History of the Restoration Movement


Andrew Scott

1786-1859

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A Look At Andrew Scott's Life

Andrew Scott was born in 1786 in North Carolina. When a youth, his family moved to Jackson, now Clay County, Tennessee. There he met and married Anna Longest May 28, 1808. Together they had eleven children.

In 1824 the family moved to Sangamon County, Illinois. It is not known when he came across the literature of Alexander Campbell, but it can be safely said that his influence was great. Not long after arriving in Illinois he met Theophilus Sweet, a strong Baptist. Soon his influence brought about change in thought, and they committed themselves to proclaiming New Testament Christianity in their area.

Scott’s work was primarily in the western part of Illinois. He planted the church in Sangamon County at his home in New Berlin. He evangelized in neighboring counties as well. He was a strong influence in that region in the early to middle years of the 19th century in that area.

In 1853 his wife Anna passed away, and he remarried Mary Maxwell. They were married about six years when Scott died in 1859. So little is known of his life and work. However it can be said that he was faithful to the cause of Christ until his death.

Scott Harp

Chronology Of The Life Of Andrew Scott

1763
John Scott, father of Andrew Scott, born in May 29

1776
John Scott was a soldier in the American Revolution.

1786 Nov. 21
Andrew Scott, born Nov. 21, 1786, in North Carolina, son of John and Nancy Keith Scott

1791
Anna Longest born in South Carolina near the sea coast.

1804
Family moved from South Carolina to Jackson (now Clay) County, Tennessee.

1808 May 28
Married in Jackson county, Tenn., to Anna Longest, daughter of Caleb and Hannah Longest.

1809 Aug. 9
1st child Gaddial D. was born in Jackson County (Now Clay) TN

1810
They then moved to Lincoln Co. Kentucky and lived on Cane Creek

1811 Feb. 22
2nd child, Nancy born, Lincoln Co., Kentucky

1811,12
Moved to Giles Co. Tennessee on the Pigeon Roost branch (or creek) of the Elk river,

1813 Jan. 12
3rd child, James L. born in Giles Co., TN

1813,14
Moved to Harrison (later Orange, then Crawford) Co. Indiana

1813/14
(first settling in Whiskey Run township, then settling near what became the town of Hartford, Indiana)

1815 Jan. 20
4th child, Elizabeth A. born in Harrison County, Indiana

1817 Jan. 21
5th child, Anna Creighton, born in Orange County, Indiana

1818
Andrew Scott came from Crawford County, Indiana, and located near Richland, in Cartwright Township, Sangamon County, Illinois. His parents and family moved there with him.

1818 Nov. 20
6th child, Willson Alexander born in Crawford County, Indiana

1821 Dec. 22
7th child, Caleb Longest born in Sangamon County, Illinois

1824
The family moved to Island Grove, Sangamon County, Illinois. (Haynes, p.25)

1824 June 3
8th child, John W., born in Sangamon County, Illinois

He met Theophilus Sweet, a Baptist preacher of the old school. It was not long until Mr. Sweet was in accord with Mr. Scott in his Christian faith and preaching. Their united labors soon developed a Christian Church on Spring Creek that met for worship in the log schoolhouse. It was doubtless organized there.

1825
Berlin church, better known today as Mt. Zion Christian, organized by Andrew Scott; In its early years the church was served by Andrew Scott, Theophilus Sweet, Judge J. W. Taylor, A. J. Kane and Dr. Mallory. Charles O. Rowe came from Indian Creek and so strengthened the congregation that a frame chapel was built in 1842, one and a half miles northwest of Berlin. Then it was known as the Mt. Zion Christian Church. The elders then were Mr. Scott, William Grant and Henry Ellis. Then Harrison Osborn and Robert Foster served the church for six years. N.S. Haynes, p.371

1828 Dec. 12
9th child born, Dorinda born in Sangamon County, Illinois

1830 Apr. 17
10th child born, Lucinda born in Sangamon County, Illinois

In a time after the beginning of this church, one of its members, named William Grant, accused Preacher Andrew Scott in plain speech of lying. Of his defense the subjoined documents have come down to us:

TAZWELL COUNTY, Illinois, June 30th, 1830- 'We whose names are undersigned having been formerly members or the church at Spring Creek in Sangamon County, by permission of the church in the big grove on Kickapoo, do send to the churches and all whom the presents may concern, that Brother Andrew Scott was and is a minister in good standing among us. Signed: ISAAC CARLOCK, JAMES R. SCOTT, SAMUEL P. GLENN, LEVINA MARTIN, RUTH B. GLEN, JOHN P. GLEN, DANIEL VINCENT, NANCY GLEN. ANN VINCENT,

I, John Glen, a member of the church of Christ at Big Grove, Kickapoo, do hereby certify that I have known Andrew Scott for forty years, and that I ever did consider him a man of truth and strictly honest. Given under my hand this 10th day of June. 1830. Signed: JOHN GLEN.

