History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

William W. Scott

208 history american negro William W. Scott In comparison with some of the other Southern states, Louisiana has sent but few of her sons into the mountains of West Virginia. Mention must be made of at least one earnest worker from that state, however, in the person of Rev. William Washington Scott, who is a progressive man and has made a place for himself in religious and educational life. Mr. Scott first saw the light at Bastrop in Morehouse Parish, La., on July 30, 1874. His father, Rev. Edward Scott, who still survives, (1922) combined farming and preaching. He was the son of John Scott, who was a Cherokee Indian, and his mother’s maiden name was Martha Bates. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Miss Annie Casey, daughter of Washington Casey and Amanda (Scott) Casey. Amanda Scott was of mixed ancestry, so that Rev. Mr. Scott represents a trinity of races, Negro, Indian and Caucasian. Young Scott grew up on a farm and attended the public schools of Bastrop. After leaving public school is was necessary for him to make his own way in school, but he did not permit this to discourage him, as he was spurred on by a great aim, and would not reckon with defeat. He did high school work at Monroe, Louisiana, and at Greenville, Miss., where he worked before and after school hours to earn his living expenses and tuition. After that he pursued short courses in the Moody Institute; Carnegie College; Ohio University; West Virginia Collegiate Institute; and Iowa Christian College, Oskaloosa, Iowa. He has the B.D. degree from the theological department of Oskaloosa, where he did his theological work. He began teaching at an early age in the rural schools of Louisiana and for 25 years has been active in educational work. Prior to leaving he was principal of the public school of his home town of Bastrop one year. Most of his school work since coming to West Virginia has been in the public schools, though he taught for a while in the West Virginia west virginia edition 209 Seminary and College at Red Star.Among the places he has taught may be mentioned Barboursville, Ethel, Logan, Latrobe, and Layland. Mr. Scott gave his heart to God when he was a mere boy of thirteen and was baptized into the membership of St. John Baptist Church, Bastrop, Louisiana. He immediately felt called to preach the Gospel, but it was some years later, after making preparation, and after coming to West Virginia, that he was licensed to preach in April, 1902, and on December 28, of the same year was ordained to the full work of the ministry at Barboursville. As pastor he has served several churches. The Barboursville church has availed itself of his services at different times amounting to five years in all.He served as pastor of St.Paul,St.Albans from 1904–08; the Coal Street Baptist Church, Logan 1914–16; the First Baptist Church of Lorado 1916–19. He was also pastor at Yolyn for a while. Mr. Scott has been a builder wherever he has gone, both in his church work and in his school work. At all of the largest places where he has served as pastor, church houses and parsonages have been erected, and under his preaching and influence many have been led to Christ, saved, and added to the church. Mr. Scott came to West Virginia in 1901. On January 21, 1903, he married Miss Arlena May Hicks, daughter of Jeremiah and Hattie Hicks, of Barboursville. They have four children: Cecil, Freda Louise, Hattie Beatrice and Eula Geraldine Scott. In politics Mr.Scott is a Republican.His secret order affiliations are with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Pythians and Fisherman. His standing in his denomination may be inferred from the fact that he has served for years as Clerk of the Guyan Valley Baptist Association, President of the Tenth District Sunday School Union, Vice-Moderator of the Mt. Olivet Association, and member of the Executive Board of the State Baptist Convention. Mr. Scott has had unusual opportunity to study conditions on different fields and he is of the opinion that the things most beneficial to the race are religion, education, and the ownership of real estate.He now (1922) contemplates taking up evangelistic work. john wesley shellcroft ...