Harry B. Scott, a leading capitalist and financier of Chanute, owes much of his wealth and prestige to the discovery of natural gas and oil in Kansas, for immediately after oil was discovered in this state Mr. Scott came to Kansas as the representative of the Standard Oil Company, of whose interests he remained in charge until 1906. In the capacity of general manager he came to Neodesha in 1897, and made that city his headquarters until 1902, when he removed to Chanute. He there continued as an employee of the Standard Oil Company until 1906, since when he has been interested independently in the gas and oil business. He was made a director of the Prairie Oil & Gas Company, a subsidiary branch of the Standard Oil Company, and had under his supervision all the wells in Kansas. Since severing his connection with the Standard Oil Company he has been gradually investing in producing property and has extensive holdings of oil and gas lands in both Kansas and Oklahoma. He also holds leases on 1,920 acres of such land and owns producing gas wells near Chanute that pay large dividends. Besides these interests he has acquired much valuable city property.

On March 9, 1903, W. S. Cochran, George M. Peary, G. S. Simons, and Mr. Scott organized the Kansas Torpedo Company. For some time Mr. Scott gave this company no personal attention, as it was somewhat a departure from his line of business. After a time he concluded he could make more of the business by personal attention, and with that end in view began acquiring the stock of his partners, and in a short time had bought out all of the gentlemen named. Then he put his shoulders to the wheel and gave the Kansas Torpedo Company the benefit of his tremendous energy and the influence of his own personality. The Kansas Torpedo Company grew. In 1908 Mr. Scott took over the business of the McCoy Torpedo Company, at Tulsa, Okla. On March 1, 1911, he sold the business of the Kansas Torpedo Company to capitalists from Titusville, Pa., for $83,000. At the time of its sale he owned 98.5 shares of the entire stock of the company and still retains a small interest in it. The Kansas Torpedo Company enjoyed a large business. It held the Kansas field alone and was represented in all the active districts in Oklahoma. Its splendid success was due to the executive ability and managerial conduct of Mr. Scott. The business career of Mr. Scott has been one worthy of emulation, for he began in a clerical capacity on a moderate salary and by strict attention to business and honest endeavor won not only the confidence and respect of his business associates but of the public as well, and as a result he is regarded today as one of Chanute's leading capitalists and foremost citizens.

Harry B. Scott was born in Pennsylvania, March 24, 1870. His father, Royal E. Scott, was born in Illinois, but moved to Pennsylvania, where he became extensively engaged in the oil business and became a wealthy man. He married Elizabeth A. Mackey, and died in Pennsylvania in 1907. Both parents were ardent Methodists, and the beautiful church edifice of that denomination in Fagundus, Pa., was a gift from Royal E. Scott. In political views he was a Republican. George Scott, grandfather of Harry B., also was a native of Illinois, but removed to near Fagundus, Pa., on a farm, which was producing oil then and is producing oil now, and is now owned by Harry B. Scott. Elizabeth A. Mackey was a daughter of James Mackey, a lieutenant in the regular army during the war of 1812. The Mackey family, which was first established in this country at Franklin, Pa., has become a very prominent one in the East. Charles T. Mackey, an uncle of Mr. Scott, was a leading criminal lawyer of Pennsylvania and a member of Congress a number of years. He was a multi-millionaire.

On Nov. 6, 1908, Mr. Scott married Mrs. M. T. Jones, a daughter of Dr. Kramer, a prominent physician of Lawrence and Chanute, Kan. Mrs. Scott is a communicant of the Episcopal church. Mr. Scott is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. They enjoy a beautiful home and enter actively into the social life of Chanute, where both are highly esteemed.