Howard Coleman Scott biography

H. C. SCOTT, M. D. The medical fraternity of Sweetwater finds a worthy representative in Dr. H. C. Scott, who, well equipped for his profession, has rendered valuable service to his fellow men in the line of his chosen field of labor. He is descended from one of the old, families of Georgia, and his grandfather, James Scott, was an own cousin of General Winfield Scott. Thomas Howard Scott, the father of the doctor, was born in Georgia and when about twenty-five years of age removed to Mississippi, settling at Pontotoc, where he spent his remaining days. His life was largely devoted to teaching, both in the school room and from the pulpit, for he was a minister of the Baptist church. Thus his labors proved of direct good to his fellow men, promoting the intellectual and moral progress of the communities in which he lived and labored. His death occurred, however, in 1863, when he was only thirty-five years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Laura Ella Coleman and was a native of Georgia, but when seven years of age accompanied her parents on their removal to Missississippi and is still living in Pontotoc, that state. By her marriage she became the mother of two children who reached adult age: Dr. H. C. Scott, of this review; and Mrs. Mary Dannie Stookey, who is living in Pontotoc, Mississippi.

Dr. Howard Coleman Scott was born in Pontotoc, September 23, 1861, and was reared in the vicinity of that place. At the age of seven-teen years he broke his leg and this was the means of his securing an education, for as he was unable to work upon the farm he made his way to school on crutches, a distance of three miles, pursuing his studies there for a year. Both previous and subsequent to this time he cared for his widowed mother and sister in a large degree, for the family were left in rather limited financial circumstances at the father’s death. After attending school during that year Dr. Scott divided his time between teaching and further continuing his own education for a period of twelve years. He was graduated from the high school at Pontotoc, Mississippi, in 1883, and with the money earned by teaching he met the expenses of his collegiate course when he had decided upon making the practice of medicine his life work. Matriculating in the University of Tennessee at Nashville in 1891 as a medical student, he spent one term there and afterward attended the university at Sewanee, a little town in the mountains, where he also spent one term. He next returned to the university at Nashville and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1894.

Dr. Scott added to his theoretical training valuable practical experience by service as house physician in a hospital at Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he remained for a year. He came to Texas in 1895, locating at Bush, Coryell county, where he entered upon the active practice of medicine, remaining there for a year and a half. He next located at Jonesboro in the same county and entered into partnership with Dr. R. J. Pope, now of Sweetwater. Dr. Scott continued at Jonesboro for four and a half years with the exception of about six months devoted to a special course of lectures in Nashville. This was in the fall of 1899 and the spring of 19oo, and his special training in surgery greatly promoted his proficiency in that department of practice.

In August, 19o1, Dr. Scott came to Sweetwater, where he has since maintained his office. He is a member of the Nolan, Fisher and Stonewall counties medical society, the Texas State Medical Society, and medical examiner for the New York Life Insurance Company, the Manhattan Insurance Company, and the State Life Insurance Company of Indiana. Fraternally he is a Mason. He is recognized as both a capable physician and surgeon, giving considerable attention to the latter branch of practice, and he enjoys a large and growing patronage.

Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, pp. 566-567.

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