John Scott (1811-1876) was the eldest son of Jacob Scott (1781 - 1845) and Sarah Warnock (1779 - 1841). A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he had five wives and thirty-three children. He and his family immigrated to Utah in 1848, where they settled in Millville and Mill Creek. John Scott was a Senior President 61st quorum Seventies, served a mission to England and another to Ireland, was a member of Joseph Smith’s bodyguard, a Lt. Colonel in Nauvoo Legion, and an Indian War veteran.

Marriages and Children

1. Elizabeth Meneary (1815 - 1886), married 1836
   1. Mary Pugh Scott (1821 - 1905)
   2. Sarah Ann Willis Scott (1825 - 1890)
   3. Isaac Scott (1837 - 1915), married Martha Moor
   4. Matilda Scott (1838 - 1843)
   5. Louisa Scott (1840 - 1900), married Edward Morgan
   6. Ephraim Scott (1842 - 1898), married Sarah Ellen Smithies
   7. Esther Y. Scott (1843 - 1920)
   8. John William Scott (1844 - 1915), married (1) Fanny Mariah Ellis, (2) married Marinda V. Weaver
   9. Elizabeth Ann Scott (1847 - 1880), married Robert Smithies
   10. Heber Moroni Scott (1849 - 1859)
   11. Roxy Angeline Keller (1851 - 1924)
   12. Sarah Catherine Scott (1852 - 1854)
   13. Josiah Scott (1854 - 1916), married Mary E. Walton
   14. Sophia Scott (1857 - 1874), married Edward Morgan
   15. Alfonzo Scott (1859 - 1927), twin, married Caroline E. Pratt
   16. Alvina Scott (1859 - 1883), twin, married Thomas H. Ellis
2. Mary Pugh (daughter of Edward Pugh of Sussex, England), married 1844, Nauvoo, Illinois
   1. Hyrum Scott (1846 - 1915), married Amelia Morgan
   2. Mary Ellen Scott (1849 - 1935), married Peter S. Barson
   3. Eliza Ann Scott (1852 - 1887), married Peter S. Barson
   4. Lucy Jane Scott (1855 - 1936)
   5. Vilate Scott (born 12 May 1861), married Fred Fowler
3. Sarah A. Willis, born 4 February 1825, married 1846
   1. Joseph Lemuel Scott (1847 - 1922), married Sarah J. Hemsley
   2. Rebecca A. Scott (born 25 March 1849)
   3. Simeon W. Scott (born 25 August 1851), married Martha Ellis
   4. Zebulon Scott (born 22 December 1853)
   5. William Reuben Scott (1855 - 1945), married Mary L. Green
   6. Hannah Marie Scott (1859 - 1952), married John G. Morgan
   7. Martha Luzella Scott (1861 - 1906), married Miss McDonald
   8. Sarah Mirinda Scott (1867 - 1945), married Winslow F. Walker
   9. Benjamin Franklin Scott (1869 - 1923), married Rebecca Hemsley
4. Esther Yeates (daughter of George Yeates and Mary Chance), born 4 April 1843 Worcestershire, England, came to Utah 1859, handcart company, married 1860
   1. Brigham Yeates Scott (1861 - 1901), married Sarah Stoddard
   2. Mary L. Scott (born April 1863)
   3. George Thomas Scott (1865 - 1892), married Esther Lishman
   4. Sarah Melissa Scott (1864 - 1946), married Henry Bair
   5. Esther Ann Scott (1869 - 1936), married Joseph Bindrup
   6. Frederick Walter Scott (1872 - 1959), married Frances Rothrock
5. Angeline Keller (daughter of Alva Keller)
   1. Winfield M. Scott (born 4 April 1872)
   2. Mary Scott (born 1874)
   3. Jacob F. Scott (born 19 February 1876)

Biographical Sketch

Early Life

John's father was Jacob Scott, born in Londonderry, Ireland. John's mother was Sarah Warnock, born in Armagh, Ireland. They were married in Armagh, Ireland on 6 June 1804 by Reverand Thomas Cummings of the Presbyterian Church. They had 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. The fifth child and oldest son, John Scott was born in Armagh, Ulster, Northern Ireland, on 6 May 1811. His family immigrated to Quebec, Canada when he was eight years old. After moving to Toronto and then to Markham County, John's father taught school in Trafalgar for eight years. He received one hundred dollars from the British Government for teaching in addition to the subscribed fees from his pupils' families. He also received one hundred acres of land in Trafalgar, Canada from the government, given to all British subjects who were actual settlers. The family lived in Trafalgar for eighteen years. Jacob Scott built a large house there and named it Ebenezer Hall.

