Stanislaus
County
Biographies
THOMAS ROBERT SCOON
The combination of pure Scotch and
English blood with that of good American families has in all period of our
history been productive of a high order of citizenship. Of such stock is Thomas Robert Scoon, the
deputy auditor and recorder of Stanislaus County, California, and in 1900 the
candidate of the Republican Party to represent his district in the state
legislature. James Scoon, his father,
was born in Scotland, and came to the United States with his parents when he
was seven years old. The family settled
first in the state of New York and removed thence to Michigan and thence to
Marshall County, Illinois, where in the course of events James Scoon married
Alice Manock, a native of England and a daughter of Thomas Manock, who had
lived in the United States since her childhood.
James Scoon became influential in his township in Marshall County,
Illinois, and held many important offices there.
Thomas Robert Scoon was born at his
father’s old home in Marshall County, Illinois, April 3, 1874, and came with
his father’s family to California in 1886.
The family settled in Tulare County, where James Scoon, who had served
through the Civil War, was a member of Company D, Seventy-seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, soon became well acquainted through
other ex-soldiers and was for a time a prominent stock raiser. He now lives in Alameda County, where he is
well known as a stockman and produce and meat dealer. He has attained to the age of fifty-six and
his wife to the age of fifty-two. They
have had five children, four of whom are living, their two daughters in the
parents’ household and their son, Walter T., at Fresno, where he is in the
employ of the First National Bank of Fresno.
Thomas Robert Scoon was educated in
public schools in Tulare County and at the University of California. For three years he was a grocer at Oakdale,
Stanislaus County, and during that time was the assistant postmaster at that
place. In October, 1899, he was
appointed deputy auditor and recorder of Stanislaus County, a position for
which his ability as a businessman and his special qualifications as a fine
penman and expert accountant have eminently fitted him. His activity in the work of his party no less
than his efficiency in office commended him so strongly to the good opinion of
his fellow citizens that he was in 1900 nominated by the Republicans to
represent his county in the state legislature.
Although he was defeated he ran one hundred and fifty ahead of the
ticket in his own county, and was later appointed to a position in the navy
department, bureau of construction and repairs, by the secretary of the navy.
Mr. Scoon is a prominent member of
the Knights of Pythias and holds the offices of keeper of records and seals and
master of finances in the local organization of that order. He has identified himself with many movements
which in his opinion have promised to benefit his fellow citizens, and his
public spirit has been found equal to all demands upon it under any and all
conditions. His fidelity and ability are
such that he is most worthy to fill any high position to which he may be
called, and he occupies so safe a place in the good will of his fellow citizens
that his further advancement is a matter only of time and opportunity.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 625-626. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.