This file is kept current. The walter.html is an old file for posting on the internet.
| Walter Charles Scott born: April 11, 1909 died: September 18, 1996 picture at right in 1935 at age 26 grave: Big Springs United Methodist Church The Story of my Life. This was written probably in the fall of 1928 in Lexington Kentucky. |
 |
Please send comments to Jess Scott Return to Stith Valley |
~~~~ Walter Charles Scott was the first child of
Ruth and Walter Scott. He was born April the 11th 1909 at home Stith Valley, Meade
County Kentucky. This happened on a beautiful Easter Sunday. Dr. Stith and Grandmas
Fontaine and Scott were present. (See baby book.)
| Here is pictured Walter at age 3 1/2 from a post
card. Printed on the back of the post card: "Walter Chas Scott age 3 1/2 years,
Rena Lou Scott age 1 year 8 mos. To Great Grandma & Grandpa". This picture was in
the Baby Book kept by Ruth Fontaine Scott. This enlargement
shows detail but loads slow. This is the Baby
Book kept by Ruth Fontaine Scott on her seven children. This is Walter's cursive writing at age 6 which was kept in the Baby Book. Walter moved to Arkansas for about a year with his family when he was four years old, returning in 1914. Shown here is Walter and Aunt Mago about 1913 or 14. Walter was 4 or 5 years old. Aunt Mago was Margaret Scott Witt, Walter Lee Scott's sister, mother of Mary Ladd Witt, John Scott Witt (father of Margaret Witt). See also this picture of Old Mack with Granny, Aunt Mago, Mary Ladd, and John Scott Witt. |
 |
Walter went to grade school at Hall School on the Big Spring to
Hog Wallow road. Here is Walter at about 7 years old in
about 1916.
| Walter's family went to Guston often. They
took livestock and cream to ship to Louisville. They went to Big Spring some.
However, most purchases were made in Flaherty, such as groceries and clothing. Not
many groceries were bought. Burnett's store in Big Spring came later and was there
when Walter went to high school. Burnett would buy some things from Fort Knox after
the war (WW I). Uncle Fletcher would take Walter and the children to the State
Fair. The family went to Brandenburg fairly often, usually by wagon. They also
had a carriage which they used. The family had a lot of company. Most
every Sunday a family came to visit or Walter's family went somewhere to visit. The
family always took a newspaper. Walter trapped and hunted. He went fishing with the Stith boys, Ralph and Thomas J., who lived across the valley. The family had a big garden. Walter Lee Scott, his father, did the most with the garden. He was good with the hoe. Walter remembers his father not being a talker to him, but that his dad would talk all day to Cousin Gill Wright. |
 |
Walter received his certificate of completion
of elementary school on 18 May 1922. He went to his first two years of high
school at Big Spring under the instruction of Professor Yates. Professor Yates,
about 50 years old at the time was the only teacher for the high school of 15, or so,
students. Walter remembered that spelling was a particularly important subject to
Professor Yates. Walter rode horseback and took lunch through the hollow back of
Buzzard Cave and then over the hill to Big Spring.
Here is a birthday card from Hannah Stith on Walter's 14th birthday, April 11, 1923. Inscription on back: "To Walter Charles Scott - 14th birthday from Great Grandma Hannah Stith." The card is a post card consisting of an embroidered flower arrangement and happy birthday on thin cloth fixed to the backing paper with an embossed paper frame.
Walter went to Brandenburg for the second two years of high
school. At age 16 in late July 1925 Walter started his third year of high
school. He stayed at the old Reed place on the river just
downstream from where the bridge now spans. Mrs. Reed, a widow, who lived
there with her daughter, was very poor and food was scarce. Jack Scott remembers
Walter not having much food during that time. Walter worked for his room and board,
caring for the cattle and doing other chores for Mrs. Reed. Each day Walter walked
about three miles from the farm below the bridge up to the high school. High school
in those days went from late July until January or February as remembered by Alice Scott.
In 1926 at age 17 after a serious illness, Walter went to
Iowa with Uncle Harold. Here is his story written about
1993. Some of it he wrote by hand and the rest he dictated to daughter Martha.
Walter was on the basketball team during high school and considered himself a good
player. He jumped center.