John Scott married Elizabeth Menerey, daughter of William Wallace Menerey and Catherine McMillan, in his father's house on 15 April 1836. Elizabeth was born 10 September 1815 in Dublin, Ireland. Not long after their wedding, John and Elizabeth, and all of his father's family were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

John's first son, Isaac, was born 15 February 1837 in Trafalgar, Canada. The family then disposed of their property and moved to the United States, traveling with the Mormon Elders who were returning from their mission assignments. They arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, in the summer of 1838, then the headquarters for the LDS Church.

Great Suffering and Many Losses

It was a terrible time for the Kirtland Saints. After suffering great persecution the Scotts moved to Independence, Missouri and thence to Far West, on 2 September 1838. Just two years later, they left Far West, Missouri, and settled about five miles from Nauvoo on 9 August 1841. John's mother, Sarah, died there on 9 August and was buried 11 August 1844. Her husband, Jacob Scott, died five months later and was buried beside her in the Nauvoo Cemetery on 2 January 1845.

While living in Nauvoo, John Scott served as one of the bodyguards to the Prophet Joseph Smith and held the position of Colonel in the First Regiment of the Nauvoo Legion. He was ordained a Seventy and became President of the Tenth Quorum of Seventies in Nauvoo in 1843 - just a few months before Joseph and Hyrum Smith were assassinated while imprisoned at Carthage City jail. When the Prophet was martyred, John assisted in bringing the bodies of Joseph Smith and of his brother Hyrum back to Nauvoo for burial in the Nauvoo Cemetery. Later in life when the memories were less painful, John often related stories about his experiences with the Prophet.

After the Prophet's death, there was a great confusion over who should be president of the church. He and his wife, Elizabeth, as well as both of his future wives, were in attendance at the meeting held after the martyrdom when the mantle of the prophet fell upon Brigham Young. They bore testimony of this many times in their lives.

Exodus From Nauvoo

Under the principle of plural marriage John took two more wives as the exodus from Nauvoo was being organized: Mary Pugh on 3 February 1845, and Sarah Ann Willis on 24 March 1846. During the spring of 1846 about 400 wagons, all heavily loaded, with about half the necessary number of teams, were assembled. Most of the families were provided with several months' worth of provisions. Colonel Senen Markham and about one hundred pioneers were sent in advance of the main body to prepare the roads, with Colonel John Scott commanding about one hundred mounted guards. They started out about noon on the morning of March 1st, reaching the Mississippi river crossing over on the ice and thence to the banks of the Missouri River about the middle of June 1846. They found the Pottawatomie and the Omaha Indians in this area friendly.

However, the expedition to the Rocky Mountains was abruptly set aside when the call came for 600 men to fight in Mexico. The Mormon Battalion was hastily formed and started marching west on 16 July 1846. Meanwhile the exiles from Nauvoo prepared to go into Winter Quarters, now known as Omaha, Nebraska.

President Brigham Young called John Scott to spend a year equipping and organizing the pioneers at Winter Quarters for traveling across the plains. Lt. Colonel John Scott next received orders to "immediately put in perfect order, the cannon equipment, carriages, and appendages, belonging thereto that are under your command, whereof fail not, and make return of this order with your doings thereon".

Wagon Train to Utah

His assignments completed, John Scott and his family (Elizabeth Menary Scott with six children, Mary Pugh Scott with one child, and Sarah Ann Willis Scott with one child) finally started west on 26 May 1848 in Heber C. Kimball's Company. John Scott served as a captain for a group of ten wagons in the Company. Mary and Sarah Ann took turns driving a mule team across the plains. In all there were 662 people, 226 wagons, 737 oxen, 284 cows, 243 sheep, 150 loose cattle, 57 horses, 25 mules, 96 pigs, 299 chickens, 5 ducks, 3 doves, 52 dogs,17 cats, 3 hives of bees, and one squirrel.

