My Genealogy Hound

R. D. Scott, who is at the head of the firm of R. D. Scott & Company, extensive manufacturers of carriages and carts at Pontiac, Michigan, is still active in business affairs although he is now in his 78th year. He possesses the mental vigor and activity of a man in middle life, and takes a keen interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his town and State.

Mr. Scott was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1826, and when eight years of age left his native land and located in Eramosa township, Wellington County, Canada, where he remained upon the farm until he reached the age of 18 years. He then began to learn the wagon making trade under his brother-in-law, Robert Armstrong, at Guelph, Canada, and served an apprenticeship of three years. In December, 1846, he with the other employees of Mr. Armstrong cut trees near the village of Elora and from them the hubs and spokes were made, the hubs being turned out with a one-horsepower lathe. At that time from $12 to $16 per month and board was the price for skilled mechanics. Upon the death of Mr. Armstrong in 1848, our subject succeeded to his business at Guelph, and conducted it with uninterrupted success until 1857, the year of stringency in the money market and panics. Although he lost heavily he was able to pay off his indebtedness, dollar for dollar, but had nothing left after that had been done. He came to Pontiac, Michigan, in the fall of 1865, bringing a wife and seven children, and at that time was wholly without means, depending upon his labor, from day to day to support them. He established a repair shop which he successfully conducted at different locations in Pontiac until 1878, when he purchased the Lawrence street property and began the manufacture of buggies and spring wagons, also doing general repairing. He employed several laborers and all the work was done by hand. In 1888 he took some specimens to the State Fair at Jackson, and there found out that he could not compete in prices with those whose work had been done by labor saving machinery. He saw great possibilities in the manufacture of road carts and turned his energies toward that end. His first specialty was a road cart with a parcel carrier under the seat, and on this he obtained a patent. He had not the means to meet the demands of the trade and was heard to remark: “If I had $600 per month for three months, I think I could meet the demand.” He secured this money in February, 1889, from Mr. Lull, the banker, and was able to pay it back within a year. He procured modern machinery and brought the manufacture of carts up to a state of perfection, and the equal of his cart has not yet appeared on the market. He patented an improvement in the spring, hanging of the seat and transfer of motion, adding greatly to comfort in its use. The firm has built up an extensive business throughout the United States, Canada, and foreign countries, manufacturing thousands of vehicles each year. The great growth of the business is due to the individual efforts and foresight of Mr. Scott, and although he remains at the head of the firm at the present time he has a general superintendent, a buyer of materials and salesmen, employing in all about 100 people. Throughout his long and active career his affairs have been conducted with the strictest honesty and fairness, and to-day there is none who enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens to a greater extent.

Mr. Scott was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Ann Day, who was born near Hornsea, England, and died in 1892. They had seven children, of whom four daughters and one son, William R., who is associated in business with his father, survive. Our subject is a Methodist in religious views. He was formerly a Republican in politics, but since 1887 has supported the Prohibition ticket.