March 20, 1908

HE IS LAID TO REST

Sterling Worth of W. H. H. Scott--
Highly Esteemed Character of Man, Friend, and Neighbor

One of the largest funerals held in many years at Athena, was that of W.H.H. Scott, at the Christian church, yesterday afternoon. Minister Hoven preached a powerful sermon at the bier of the dead, and his eloquent words eulogistic of the splendid character of the departed pioneer citizen fell as a balm of solace on the grief stricken family and friends of a man whom to know was to love, honor and esteem.

The passing of W.H.H. Scott from this life leaves upon the dial plate of the community in which he resided for so many years, an ineffable niche. It is indellibly marked there by his nobleness of character and the true worth of a man who stood as a man among men.

Hospitable, kind and sympathetic, his handclasp was the lasting bond of true friendship; while his love for his family and regard for his friends was an attribute resplendent in character that ever sanctioned and upheld all that was elevation to his fellowman.

The editor's acquaintance with Mr. Scott extended over a period of nearly eighteen years, and it seems to us that we have never known a better man. And from the many evidences of esteem in which he was held by all, there are hundreds who will say the same. Thus, in brief lived the man, W.H.H. Scott.

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W.H.H. Scott was born in Monterey county, Illinois, March 10, 1841, being at the time of his death, March 19, 1908, 67 years and 9 days. With his parents, he went to Sullivan county, Missouri about the year 1855, where he resided until 1864, in which year he crossed the plains to Oregon. On coming to this state, he settled in Marion county, where in 1867 he married Mary M. Gerking, who has preceeded him to the grave. To their union was born 6 children, one of whom died in childhood. Three sons, Joseph N. and Arthur of this city, and William R. of Seattle, and two daughters, Mrs. James Potts and Mrs. Otis Ingle, survive him. In 1872, Mr. Scott moved to Umatilla County, where on Gerking Flat west of this city, he took up the homestead which he developed into the splendid farm that has since been his home. He was an active and honorable member of the Christian church of this city, in which he held an important office for many years and up to the time of his death.

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I have transcribed this obituary as exactly as I could from a faded photocopy of the original--the punctuation and the spelling are the original's, not mine. I am not sure what newspaper it came out of; pretty obviously the Athena local paper of the time, but I don't know the name of it. I will try to find out what it was, and I would sure love to know the name of the editor who wrote the obit!

He did get a couple of facts wrong in the last section. The name of the county in Illinois where he was born was Moultrie, not Monterey. His marriage to Mary Gerking was in 1868, rather than 1867--she was awfully young either way; she was born January 2, 1851.

Their son "Arthur" was actually James Arthur Scott, but called Arthur to distinguish him from his uncle of the same name. The child who died was Oliver Jean Scott. William, Mary, Arthur & his wife Daisy, Oliver, and many other family members are buried in the cemetery up on the hill in Athena.