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SCOTT, Joseph T., Lexington, KY., then
Orleans Parish, Louisiana Scott, Joseph Thompson, physician, was born at
Lexington, Ky., March 20, 1833, son of Joseph and Lucy C. (Webb) Scott,
born, respectively, at Neshaminy Falls, Pa., 1780, and Lexington, Ky.
Joseph Scott, the father, was a graduate of Jefferson Medical college,
Philadelphia, and practiced his profession at Chilicothe, O., where he
married Miss Martha Finley, his first wife. After the death of the first
wife he changed his place of residence to Lexington, Ky., where he later
married Miss Webb (who was an aunt of the wife of Pres. Rutherford B.
Hayes), and continued to reside at Lexington until his death.
Several members of the Scott family
served in the Revolutionary army, the most prominent among these being
Gen. Matthew Thompson Scott, a grandson of Gen. William Thompson, also a
Revolutionary soldier. Gen. M. T. Scott was the grandfather of the
subject of this sketch. Lucy C. Webb was a daughter of Capt. Isaac Webb
of the 4th Va. regiment. The families of Webb, Ware, Thompson, Humphry,
Fullerton, Taylor, Taylor, Tyler, Page, Talliaferro, Adams, Dean, Hyde,
Savage, and Scott, are all related to Joseph Thompson Scott and wife,
and many members of these families served in the Revolutionary army, the
War of 1812, and in the various Indian wars of that period and later.
Joseph T. Scott enlisted as a surgeon in
the 1st Mo. infantry, C. S. A. He was taken prisoner at Camp Jackson,
but was shortly afterward exchanged and became a surgeon on the staff of
Gen. Frost. During the course of his service in the Confederate army he
participated in the memorable engagements of Carthage, Elkhorn Tavern,
Iuka, Corinth, and Shiloh. Politically he was allied with the whigs
prior to the Civil war, and afterward with the democratic party. Dr.
Scott served as a member of the Charity hospital board of administrators
during the administration of Gov. Wiltz. In church affiliation he was a
Catholic. Dr. Scott was married to Miss Isidora Churchill Dean, daughter
of Capt. James Savage Dean, of the U. S. army, and Harriette M.
(Christy) Dean, of St. Louis, Mo., where the wedding took place. This
union was blessed with the following children, in the order named:
Howard, a civil engineer, who married Miss Roma de Rudio and is at this
time located in British Columbia; Dora, wife of Brig.-Gen. C. A. Devol,
of the quartermaster's corps, U. S. A.; Joseph Tilford, graduate of the
medical department of Tulane university, class of 1894, and a practicing
physician in the city of New Orleans since that date. The last named is
also acting assistant surgeon, U. S. Public Health Service; president of
the Board of Pension Examiners; medical examiner for the U. S. Civil
Service Commission, 10th La. district; member Orleans Parish Medical
association, Louisiana State Medical association, American Medical
association, Southern Medical association, St. Luke's Guild; National
Geographical society, and Kappa Alpha fraternity (Southern).
Dr. Joseph Tilford Scott was a member of
Washington artillery for 18 years, and was serving as surgeon at the
time of his resignation. He married Miss Florestine Forno, of New
Orleans, daughter of Capt. Lawrence Forno, a member of Barlow's battery,
1st La. cavalry, Forrest's command, and who served also as a captain in
the ''White League.'' Two children have been born to Dr. Joseph Tilford
Scott and wife, namely, Joseph T. and Lucille. The other children of Dr.
Joseph Thompson Scott and wife were Harriet M., Lucille M. (deceased,
1914), Arthur B., of Mississippi, who married Miss Corrine de B. Roman;
Aline A., and Joseph N., the two last-named dying in infancy. Capt. John
Scott, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, served as aide
on Gen. George Washington's staff, and died from wounds received in the
French and Indian wars. He fought with Wolf at Quebec. Capt. James
Savage Dean, father of the wife of Joseph Thompson Scott, was born in
the state of New York. He served in the War of 1812 and died in service
at about the time of the outbreak of the Mexican war, having served also
in several of the various Indian campaigns of the time. Capt. Dean was a
nephew of Silas Dean, who served as minister plenipotentiary and
ambassador extraordinary to France, and was a cotemporary of Benjamin
Franklin. Dr. Joseph Thompson Scott was a descendant of Robert Scott, an
old covenanter hero, and member of the Scottish parliament, who fought
at the battle of Bothwell bridge. John, the eldest son of Robert, came
to America in 1725, and his son, Matthew, married Miss Betsy Thompson,
daughter of Brig.-Gen. William Thompson of the Revolutionary army.
