Remember When: He produced an accurate and cheap book!
It’s FAIR TIME, and about 150 years ago at fair time the big news everyone was talking about was the newly published book, "A Complete History of Fairfield County, Ohio." It had been announced in the local newspapers on Oct. 11, 1877.
The author’s introduction to his “accurate and cheap” book reads: “A history of Fairfield County in 1876, just 76 years subsequent to its first organization, has been no easy task; first because the pioneers have nearly all passed away; and secondly, because there are no records of much that would be requisite to make up a complete history. This is much to be regretted. So far as they could serve me, however, I have collected from state histories, and from state and county records, statistical and other matter. Beyond this I have collected from living witnesses who have been life-long citizens of the county, so much of personal history, and incident, and anecdote, together with pioneer reminiscences, as it has been possible to do…the book is presented to the public as a pretty full and, as is believed, an entirely correct and authentic history. Nevertheless, brevity and condensation have been observed because the author has desired to bring the work within the financial ability of every citizen, by producing a cheap book.”
Born in 1809, this dentist (would-become-author) came to Lancaster in 1839, moved away and then returned in 1841. He placed an ad in the Gazette & Express (3 Dec 1841) announcing “…after the flattering encouragement which he has received through the past summer he has permanently established himself in Lancaster and will not leave at least for a term of years, if sustained.”
He stayed, and 37 years later was writing a history of Fairfield County with this introduction: “Note: I find some difficulty I at first scarcely anticipated. The oldest persons now living in Fairfield County, and who have spent their lives here, differ more or less in their recollections of dates and incidents. Therefore, in matter not of record, discrepancies arise. I have been obliged to leave out much that I would have been glad to insert, through fear of inaccuracy. But this will not materially interfere with the general tenor of the work.”
This author was Dr. Hervey Scott, Sr. (1809-1895). Born in Greene Co., Ohio, Scott worked on his father’s farm, then served as a school teacher, and married in 1830. He entered the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati from which he graduated in 1836 and went into practice. Two years later he changed his profession to that of dentistry and located in Lancaster. After his first wife died in 1841, he married Pricilla Ann Crook in 1842. This couple would have six children with only four living to adulthood, Hervey, Jr. b1843; Sarah b1849; John Clark b1852; and William D. b1863.
Lots One and Two in Square 15 (on east side S. Broad St. south of where the post office is today) became the property of the “prominent dentist” Dr. Scott in 1856. After he remodeled his house on “Broadway,” the Gazette (2 Sept. 1869) reported: “…the Dr. has had an eye to beauty of appearance as well as convenience for use…His professional rooms are incorporated in the building.”
A man of many talents and interests, Dr. Scott assumed “management and editorial responsibilities” for the Lancaster Gazette, and purchased the American Democrat newspaper from W. S. Beaty. He consolidated them and named his paper the Gazette-Democrat, then sold the paper in 1860.
Hervey Scott’s wife Pricilla died at 60 in July 1873, and son Hervey Scott, Jr., local editor of the Scioto Gazette, died in Chillicothe at age 30 in Oct. 1873. Son Dr. John Clark Scott died in 1922 and was called “the dean of Lancaster dentists.” (His two sons Walter Scott and Starling Scott were also dentists.) Son William D. Scott became a newspaper man in Detroit. Daughter Sarah married Charles Hutchinson and lived in Toledo. Hervey Scott, Sr. left Lancaster and went to live with Sarah in 1891. He died there in 1895, and his remains were returned to Lancaster and buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
Readers who enjoy history but have not read Dr. Scott’s history – the first and the best history of early Fairfield County—should read it. It can be obtained “very cheaply” by borrowing it from your public library.
Readers may contact Harvey at joycelancastereg@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Remember When: He produced an accurate and cheap book!
