The Education of Borden Scott: A Prologue

Before Sydney Borden Scott was a 30-ish-year-old man graduating from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at the University of Illinois, he was a just a boy in Georgia. And somewhere around the age of 18, that boy graduated – for the first time – from what would later become Morehouse College. The year was 1898.

Here Comes the Graduate, Dr. Sydney Borden Scott

On the 20^th of June 1910, Volume 16, Number 6 of The Plexus reported on the 28^th Annual Commencement of the College of Physicians and Surgeons within the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois. Of the ceremony, which had taken place at the Studebaker Theatre on June 7^th, The Plexus wrote:

As the orchestra played Mendelssohn’s Grand March, ‘Athalie,’ the one hundred and thirty one graduates wearing caps and gowns, entered the left rear door of the main floor of the theatre and in solemn order, marched down the left aisle, taking their places in the middle block of seats.

Mystery Monday: Where Was Sydney Borden Scott Born?

When Sydney Borden Scott registered for the draft for World War II in 1942, he listed his birthplace as Petersburg, Virginia. When he applied for a Social Security Number twenty years later, in 1962, he again gave Petersburg, VA as his place of birth. Yet, when he passed away just 3 years later, in 1965, his Certificate of Death stated that his place of birth was Sparta, GA. 

Crop of Social Security Number Application for Sydney Borden Scott, 1962. Social Security Administration.

Paging Dr. Scott!

Many moons ago, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the siblings of my 2x great-grandmother, Scoatney (Scott) Cooper. The hunt took me (digitally, at least) from rural Georgia to Washington State to Portland, Oregon, as I traced her sister Masonia (Scott)Worthen. There I uncovered another Masonia Scott, which led me to discover that a second Scott sibling had also migrated to Oregon: James Solomon Scott. And it was through James that I “met” another Scott sibling, the man I’ll introduce you to today.

We’ll start with a death.

Masonia (Scott) Worthen: A Timeline

Masonia Scott is my 2x Great Grandaunt, the younger sister of my maternal 2x Great-Grandmother, Scoatney Scott. Put otherwise, she is the sister of my mother's mother's father's mother.

Abt 1863: Masonia Scott is born to Solomon and Cherry Scott, most likely in Hancock County,

Georgia. The Civil War is raging and Sherman's March to the Sea is still about a year away. Masonia's family is probably enslaved.

Wedding Wednesday: Solomon Scott and Nelly Little

This is the marriage license and return for Solomon Scott and Nelly Little. Solomon is my maternal 3x Great-Grandfather – he’s Scoatney’s dad. But Nelly is not my 3x Great-Grandmother.

Mystery Monday: What Ever Happened to Great-Grandma Cherry?

I don’t know what happened to my 3x great-grandmother. In 1870, I know where she is and I know who she’s with, but by 1880 - *poof* - she disappears.

Let’s drill down a bit. First off, who am I talking about? Cherry Scott, maiden name unknown, if she even had one. She was the mother of my 2x great-grandmother, Scoatney Scott Cooper, and since I’ve decided to spend this year focusing on Scoatney and her siblings, it seems only right that I begin by posting about her mother. If only there was more to post.