Joseph Thompson Scott began his
professional education at Transylvania university, Lexington, Ky., and
afterward studied at Paris, France, where he remained 5 years, following
which he returned to the United States and graduated from McDowell
Medical college, St. Louis, Mo., in 1860. Following his graduation he
was commissioned as a surgeon in the 1st regiment, Mo. militia, but soon
resigned to return to Paris on the suggestion of Prof. Louis, who
invited him to become his chief of clinic. At the beginning of the Civil
war, 8 months later, he hastened home and cast his lot with the citizen
soldiery of Missouri, under Gov. Jackson, though urged by minister
Falkner, an intimate friend, to enter the Union army. While serving as
surgeon of his regiment he was captured, and was paroled at Camp
Jackson, near St. Louis, May 10, 1861. As soon as exchanged he rejoined
the Missouri troops under Gen. Sterling Price, and as surgeon of
Guibor's battery, 1st Mo. infantry, and as a member of the staff of Gen.
D. M. Frost, took part in the campaigns west of the Mississippi river,
including the battle of Elkhorn Tavern. Later he was on duty with the
troops under Gen. Price at Corinth and Iuka, and was promoted to the
rank of chief medical director of Gen. Van Dorn's division. Oct. 16,
1862, he was ordered to report to Lieut.-Gen. T. H. Holmes for duty with
Brig.-Gen. D. M. Frost, and continued on duty with that command until
near the close of hostilities. In Feb., 1863, he was detailed by the war
department as a member and recorder of the medical board for the
examination of officers in the trans-Mississippi department and
applicants for appointment in the medical department of the army. At the
time of the surrender he was stationed at Washington, Ark., and was
included in the surrender of Gen. Richard Taylor's command. At that time
he was serving as medical inspector, army of the west.
At the close of the war Dr. Scott located
at New Orleans and soon built up a large practice, enjoying popularity
with all classes of people, but more particularly among his
ex-Confederate comrades. It is said of him that he was always ready and
willing to assist those in need, with professional services or
otherwise. The doctor was a member of the commission of experts of the
national board of health who worked with the Howard association during
periods of great danger at New Orleans, and in the course of his
professional experience also served as a member of the board of
administrators of the New Orleans Charity hospital. He was a member of
Camp No. 9, United Confederate Veterans, and also a member of the
American Legion of Honor. He died June 25, 1896.
Maj. William D. Christy, maternal
grandfather of the wife of Joseph Thompson Scott, was born Jan. 10,
1764, in Carlisle, Penn., his parents having come from Dundee, Scotland.
His father, Thomas Christy, was a captain in the British army, and came
to America before the struggle for independence began. He participated
in the battle of Monongahela, and was severely wounded during that
engagement. It should also be stated here that Capt. James Savage Dean,
father of Mrs. Joseph Thompson Scott, was with Perry at the battle of
Lake Erie, when only a boy. Later he became captain of the Second
dragoons. In 1788 Gov. Randolph of Virginia appointed Maj. William
Christy, just mentioned above, as lieutenant of a troop of cavalry in
Jefferson county. He was a surveyor and had been occupied with that work
in Kentucky and Indiana several years prior to receiving this
commission. In the campaign of 1791 against the Indians of the
northwest, Maj. Christy served as adjutant of Gen. St Clair's army, and
it is related that he was one of the last 3 officers to leave the field.
On this occasion he saw Col. Oldham dying and went to his assistance,
receiving Col. Oldham's last message to his wife. Afterward, remembering
his pledge to the mother of Lieut. Edward Taylor, whose sister he
afterward married, he galloped on and found that youth by his gun,
wounded and covered with blood. In a hand-to-hand struggle with an
Indian, Christy cut down the savage and assisted Taylor from the field.
In 1792 Christy was appointed adjutant of the 1st regiment, Ky. militia.
In 1794 he joined Gen. Wayne and served in his campaign until the
Indians had been punished and sued for peace. In 1799 he was appointed
to the 33rd regiment, Ky. militia.
In 1804 Maj. Christy sold his land in
Kentucky and moved to St. Louis, Mo., and in 1806 he was appointed judge
of the court of common pleas and justice of the general quarter sessions
of the peace in and for the district of St. Louis; in 1809, trustee for
the town and precincts of St. Louis; in 1809 also aide-de-camp to the
governor and commander-in-chief of the territory of Louisiana; in 1809
again, major-commander of the Louisiana rangers, on which occasion Gov.
Lewis is said to have remarked: "I know Maj. Christy to be wise in
council and swift in action." In 1812 Maj. Christy was appointed
judge of the court of common pleas and courts of quarter-sessions for
the district of St. Louis; in 1814, auditor of public accounts for the
state of Missouri. Under presidents Monroe and Jackson, for 13 years
Maj. Christy was registrar of the public land office for the district of
St. Louis, and resigned in 1833 when age and bad health had rendered him
too infirm for public office. Maj. Christy died in 1837. His wife, Miss
Martha Thompson Taylor, was a first cousin to Pres. Zachary Taylor. She
survived her husband until April, 1849. Louisiana: Comprising Sketches
of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in
Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 790-793. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D.
Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. |