Starting in the fall of 1926, his senior year, Walter
and sister Rena Lou stayed in Mrs. Ella Gregory's house. Walter had a cot by the
stove. His chores included tending the fire at night.
| Walter, age 18, graduated from at Meade County High School, Brandenburg Kentucky. Pictured is the 1927 graduation class. Walter is 3rd from the right in the second row back. Pictured is Walter's report card for the last semester high school 1927. Walter was also on the 1927 basketball team. Walter at the right is as he appeared in the team photo. Walter Scott's high school teachers, 1927. Professor Henry Clay, Miss Elizabeth Hagen, Mrs. Ella Gregory. Enlarged. |  |
| After graduating from high school, Walter passed the teachers exam and got a teaching certificate. He then attended the month of C.M.T.C. which was held at Camp Knox. |  Walter at Citizen's Military Training Camp, Summer of 1927. click for full photo. |
He taught school for the Meade County School District, Brandenburg, Kentucky
from August 1927 to March 1928. Teaching location was Maple Grove School
between Flaherty and Vine Grove. He taught first to eighth grade for $448 per year
under the supervision of Lloyd Powell (Alice Bondurant Scott's mother's older brother),
County School Superintendent. Mrs. Maggy Minter (Rafferty), now residing in
Elizabethtown, was on of his students. The old school still stands, converted to a
house, and is now the residence of Cova Brown.
Walter bought a 1926 Model T Ford in (1928?). Here is the license receipt for $12.75 paid June 2, 1929. It shows that
the car was also registered to Walter the previous year, 1928.
Walter attended the University of Kentucky from September 1928, age 19, to August 1931 at age 22. Here is a receipt for fees paid to the University of Kentucky for fall 1929, $30. He paid his way through college working several jobs. He was paper carrier for the daily paper earning $600 per year under the supervision of Mr. C. Whitworth, Manager, 154 Walnut Street, Lexington. He delivered papers collected payments and solicited new subscribers. He rode a bicycle on his route which was in the Richmond Road area. He also waited tables at a restaurant. He once remarked that in addition to paying college fees, he sent money home for taxes. He lived at a boarding house where he sometimes ate dinner. Walter graduated from U of K on August 21, 1931 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. (Source: framed diploma belonging to Walter C. Scott.)
Notes in a book of Milton: (29 April 1998) "On Sunday December 20, 1931 Fontaine Reeves, being the proud possessor of two books of his grandfather Charles Beauregard Fontaine decides to give this book to his cousin Walter Charles Scott of Kentucky. Fontaine Reeves keeps the other book "Chaucer" same binding as this only green - bought in 1884. Fontaine Reeves - aged 20 years of Piggot - Ark a Junior in Hendrix College Conway Ark. Walter Charles Scott aged 22 Stith Valley, Meade Co Ky graduated in August from University of Kentucky."
Assigned to Franklin, Kentucky he began working for the Kentucky Agricultural Extension
Service, Lexington, as Assistant County Agent, assisting in 4H Club, Adult Education
and Agriculture Demonstration Work from September 1931 until July 1932 when the
organization ran out of funds due to the depression. He worked under the supervision
of Mr. C. A. Mahan, State Agent for $1200 per year.
| At age 23 in July 1932, due to the Depression, he moved back to Scott Hill Farm to assist with farm work and stayed until October 1933. This picture may have been taken at Scott Hill Farm in 1933 at age 24. Hand writing on the back reads, "Walt 24." Walter lived in the tenant house during this time. He built a brick brooder with a fireplace and raised chickens through the winter. There was a market for the eggs. He also helped brother Jack raise strawberries. |  |
At age 24, in October 1933 funds became available to the Kentucky
Agricultural Extension Service and Walter took an assignment in Leitchfield, Kentucky.
This picture is taken age 24 in April 1934 just before his 25th
birthday (?). Hand writing on the back reads, "W.L.S. on Bock Creek April
24." He remained in Leitchfield until November 1934, age 25, when took a job in
Louisville. As Emergency County Agent (AAA), he conducted the AAA educational
program and crop control sign up. He also did farm agent and 4H Club work for the
county. for a salary of $1800 per year.
| Walter Charles Scott, age 25, and Amanda Love married April 15, 1934. (From "Brides Book" Mary F. Scott and Gerard M. Foote dated Sept. 30, 1933.) (Brides Book in possession of Jack Scott, May 1998.) (Photo from Jack's album.) |  another pose of Amanda |
At age 25, from November 1934 to June 1935, on location in Bowling Green, Walter worked as Area Supervisor for Rural Rehabilitation, Louisville Kentucky. He selected and trained county supervisors for work in rehabilitation for a salary of $1800 per year. He left in June 1935 due to poor health.