The Scotts had a terrifying and eventually wonderful experience on this journey when John's wagons were entirely surrounded by Indians. They were saved by a white man who had been captured by the the Indians and compelled to live with them, who knew John Scott and had gone to school with him in Canada. He had some influence with the Indians and in the end the Scotts were unharmed.

The Great Salt Lake Valley

John Scott and his family arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley on 23 September 1848, almost exactly four long, hard months after leaving Winter Quarters. Upon arriving in the valley, John was transferred from the tenth Quorum of Seventies to the Senior President of the Sixty-First Quorum of Seventies. He moved south of the city and settled on 100 acres of land in the Mill Creek Ward, there he constructed a large log cabin for his family; and through his influence and help, a log school house was built. [This building has since been replaced with a brick building which now belongs to the Granite School District.] The old log building and its brick replacement were named the Scott School, in honor of John Scott. John's wife, Mary Pugh Scott, was the first teacher in the log schoolhouse.

On 6 April 1857 John was called to go as a missionary to Ireland. This was his second mission to Great Britain, having accompanied some of the twelve apostles in 1839. Ever obedient, he left his families to face the hardships of building up a new country and shortages of food while waiting for the first crops to be harvested. During the summer the grasshoppers did serious damage to the crops, destroying nearly everything growing in the Valley and many other parts of Utah. The pioneers gathered roots and sego lily bulbs to supplement the meager flour rations provided by the Church. Sarah Ann did fancy hand sewing for people who could afford to pay with food.

The Utah War

When President Young received work that Johnston's Army was on the road to Utah, he released John Scott from his mission and told him to come home as speedily as possibe. They came from England by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco, then left for Salt Lake City by way of San Bernardino, arriving 19 January 1858. Soon after his return, two of his sons, Isaac and Ephraim, were called into service to help defend the Saints; the rest of the family moved to Provo until the trouble was over.

Finally U.S. President James Buchanan, in hopes of a more amicable settlement, ordered General Winfield Scott to call off the threatened attack on the Mormons and President Young was able to tell the people to return to their homes. Johnston's army of about 600 men was allowed to pass through Salt Lake City to their quarters at Camp Floyd in Cedar Valley, Utah, where they stayed until they were recalled to Fort Leavenworth in 1861. The soldiers at Camp Floyd provided a market for the destitute Saints to sell their produce, thereby enabling the people to supply themselves with clothing, shoes, and other necessities.

A Peaceful and Fulfilling Old Age

On 11 February 1860, not long after John Scott's return from England, he married his fourth wife, Esther Yeates. He married his fifth wife, Angeline Roxy Keller, on 11 April 1868, and then moved Esther and Angeline to Millville. John Scott resided in Millville until 1876, when he returned to Millcreek.

In December 1876, while visiting his family in Millville, he died of pneumonia; he was 65 years old. His funeral was held in the Mill Creek Ward. The speakers were President John Taylor, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith. They all praised his noble character, told of the good he had accomplished for his Church and his community, and described him as a man of great faith. John Scott was buried in the old Salt Lake City Cemetery on 16 December 1876.

