San
Francisco County
Biographies
IRVING
M. SCOTT
A short time since a message was received from
Washington to the effect that the contract for building the steam propeller and
war cruiser Charleston had been
awarded to Irving M. Scott, of San Francisco. While this was welcome news to
Californians, it had more than ordinary significance, from the fact that we had
associated in our minds the draughtsman for our mining machinery, coasting
steamers and mechanical devices since 1858, when Mr. Scott accepted that
position in the extensive shops of the late Peter Donahue. He was born in
Maryland, and is a descendant from an honored ancestry belonging to the Quakers
or Society of Friends. He took an academic course at the Milton Academy, in
Baltimore, and after completing his studies in June, 1854, he entered the
manufactory of Obed Hussey, the celebrated inventor
of the first American reaping-machine. He became an expert draughtsman, and
followed his profession with signal success until 1863, when he was made
Superintendent of the Union Iron Works, San Francisco.
In 1865 Col. Donahue retired from
active connection with the business, and Mr. Scott became a partner in the
establishment under the firm name of H. J. Booth & Co.; the firm consisting
of Henry J. Booth, George W. Prescott and Irving M. Scott. In 1875, Mr. Booth
retired from the firm and a new copartnership was
organized under the title of Prescott, Scott & Co., consisting of George W.
Prescott, Irving M. Scott and Henry T. Scott, youngest brother of Irving M.
Soon after the organization of this firm they erected extensive works at the Protrero, (sic) where they are now doing the largest
business in their line upon the Pacific Coast. So largely have they added to
their facilities for construction, that they are now able to furnish anything
in their line from a fully armed steel frigate to an inch bolt.
These magnificent works have been constructed under the immediate direction and
supervision of Mr. Scott, who is conceded to be one of the ablest mechanical
engineers on the Pacific Coast, and to his skill, foresight and judicious
management is, to a great extent, attributable the unrivaled success of this
establishment.
This great plant will be historic,
as the new and powerful great armored coast defense vessel will be built at the
Union Iron Works as a cost of $2,000,000.
From a well-written sketch from a
contemporary we make the following extract:
“As a man of talent, education and
refinement, of exceptional enterprise and public spirit, Mr. Scott occupies a
prominent position among California’s distinguished men. His name has often
been mentioned in connection with the Governorship of the State, for which high
position he is eminently fitted by nature and education, but the magnitude of
his business operations, which demand his entire time and attention, forbids
his acceptance of this or any other political position. He is emphatically a
man of the people, a self-made man. Standing at the bottom of life’s ladder he
has by sheer force of intellect, perseverance, energy and determination,
combined with strict purity and probity of life, raised himself to an enviable
position in the ranks of society, and in the estimation of his fellow-citizens.
Being still in the full vigor and prime of manhood his future is fraught with
promise of far greater eminence and usefulness. His selection of Senator
Stanford as one of the trustees of his great benefaction was a wise and prudent
one, and when the records of the Leland Stanford, Junior, University are made
up, among the names of those who have been least active in its interests will
not be found that Irving M. Scott.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Illustrated Fraternal Directory Including
Educational Institutions on the Pacific Coast”, Page 50, Publ. Bancroft
Co., San Francisco. Cal. 1889.
© 2012 Cecelia
M. Setty.
San Francisco County Biographies