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F. M. SCOTT is familiarly called "Frank" by his numerous friends and acquaintances in Pleasant Plains and Sangamon county, although he has almost reached the age of three score years and ten. This address, however, indicates the feeling of good fellowship and kindly regard in which he is uniformly held by those who know him. He is living retired in Pleasant Plains after a long connection with agricultural interests. He was born in Cartwright township, April 26, 1835, a son of Dallas Scott, who was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, in 1795, and came to Sangamon county in pioneer times. The Scott family is of English lineage and the first representatives of the name in America established their home in Virginia. John Scott, the grandfather, removed with his family from the Old Dominion to Kentucky and was one of the first to locate in Cumberland County, where he reared his family. He had three sons and four daughters, including Dallas Scott who was reared on the old homestead in the Bluegrass state. After reaching mature years he wedded Sarah Foster, also a native of Cumberland county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Squire Foster, who was a soldier of the war of 1812 and died during his term of service, of yellow fever, at Natchez, Mississippi. In 1819, the year following the admission of Illinois into the Union, Dallas Scott came to this state, crossing Richland creek on the 1st of November. He made a permanent location in Richland Creek township, pre-empting land which was then wild and unimproved, not a furrow having been turned upon it. However, with characteristic energy he undertook the task of plowing and cultivating the fields and in due course of time developed a good property which returned to him very desirable harvest. As the years passed he added to his original purchase until at the time of his death he owned about four hundred acres of highly improved and valuable land. He died on the old homestead, June 18, 1841, and his wife, surviving him for about twenty years, departed this life in February, 1862. In their family were four sons and four daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity, but three of the number are now deceased. The living sons are F.M. and Milton Scott, and there are also three living daughters.

Frank M. Scott was reared to manhood in Sangamon county and obtained fair educational advantages in the public schools. He was married in Cass county, Illinois, in January, 1858, to Mary L. Brockman, a native of Illinois, in which state she spent her girlhood days. Her father, Samuel Brockman, was an early settler of Cass county coming to Illinois from Kentucky. The young couple began their domestic life upon a part of the old home farm and the experience which he had in his youth in cultivating the fields now proved of practical value to him. In his farming operations he prospered and as the years passed he extended the boundaries of his property until he had four hundred acres of land, purchasing the interests of the other heirs until he owned most of the old homestead. He still retains possession fo two hundred and eighty acres, which is a well improved and valuable property, equipped with modern accessories and conveniences. It is pleasantly located within five miles of the village of Pleasant Plains and is now rented, for in 1898 Mr. Scott took up his abode in the town and has since lived retired. Through a long period, however, he was an active and progressive farmer and as the result of his labors he acquired the means that now enables him to enjoy rest from further toil.

In 1883 Mr. Scott was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who passed away on the 4th of March of that year. They were the parents of seven children, who are yet living. The eldest is Professor George D. Scott, who is a successful educator of Lampasas, Texas, having for a number of years occupied a position of prestige in the ranks of his chosen profession. The next son is Professor John L. Scott, who is at the head of Sangamon College at Pleasant Plains. James H. is a resident farmer of Morgan county, Illinois. Eugene B. is operating the home farm. Dr. Travis M. Scott is a physician, who recently pursued a post-graduate course in Chicago and is now practicing in this county. The daughters are Cynthia A., who is at home with her father, acting as his housekeeper; and Ama L., who is pursuing a course in osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri. Mr. Scott also lost three children: Hattie, who died at the age of four years; Amos, who died at the age of two years; and an infant son.

Since casting his first presidential ballot for James Buchanan in 1856 Mr. Scott has never wavered in his allegiance to the Democracy nor failed to support by his ballot the men and measures of the party. The cause of education finds in him a stanch friend and he believes in the employment of good teachers and the conduct of good schools, whereby children may be fitted for the practical duties which come with later life. He belongs to the Baptist church at Pleasant Plains and was formerly a Master Mason, but is now dimitted from the lodge. Having spent his entire life in this county he has become very widely known, the name of Frank M. Scott being a familiar one in Pleasant Plains and the surrounding district. His sterling traits of character have commanded for him the confidence and good will of those with whom he has been associated, and his friends are many.