At age 26, from June 1935 to September 1935 he took two graduate courses at the University of Kentucky, Dairy Bacteriology (4 sem hrs) and Kentucky Soils (3 sem hrs).
| Walter, age 26, worked for U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, in Cadiz, Kentucky from September 1935 to February 1936. Here he is pictured with a group of men from the Civilian Conservation Corps. As Agricultural Aide SP-5 - (Agronomy), he planned and laid out an erosion control program and CCC camp work on farms cooperating with the SCS. His salary was $1800 per year. | |
From February 1936 to July 1936, age 27, Walter managed a dairy farm in Lexington Kentucky for Miss Susie Darnaby. He worked for a percentage of the profit, but there was no profit. Walter gave up the dairy and drove his team and wagon back to Stith Valley in July 1936. His story is here. His brother Jack also has an account here. Jack also wrote this account of 1936.
For a short time at age 27, January 1937 until April 1937, Walter worked for the State Health Department in Louisville Kentucky under the supervision of Mrs. Dugan, State Food and Drug Inspector. He inspected clean-up work from the flood and the handling of food. Walter and Amanda lived at 3rd and Hill in Louisville.
At age 28, in April 1937 Walter began working in Elizabethtown Kentucky for the U. S. Soil Conservation Service, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC or "Three C"), Dayton Ohio Office. He stayed with the Soil Conservation Service from April 1937 to January 1942. One of his tools was a hatchet planimeter used for measuring areas from photographs. As Soil Conservationist starting at $1800 per year and ending at $2000 per year he planned and laid out an erosion control program and CCC Camp work for farms cooperating with the SCS. He worked under supervision of A. J. Lisle on location in Elizabethtown and Danville Kentucky.
Jack Scott remembers that Walter lived in Brandenburg in the late 30s. Walter's dog Nuisance would go with Jack on his paper route.
In July 1939 at age 30 he moved to Danville Kentucky under a job transfer with the Soil Conservation Service. He lived at 232 North Third Street Danville Kentucky, Boyle County until at least 13 Nov 1941. ( Address on insurance application that date stating two years residency.)
Walter learned to fly in 1939. He tells the story of taking his brother Bill on Bill's first plane ride. Bill later flew B17s over Germany in WWII. Here is Walter's pilot license. Larger version for detail. Larger version back side. This is a transcription of his Logbook.
Walter divorced Amanda Love on October 16, 1940. (Jefferson County Court Chancery Branch Second Division No. 265-643; Grover G. Sales attorney for ALS; Edrington & Redmon attourneys for WCS. Note signed by Grover Sales dated October 16, 1940: "Received of Edrington & Redmon attys for Walter Scott, check for $1150.00") (Change in beneficiary on life insurance May 8, 1940.)
