San
Joaquin County
Biographies
CAPT. EDWARD SCOTT
One of the pioneers of Stockton who
became prominent in business, military, Masonic and social circles during the
early growth of the city was the late Edward Scott, a native of England, born
at Wetherbends, Cumberlandshire,
May 11, 1831, of Scotch parents. In
1841, when he was ten years of age, he accompanied his parents on their removal
to New York City, and in the excellent schools of that great metropolis he
received a good education, and was attending college when he heard of the
discovery of gold in California. Like
thousands of others, his ambition was stirred by the excitement connected with
the discovery, and he decided to cast in his lot with the Pacific Coast. Leaving his books, he took passage in a
sailing vessel coming around Cape Horn to San Francisco, and after a long
voyage landed safely early in 1850. As
was natural, he rushed to the mines, and for some years he followed mining at
Angels Camp and at Douglas Flat. Not
finding mining as remunerative as he expected, he gave it up and came to
Stockton in 1857. He became associated
with the Globe Iron Works, and as manager guided the business successfully for
some years. On severing his connection
with the company he became a partner of John Caine, under the firm name of John
Caine & Company, hardware and implement dealers, a business firm that grew
to large proportions and was widely known for its fairness in all of its
dealings. Mr. Scott took an active part
in the company’s growth and development, giving his undivided time to its
interests and in a large measure to his ability and personality, as well as to
his straightforwardness and honesty of purpose, the success of the business was
due.
At Santa Cruz occurred the marriage
of Capt. Edward Scott, uniting him with Miss Permelia Jenkins, a native of the
state of Alabama, who had emigrated to Santa Cruz with
her parents in an early day. She was the
daughter of William and Anna (Oliver) Jenkins, natives of Wales and Alabama,
respectively. Miss Jenkins was a woman
of pleasing personality, cultured, refined and well-educated. She spent several years in educational work,
and it was while teaching in San Joaquin County that she met and married
Captain Scott. The family residence at
221 East Rose Street was built by Capt. Scott and was one of the first houses
erected in that portion of the city. All
too soon he was bereaved of his faithful wife.
In 1877 she passed on, leaving him a son and two charming daughters. Mrs. Mabel Donaldson, who resides in Alameda,
has two children: Dean, a talented
violinist; and a lovely daughter, Mrs. E. F. Russell. The only son, Edward, died in 1890; and the
youngest daughter is Mrs. Maude Dean, of Groveland, California. Capt. Scott continued actively in business
until his passing, September 25, 1891, a man widely mourned and highly
esteemed.
Captain Scott was a veteran of the
Civil War, enlisting for service. He was
commissioned 1st lieutenant in Company H of the 1st
California Cavalry, and rose to the rank of captain; after the war he was
always prominent in local military circles, being a member of Rawlins Post No.
29, G. A. R. Captain Scott was a Knight
Templar Mason and was prominent in Masonic work. He was a member and vestryman of the
Episcopal Church. Politically he was an
uncompromising Republican and very influential in the party hustlings, but
would never accept offices, though solicited to do so. California owes a debt of gratitude to such
men as Capt. Edward Scott, who by their pioneering brought about the present
day civilization of the Golden State.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1215-1216. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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