Sources and Further Information

• Winter Quarters Project. Statistics of the Winter Quarters Fifteenth Ward; All family members of the head of the household living within the Ward boundaries are listed prior to their departure West or through 1853, whichever occurred first. Some of these children may have been married or died and were not living with the family when the Ward census was taken. The Winter Quarters wards were only in place from 1846-1848, at which time the government required the Latter-day Saints, who were on Indian lands, to move back to the east side of the Missouri River. Scott, John; Scott, Elizabeth Menerey (1); Scott, Isaac; Scott, Matilda; Scott, Louisa; Scott, Ephraim; Scott, John William; Scott, Elizabeth Ann; Scott, Mary Pugh (2); Scott, Hyrum; Scott, Sarah Ann Willis (3); Scott, Joseph Lemuel.
• 1850 United States Federal Census. Name: John Scott; Age: 39; Birth Year: abt 1811; Birthplace: Ireland; Home in 1850: Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory; Gender: Male; Family Number: 171; Household Members: John Scott 39; Elizabeth Scott 36; Isaac Scott 14; Louisa Scott 11. Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: , Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory; Roll: M432_919; Page: 36A; Image: 75. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• 1860 United States Federal Census. Name: Johns Cott [John Scott] [Johns Scott] ; Age in 1860: 49; Birth Year: abt 1811; Birthplace: Ireland; Home in 1860: Salt Lake, Utah Territory; Gender: Male; Post Office: Great Salt Lake City; Household Members: Johns Cott 49; Elizabeth Cott 44; Isaac Cott 22; Ephraim Cott 18; John W Cott 16; Elizabeth Cott 13; Hyrum Cott 14; Joseph Cott 13; Rebecca Cott 11; Mary E Cott 11; Simeon Cott 9; Eliza Ann Cott 7; Josiah Cott 5; Sophia Cott 5; Lucy Jane Cott 5; Wm R Cott 4; Alvina Cott 1; Alphonso Cott 1; Hannah M Cott 1; Mary Cott 40; Sarah Ann Cott 37; Esther Cott 17. Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: , Salt Lake, Utah Territory; Roll: M653_1313; Page: 29; Image: 33; Family History Library Film: 805313. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
• 1870 United States Federal Census. Name: John Scott; Age in 1870: 60; Birth Year: abt 1810; Birthplace: Ireland; Home in 1870: Mill Creek Ward, Salt Lake, Utah Territory; Race: White; Gender: Male; Post Office: Cottonwood; Household Members: John Scott 60; Eliza Scott 56; John W Scott 25; Sophia Scott 16; Josiah Scott 16; Alphonse Scott 12; Alvina Scott 12. Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Mill Creek Ward, Salt Lake, Utah Territory; Roll: M593_1611; Page: 506A; Image: 359; Family History Library Film: 553110. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
• Utah Death Registers, 1847-1966. Name: John Scott; Age: 65; Birth Date: 1811; Death Date: 16 Dec 1876; Death City: Salt Lake City; Death County: Salt Lake. Source Citation: Utah State Archives and Records Service; Salt Lake City, UT; Utah State Archives and Records Service; Series: 21866. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Utah Death Registers, 1847-1966 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Original data: Bureau of Vital Statistics. Utah Death Index, 1847-1966. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Utah Department of Health.
• Utah Cemetery Inventory. Name: John Scott ; Birth Date: 6 May 1811; Birth Place: Ireland; Death Date: 16 Dec 1876; Death Place: Salt Lake City, Utah; Burial Date: 16 December 1876; Cemetery: Salt Lake City Cemetery; Source: Sexton Records; Grave Location: H-10-3-ROD-SO. Source Information: Utah State Historical Society, comp.. Utah Cemetery Inventory [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: Utah State Historical Society. Utah Cemetery Inventory. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: 2000.
• Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848. Name: John Scott; Gender: Male; Relationship to Primary Person: Self (Head); Father: Jacob Scott; Mother: Sarah Warnock; Birth Date: 6 May 1811; Birth Place: Armagh, Armagh, Ireland; Death Date: 16 Dec 1876; Death Place: Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah, USA; Burial Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA; Residences: Salt Lake County, Utah, USA; 1850, 1860 Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah, USA; 1870; LDS Church Ordinance Data: Baptism Date: May 6, 1836 Ordained Seventy; LDS Temple Ordinance Data: Endowment Date: December 16, 1845 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, USA Sealed to Parents Date: November 18, 1931 Sealed to Spouse Date: January 23, 1846 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, USA Sealed to Spouse Date: January 23, 1846 