“George Washington Scott, Entrepreneur, Soldier, Philanthropist”

Aucilla Research Institute
Contributor

In the decade preceding the American Civil War, Middle Florida was not at a loss for energetic, capable and interesting men, but perhaps none were more remarkable or possessed deeper character than a transplanted northerner from Pennsylvania. George W. Scott was born into a prominent Alexandria, Pa. family in 1829. His father, John, succeeded at both farming and shoe manufacturing as well as politics serving in both the state legislature and the U. S. House of Representatives.
George received a good education along with a strong Christian upbringing, and as a young man gravitated toward work on the family farm. He became, however, chronically ill with discomfort in his throat and chest, a condition which eventually sent him south in search of a climate more conducive to his good health. In 1850, he traveled extensively through Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and finally Florida. After a return home in 1851 and marrying Rebekah Bucher, he journeyed with his wife and money borrowed from his family back to Quincy, Fla. where they lived for about a year. According to his personal records Scott, in spite of his Yankee heritage, was graciously received and accepted by the local populace.
In 1852 he and Rebekah moved to Tallahassee, commenced a mercantile business and soon acquired land for a plantation exceeding 1,000 acres in proximity to what is now Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. By all accounts Scott’s farming and mercantile interests prospered. His plantation was considered an exemplary operation and innovative in its use of a 16-foot waterwheel to power a cotton gin and corn grinding machinery.
Furthermore, he experimented with the formulation of different types of fertilizer, some of which utilized crushed phosphate rock, an activity which would prove highly beneficial to him in later years. Also, somewhat unique was the fact that he did not employ slave labor although he would subsequently purchase slaves as the Civil War reduced the availability of hired personnel.
The bitter, divisive forces driving America into brutal conflict entered Scott’s life in a most personal way given his extended family in Pennsylvania and its record of public service. Contrary to what might have been anticipated, however, he readily supported the Southern cause on what he believed to be constitutional grounds and promptly joined the local “Tallahassee Guard” which was soon mustered into Confederate service. A brother at home joined the Union Army, thus engendering a saga often played out in this tragic war. Scott would shortly become part of the Second Florida Cavalry rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in charge of what became known as “Scott’s Company” of the Fifth Battalion. Their primary mission was to patrol the middle district an area between the Suwannee and Choctawhatchee Rivers in an effort to scout enemy activity and hinder any incursions. The Confederate authorities generally viewed Florida’s coastal assets as indefensible and routinely drained the state’s manpower and provisions, especially salt and beef. Consequently, the scant forces defending the interior were chronically ill equipped and short of rations, ammunition and most articles of war. Scott’s Company was no exception in this regard in spite of the fact that it saw hard service over a large territory and plenty of small-scale combat. From the east near Jacksonville to St. Marks and Wakulla County and the Ochlocknee River, Scott demonstrated fearless and able leadership in fighting at Olustee, Gainesville, Milton, Braddock’s farm and other engagements.
The Aucilla and Wacissa River basins also fell within the scope of Fifth Battalion operations. Numerous maps produced by Scott survived the war and can be viewed in the “Florida Memory” collection. One of these in particular shows “Scott’s Trail” along the east side of the Aucilla River and what appears to be a Confederate campsite above its confluence with the Wacissa. In late May of 1862, Scott led his men with the help of local guide, Jacob Chancy, on an arduous scouting trip down the east bank of the Aucilla to a point about two miles from its mouth where they soon discovered evidence of Union naval activity. Raids on Confederate salt-works were periodically launched from the blockading squadrons as well as forays to gather firewood and fresh water. It became apparent that Scott’s discovery was a site being regularly utilized for water and firewood by parties from the Union vessel, “Kingfisher” moored in nearby Appalachee Bay. Scott immediately saw an opportunity to avenge some of the Union raids on local salt-works and the St. Marks lighthouse so he quickly set up an ambush. Perhaps he felt additional satisfaction from his plan as he was personally invested in a salt-works nearby in Newport. Whatever the reach of his emotions, his trap on June 2, 1862 was highly successful as three Union skiffs carrying thirteen men and a pilot soon returned. The Confederates managed to capture two of the three boats with only the pilot escaping. Two Union sailors were killed, and the remainder all taken captive were marched to Tallahassee. The dead sailors were temporarily buried, but subsequent negotiations allowed Union forces to rebury them in marked graves by the Aucilla. Exactly where these seamen lie remains a mystery. Needless to say, there was considerable exaltation over this small affair in Tallahassee.
Toward the end of the war Scott’s company was stationed near St. Marks when Union forces launched an amphibious invasion on March 3, 1865 in an effort to capture Tallahassee. Colonel Scott quickly recognized the threat, and his small band became the “tip of the spear” in countering this attack. Hopelessly outnumbered they fought a delaying action which eventually put them in Newport at the bridge over the St. Marks River. They were able to set fire to the bridge and hold back the Union forces long enough to destroy the structure and prevent any crossing. This bold and decisive action forced the invading troops further up the river to a land bridge where Confederate troops held a strong defensive position. The ensuing “Battle of Natural Bridge” was a Confederate victory and assured that Tallahassee would remain the only Confederate state capital not captured by the Federal Army.
George Scott emerged from the war a Florida hero for his role in the fighting at Newport and Natural Bridge. His popularity was such that in 1868 he reluctantly accepted the nomination to run for Governor on the Conservative ticket but was defeated by the Republican candidate. Given the difficulties inherent in post war farming, he and Rebekah moved their family to Savannah, Ga. in 1870 where he formed a partnership dealing in cotton brokerage. Initially successful the company was later forced into bankruptcy due to clandestine and unscrupulous activity by his partner. The day would come when Scott would repay with interest every investor who lost money in this venture, but in 1879 he and his family moved to Decatur, Ga. near Atlanta with funds borrowed from friends who retained their confidence in him. Their trust was soon validated as Scott persevered to turn his earlier interests in phosphate fertilizer into a highly profitable manufacturing enterprise.
“Gossypium Phospho” became one of the most widely distributed fertilizers in the south. After selling this company for a very substantial profit, Scott went on to make many other lucrative investments in Atlanta real estate and in a large textile operation known as the “Scottdale Mill” which operated near Decatur (Scottdale, Ga.) until late in the twentieth century. Among his real estate developments was the “Century Building” in downtown Atlanta. Now better known as the “Flat Iron Building” it is one of Atlanta’s most iconic historical structures.
Scott and Rebekah had one son and four daughters. Two of the daughters married into the Candler family with ties to Asa Candler, founder of the Coca Cola Company. Descendants of the Scott family perpetuated many of his business interests and for generations contributed to the spiritual, social and economic advancement of Decatur and DeKalb County Ga.
George Scott passed away at the age of 73 on October 3, 1903. Today, he is best remembered as the founding benefactor of Agnes Scott College in Decatur. An ardent Presbyterian and lifelong adherent to Christian principles, he saw the need to provide better education for women. His initial gift and subsequent unfailing support which largely created and sustained the college in its early years was honored by naming it for his mother, Agnes Irvine Scott, who was the guiding force in his life.
A final tribute to Colonel George Washington Scott is best found in the words of Dr. Frank H. Gaines, the first President of Agnes Scott College: “Colonel Scott was easily the first citizen of Decatur, and no man stood higher in Atlanta or in the State of Georgia than he. He was a man of rare ability, of the highest Christian character, of excellent judgment, of broad vision, of great generosity and withal modest and quiet. All these things made him a leader. All honor to this noble, far-seeing, able, Christian gentleman.”