of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company, the directing organization, and has since been a member of various important committees.  He was one of the most active members of the committee that went to Washington during the historic contest between the cities of New Orleans and San Francisco before Congress, which resulted in the California city being chosen as the site for the great exposition.  From the time of this election, Mr. Scott has given up to a large portion of his time to the work of the exposition, giving the promoters of it the benefit of his long experience in engineering and business affairs.

 

Besides his Presidency of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, Mr. Scott is President of the Mercantile National Bank, Burlingame Land & Water Company, St. Francis Hotel Company, Columbia Theater Building Company, Director Crocker National Bank, Bank of Burlingame, Crocker Estate Company, Crocker Realty Company, Crocker Hotel Company, City Realty Company, Moore & Scott Iron Workers, R. N. Burgess Company, and Western Mortgage & Guaranty Company.

 

Mr. Scott is a member of the Pacific-Union Club, and Burlingame Country Club.

 

Source: PRESS REFERENCE LIBRARY (Western Edition) Notables of the West Volume 1.  Published by International News Service.  1913. Page 13.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.