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, USA; Vocations: Joiner, 1850 Farmer; 1860, 1870; Comments: In 1850 John had a household of four, and a real wealth of $400.2. In 1860 he had a household of 21, a real wealth of $700, and a personal wealth of $600. In 1870 he had a household of seven, a real wealth of $1,000, and a personal wealth of $400. Comments: #21. John was a member of the Nauvoo 4th ward. Comments: #31. John was a member of the Nauvoo Legion. Comments: #41. John came to Utah in 1848, with the John Scott company. He settled at Salt Lake City, 1848; moved to Mill Creek, 1852; senior president of 61st Qourum of Seventy; missionary to Ireland, 1854-57. Member of Joseph Smith's bodyguard; colonel in Nauvoo Legion. Indian war veteran. Household Members: John Scott Self (Head); Elizabeth Meneary Spouse; Isaac Scott Child; Matilda Scott Child; Louisa Scott Child; Ephraim Scott Child; John William Scott Child; Elizabeth Scott Child; Heber M Scott Child; Sarah C Scott Child; Josiah Scott Child; Sophia Scott Child; Alfonzo Scott Child; Alvina Scott Child; Mary Pugh Spouse; Hyrum Scott Child; Mary Ellen Scott Child; Eliza Ann Scott Child; Lucy Jane Scott Child; Vilate Scott Child; Sarah Ann Spouse; Joseph L Scott Child; Rebecca A Scott Child; Simeon W Scott Child; Zebulon Scott Child; William R Scott Child; Hannah M Scott Child; Martha L Scott Child; Sarah M Scott Child; Benjamin F Scott Child; Esther Yeates Spouse; Brigham Scott Child; Mary L Scott Child; George T Scott Child; Sarah M Scott Child; Esther A Scott Child; Fredrick W Scott Child; Winfield M Scott Child; Mary Scott Child; Jacob F Scott Child. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Black, Susan Easton, compiler. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830–1848. 50 vols. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1989. Private Donor.
• Seventy Quorum Membership, 1835–1846. Name: John Scott; Birth Date: 1811; Birth Place: Ireland; Death Date: 1876; Death Place: Utah; Father: Jacob Scott; Mother: Sarah Warnock; Wives: Keller, Roxy Angiline (3); Menerey, Elizabeth (12); Pew, Mary (5); Willis, Sarah Ann (9); Yates, Esther (6); Quorum: Presidency of Q10; Nauvoo Data: Baptized 1836; Endowed Nauvoo Temple 12/16/45 (Seventy); Nauvoo Ward 4; Post-Nauvoo Data: Joiner; Mill Creek UT; Mission Ireland; Sources: M38:516; N535; S25. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Seventy Quorum Membership, 1835–1846 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Black, Harvey B. Seventy Quorum Membership, 1835–1846: An Annotated Index of Over 3,500 Seventies Organized into the First Thirty-Five Quorums of the Seventy in Kirtland, Ohio, and Nauvoo, Illinois. Provo, Utah: Infobases, Inc., 1996. Private Donor.
• Sons of Utah Pioneers Memorial Gallery Index Cards. Name: John Scott; Spouse: Elizabeth Menary, Mary Pugh, Sarah Ann Willes, Eather Yedes, Roxey Angslens Keller; Birth Date: 6 May 1811; Birth Place: Armagh, Ireland; Death Date: 16 Dec 1876; Death Place: Millville, Cache Co., Utah; Pioneer: before 1869; Chapter: E.M.C. Mills; Donor: Mary Stillman James. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Sons of Utah Pioneers Memorial Gallery Index Cards [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. Original data: Card index created by the Sons of Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Millennium File. Name: John Scott; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 6 May 1811; Birth Place: Armagh, Ulster, Ireland; Death Date: 16 Dec 1876; Death Place: Millville, Cache, Utah, USA; Burial Date: 19 Dec 1876; Burial Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah; Father: Jacob Scott; Mother: Sarah Warnock; Spouse: Mary Pugh; Children: Mary Ellen Scott; Spouse Father: Edward Pugh; Spouse Mother: Mary Bailey. Source Information: Heritage Consulting. Millennium File [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003. Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.
• Walker, Sarah M. Scott; "A Sketch of the Life of John Scott"
• Find A Grave Memorial# 11241017
• Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah photographs, page 167
• Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, page 1149
• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Name: John Scott; Year: 1848; Age: 37; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1811; Place: Utah; Source Publication Code: 1132.7; Primary Immigrant: Scott, John; Source Bibliography: CARTER, KATE B., compiler Heart Throbs of the West. Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers. "Pioneers of 1848." Vol. 9 (1948), pp. 469-521. Page: 509. Source Citation: Place: Utah; Year: 1848; Page Number: 509. Source Information: Gale Research. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010.