Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/374



"Harvey Whitefield Scott was one of the greatest American newspaper editors. He was born in Tazwell County, Illinois, February 1, 1636. At the age of 14 years he came with his parents to Yamhill County, Oregon—traveling across the plains in an ox wagon. At the age of 17 he carried a rifle as a private soldier in Colonel Shaw's militia company in the Indian wars of 1855-1856. When eighteen years of age he matriculated in Pacific University, but for want of funds was compelled to withdraw from the Institution. In 1863, he received the honor of being the first graduate of Pacific University; and many years later an official of the school remarked that had Pacific University done nothing more than to educate Harvey W. Scott, its mission would not have been in vain. While reading law and acting as librarian of the Portland Library in 1865, Mr. Scott became editorial writer on the "Oregonian," and, excepting four and a half years, he was continuously its editor from that date until his death. In 1917 two large volumes of Mr. Scott's writings, compiled by Leslie M. Scott, were published under the title, 'Religion, Theology and Morals," this branch of study having occupied the editor's attention more continuously and for a longer time than any other. These essays which are wholly Mr. Scott's in thought, diction, and manual writing, stand out prominently in the journalistic literature of our country as acceptable counsel from a reverent and tolerant mind concerning the permanent substance of religion.

Among the many other important positions of trust held by Mr. Scott was that of Collector of Customs for the District of Oregon for five years, beginning with 1872. Also he was president of the Lewis and Clark Exposition in 1904, but declined re-election in 1905. He was many years a director of the Associated Press, the greatest news gathering organization of America. He died at Baltimore, Maryland, August 7, 1910; and a week later was borne by loving hands amid a great concourse of people to his last