1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

Granville Simeon Scott, of Osage township, has been a resident of Crawford county since 1869, being one of the old-timers. A man of varied experience in life, having proved his usefulness and worth in all the departments of activity to which he has been called, and possessed of that strict integrity of character which lends force and influence to man in every age of life, he has not been otherwise than potent for good and the welfare of his community, and as such is esteemed by all his fellow citizens.

Mr. Scott is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war who have since taken up their residence in Crawford county and proved such a valuable addition to its sterling citizenship. He enlisted in Moniteau county, Missouri, in November, 1861, in Company I, Twenty-fourth Missouri Cavalry, going into camp at Jefferson City, under officers Captain Rice and Colonel Hall. He saw hard and constant service in what was in many respects the most dangerous battle ground of the war, on the western side of the Mississippi; was again and again in conflict with the troopers of Joe Shelby, Quantrell, Coffey, Anderson, and other of the noted rebel leaders, under whom the bloodthirstiest guerrillas and bushwhackers often served. He was at the fight at Turkey creek, and in fact was all over the state of Missouri, experiencing many narrow escapes; was at Pisgah, and also had a severe skirmish in a tobacco field; and toward the end of the war went to New Mexico as a guard for a government train of supplies. After a long and wearing service he received his honorable discharge.

Mr. Scott was born in Monticello, Wayne county, Kentucky, February 25, 1830, being a son of William and Parnita (Goodrich) Scott, both natives of Kentucky. Both the paternal and maternal grandfathers served in the Revolutionary war, and the latter lived to the great age of one hundred and five years. The father was killed in an accident while living in Missouri, at the age of fifty-five. His children were: Granville S., Sarah A., Collie B., Allen, William, and James, who was killed while a soldier in the Confederate army. The mother attained the age of eighty-nine years. She was a member of the Baptist church.

Mr. Scott was reared in Cole county, Missouri, in a backwoods country and period, receiving his educational advantages in an old-fashioned schoolhouse with slab seats and fireplace. In 1852 he was married to Elizabeth Jane Curnutt, who was born in Virginia, being one of the three children left at her mother's death at thirty-five, the others being Andrew J., who was a soldier in the Fourth Missouri Calvary, and Mary. Her father, who was a member of the Baptist church and a good and worthy man, died at the age of fifty-six. Mr. and Mrs. Scott came out to Crawford county, as has been mentioned, in 1869, and were among the first settlers at Girard. Later they moved to their present home, where he owns a nice little farm of forty acres and has all the comforts and conveniences which his lifetime of effort so well deserves.

Their children are as follows: Andrew J., of Neosho county; John M.; Granville Sherman; Joseph, who died at the age of thirty-one, leaving four daughters; and James W., who died at the age of twenty-five. Mr. Scott and his wife are members of the Christian church, and he is affiliated with the G. A. R. post.