Scott Home, Gainesville Texas, ca. 1870's

We believe this is the home of Rufus Franklin Scott and his wife Martha Helen Moran, the sister of John Williamson Moran.  The Scott's made their way to Gainesville Texas in 1858 in a rockaway carriage with their three slaves which had been given to them as wedding presents.

The couple had five children: William, Moran, Arthur Carroll, Oscar Franklin and Berry.   Arthur Carroll Scott would go on to become a leading cancer specialist and co-founder of the Scott and White Hospital which is now known as the Scott & White Healthcare, one of the country's leading multi-specialty groups in the United States.  His death in 1940 was attended by such notables as Governor and Mrs. W. Lee O'Daniel, seven past presidents of the Texas Medical Association, a president of the American Medical Association as well as many other colleagues, friends and family.

Tennessee to Texas in a Rockaway Carriage, 1858

My Dear Scott and Kenney:
John Moran, your great grand-father was the brother of my grandmother, Martha Helen Moran.  She married my grandfather, Rufus Franklin Scott.  They were all born in Dresden Tenn.
In 1858 my grandmother and grandfather drove to Gainesville, Texas, in their "Rockaway" Carriage with their own wagon train.  Manned by their three slaves, who were wedding presents.
Their five sons were born in Gainesville:
Will -Real Estate
Dr. Arthur Carroll, chief surgeon of the Santa Fe Railroad and founder of Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas.
Moran, a judge in Ardmore, Okla.
Oscar Franklin (my Dad) farming, real estate and with five friends "wildcat" drilling for oil in Oklahoma and Texas.
Berry: died of T.B. soon after graduation at Auburn Uni.
I'm sure Martha Helen Moran Scott and her son, Oscar, would love for you each to have one of her Sterling Silver serving spons.
I give them to you with much, much love from all of us.
Fondly
Auntie Ir
Thanksgiving 1974.  Dresden Tenn. with you all. Yippee!!


That letter was sent to my husband and his brother back in 1974 when they were teenagers living at the Moran family home from their cousin Mary Irvine Scott Sheperd.  Her grandmother, Martha Helen Moran Scott, was the sister of my husbands great grandfather John Williamson Moran.  In addition to the letter we have several pictures of the Scott family.  The picture below is from about 1880.

Rufus Franklin Scott 1828-1905

Martha Helen Moran Scott 1833-1901

William J. Scott 1859-1917

Moran Scott 1863-1925

Arthur Carrol Scott 1865-1940

Oscar Franklin Scott 1871-1931

Berry L. Scott 1873-1903