J. Thomas Scott

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

J. Thomas Scott

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The name of SCOTT is one which has become famous throughout the civilized world in many lines, and it would seem as if all who bear it have a right to at least some share of renown. J. Thomas SCOTT, of Chatham, New Jersey, editor and proprietor of the Chatham Press and also of a printing establishment in that town, is no exception to this general rule.

Mr. SCOTT was born in London, England, March 13, 1872, his mother dying when he was very young, and his father leaving that country very shortly after the death of his wife. The education of Mr. SCOTT was watched over by relatives and he was sent to a private school at St. Chloe, Amberley, Gloucestershire, England, which he attended until the age of ten years, when he was sent to another private school for a short time, during which he paid for his tuition by singing in the choir. At the age of twelve years he came to the United States, arriving at the city of New York, whose public schools he attended. He was graduated from Public School No. 3, and was then a student at the Evening High School for a period of five years. After his graduation from the day school he was apprenticed to his uncle to learn the trade of printing, and in 1890 his uncle sent him to England to obtain journalistic experience, which he thought could be obtained in perfection nowhere else. Mr. SCOTT remained in England five years, and during this period was associated with The Litchfield Mercury, the North Wilts Herald, and the Bromley Chronicle. His experience on these papers was a varied one, from the gathering of the smallest items of local news to writing editorials. Returning to America, he was engaged in a journalistic capacity in the city of New York for some time, then went to Summit, New Jersey, having accepted the position of foreman on the Summit Herald. At the end of several years he resigned this position and went to New Providence, New Jersey, where he founded a paper of his own, called the Passaic Valley News, which is still in existence and for which he does the printing at the present time. His next removal was to the town of Chatham, New Jersey, which he has made his headquarters since that time. He purchased the local paper, which had been started the previous year and which had been a failure up to that time, and has made it an unqualified success. It had been a four-page sheet with only sixty subscribers and but two columns of advertising matter. The equipment consisted of an old army press, one stand of type, and Mr. SCOTT was obliged to work alone. This he has developed to its present importance. The present equipment consists of a modern type-setting machine, an up-to-date cylinder press, and other innovations tending to perfect workmanship, and the office force consist of a number of assistants in addition to Mr. SCOTT himself. The Chatham Press is a weekly publication, now has a considerable and constantly growing list of subscribers and is eagerly looked forward to by its numerous readers.

Mr. SCOTT married, January 1, 1900, Olive OSWIN, of Brooklyn, New York, who died in 1909. They had five children, of whom those now living are:

Dorothea, aged five years;
J. Frederick, aged three years.

He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Madison Lodge No. 93, Free and Accepted Masons; Madison Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and the Congregational church, in which he is also a member of the choir. Educational matters have always had his earnest attention, and he is a member of the board of education of Chatham. He is also a member of the board of health. Mr. SCOTT is held in high esteem in the community, not only as a man of wide reading and deep learning, but for his high-mindedness and integrity.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).