The genuineness of these documents is attested by the following:

I. M. B. Robertson, a Justice of the Peace in and for Sangamon County, Illinois. do hereby certify that the above are accurate copies of letters of commendation received by Andrew Scott, from the above parties.

Given under my hand and seal this 15th day of October, 1913. M. B. ROBERTSON, BERLIN, Illinois, Oct. 15, 1913. Justice of the Peace.

From these statements it is clear that there was a church of Christ in Big Grove, on the Kickapoo, in 1830. Nine members of this church had previously been members of the Spring Creek congregation. The latter was formed previous to this time, probably near 1825, the year after Messrs. Scott and Sweet began to work together.

Those who are curious will be interested in the following. On the reverse side of the sheet of paper containing the above testimonials this certificate is written:

“This is to sertify that I was at the meten on Spring Creek for the perpes of setlen of Deficelty betwen Brother Scott and Brother Grant he charges Brother Scott of lying But did not prov it it was not setled to the satisfaction of Brother Scott But was left to ware out.” JESSE WILSON.

The church of Christ in Big Grove, on Kickapoo, was short-lived, or soon met in another place under another name. None of the historians mention it, nor is there a tradition of it in the memories of octogenarians.
-History of the Disciples of Christ In Illinois, N.S. Haynes, p.25,26

1832 May 2
11th child born, Malinda, in Sangamon County, Illinois

1842
Mt. Zion church building is raised on Scott’s property

1853 Sept. 14
Anna Scott dies and is buried in family/church cemetery on their property. He soon remarries Mary Ellis Maxwell, the widow of Elias Maxwell, also of Sangamon Co. who had died in 1848.

1859 Sept. 16
Andrew Scott dies in Sangamon County, Illinois and is buried in the family crypt next to his first wife, Anna.

1861
Second wife, Mrs. Mary Ellis Maxwell Scott dies.

Sources:

History of the Disciples in Illinois, N.S. Haynes
Matt Scott - https://www.bytesizesound.com/jws1/jws1.html
Matt Scott - https://www.bytesizesound.com/jws1/andrews.html
Corrections from Debbie West geneology researcher - email. 06.29.2023 - Contact her at: https://www.findagrave.com/user/find-member ID# 47435701 

Directions To The Home Place And Burial Location

Andrew and Anna Scott are buried on the old homeplace and location of the Mt. Zion Church that he established. The church building is gone, and only the family crypt, in disrepair can be seen. More is explained below. From I-72 in western Illinois, take exit 62, and head north on Co. Rd. 10. The road will jack-leg to the right. Cross Co. Hwy. 8 (Old Jacksonville Road). Proceed north, and the road will jack-leg back to the left. When it straightens out you will notice three corn silos on the right, on big, and two smaller. Park in front of the silos, and proceed to the rear of the smaller twin silos into the field. If no corn is growing, the crypt will be easily seen. If corn is grown, you will not find it unless you know exactly where it is.

GPS Location of the Silos
39.771573, -89.915500


From This Persective, The Grave Is To The Left Of The Silo In The Middle


After Looking Two Hours For The Grave That Was Practically Right Under Our Noses, We Gave Up Not Seeing It
Scott Harp On The Silo, Looking For Andrew and Anna Scott's Graves


Paul Garrett Sent These Shots Of The Grave Location


Anna
Wife Of
Andrew Scott
Oct. 17, 1789 - Sept. 14, 1853


In Memory Of The Old Mt. Zion
Christian Church & Graveyard
Church Organized By
Andrew Scott 1830
Building Erected On His Farm 1842
First Church Building In Township


In Memory Of Andrew Scott
First Resident Minister
In Township
Nov. 21, 1786-Sept. 16, 1859
Anna Scott, His Wife
Oct. 17, 1789 - Sept. 14, 1853

A Little About Our Process

In June, 2009, Tom L. Childers, Wayne Kilpatrick and Scott Harp set out on a 3000 mile journey to chronicle and photograph special locations of the Restoration Movement in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee. The one week trip was very busy. On the third morning of the trip, we found ourselves seeking the grave of Andrew Scott. Contact with Paul Garrett beforehand had helped us greatly to find the general location of the grave. However, we had not counted on arriving at the location, only to see that the field all around was covered by corn stalks. We walked through and around the corn, but never found the graves. Sadly, after two hours, and the pressing need to carry on, we moved on from the location. Upon returning home, we contacted Paul Garrett who provided the pictures you see on this page. As we spent so much time and effort there, it became one of the very few disappointments on the trip. However it did give us opportunities to do things we had not done since childhood, like trapsing through a corn field, and climbing a couple of silos. If you intend visiting the site, be sure that it is in autumn, winter, or spring. Special thanks to Paul for helping with instructions on how to find the grave, as well as the pictures he gave us.

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