| Walter married Irene Smith on October 23, 1940. (Notes 29 April 1998: Date noted in small Bible "From Uncle David and Aunt Cora to Walter Charles Scott on his twelfth birthday April 11, 1921.") (Change in beneficiary on life insurance January 20, 1941.) Jack Scott remembers that Walter and Irene set up housekeeping in the tenant house at the farm in Stith Valley. Irene used a nice Persian rug for floor covering in one room and had a collection of nice furniture. Jack and Alice married in March 1941 and Alice remembers Walter giving them his matching couch and chair set. It had nice gray fabric upholstery. The set was passed on to Mary and Gerard when they set up housekeeping at Basin Spring. The main house at the Stith Valley farm was a residence of a tenant farmer by the name of Brown in 1941. This house burned on a Sunday afternoon in June 1941. Jack and Alice were driving to Stith Valley and they saw the smoke on the horizon. |  Walter about 1941 |
| Alice Scott remembers that Irene used her nice blue velvet dress to make a liner for a wooden box for a coffin for the Brown boy who died in the fire. Mrs. Brown was of the Shake family from around Ekron. Irene was from Danville and about seven years older than Walter. She was a widow and a member of the Presbyterian church there. Walter and Irene kept Irene's two nieces, Bobby Jean and Sandra. Jack remembers that Walter and Irene lived in the apartment at Ruth Scott's house in Brandenburg. Irene taught school in Brandenburg and the two girls went to school there. Alice remembers that the two little girls used Smith as their last name. When Walter and Irene separated, Irene went back to Danville and then out to California. Irene and Elizabeth Hagen from Brandenburg were good friends and went to California together. |  Irene about 1941 click photo for full portrait |
At age 33, on January 5, 1942, Walter took a job at Fort Knox working for
the U. S. Government as Assistant Clerk, War Department Q.M. , as Concrete Inspector over
Havens and Emerson and as Area Engineer (U.S.). Duties included packing and crating
records and routing work and supervising concrete pouring under Government
specifications. He worked under supervision of Major Harold W. Leiske for a salary
of $1620 increasing to $2000 per year until February 15, 1943. He took
this job so he could live on his own farm near Fort Knox. (On 29 April 98, Margaret Witt
remembers that Walter lived in the old tenant house at Scott Hill Farm during the War
years.)
In February 1943 Walter began farming for himself full time, address Route #2
Guston, with an estimated income of $1500 per year. He continued as a farmer until
at least November 1, 1943, age 34, when he applied again to work for the U.S. Government
as a P-2 Assistant Soil conservationist. The application states that he needs to
leave farming due to health problems, "After being hospitalized for three weeks
during September of this year because of stomach ulcers, I was advised by my doctor that I
must quit the heavy work of farming." At that time he was living in the Garrett
telephone exchange and his wife worked for the Meade County Board of Education.
A newspaper clipping from
September 1944 references W. C. Scott as the Hardin County Soil Conservationist.
| At age 36, divorced from Irene Smith on December 15, 1945. Caption on the back of this photo, "Taken X'mas week, 1945. Have gained weight since then. Got my divorce Dec 15. Gained 8 lbs in 1st month." |
 |
At age 37, on December 21, 1946 Walter married Ellen Delean Brown.
In the spring of 1949 Walter moved to Scott Hill Farm with Delean and son, Jess. They lived in a small house trailer while they began building a house near where the original log house had recently burned. Walter worked full time teaching a veterans class at Irvington along with his brother Jack. Annual salary was about $5000. He taught class on Saturday and one other week day. Other days he visited the veteran's farms and provided individual help with farming problems. He worked at this job during 1949 and 1950.
Apparently they moved on Thursday, February 17, 1949. Walter had been in Lexington the previous two weeks. He moved on the 17th and held a class in Irvington that evening. The next day he set up the trailer at the farm and also spent time at the Irvington office. On Saturday, February 19, he held class in Irvington at 8:30. See excerpt from appointment calendar.cal1949.htm
In 1950 he began farming full time after the construction of facilities for a grade A
dairy. He continued to make his living on Scott Hill Farm from that time until he
retired.
| Walter, age 47, in November 1956 at his farm in Stith Valley. The dairy barn is on the left of the picture behind the first stage of the tool shed. A kettle for rendering lard is in the left nearground. Handles of a lard press lean against the side of the kettle. Walnuts from a large walnut tree are seen around the kettle, but the tree is out of site to the left. The tenant house is hidden behind the old crib in the center background. The hill to the right of the tenant house has not been cleared yet. A stack of fence posts is on the right center of the picture. Full picture. |  |
Walter wrote occasionally, but his interest increased after his poem "The Mountain of Youth" was published June 17, 1987 in the Meade County Messenger. He did his work on an old Royal mechanical typewriter and then tinkered with a TRS-80 mode III computer. After receiving an IBM style personal computer in the fall of 1987 he began writing regularly. His daughter Ann with the help of his grandson Brian compiled most of his work in to a book and Ann arranged for the publication of a number of bound copies in 1993. This is Walter C. Scott's book. This is Walter, age 78 (?) where he wrote his book, 1988/89.
At age 83, Walter was incapacitated by a stroke resulting from an injury herding cattle on October 2, 1992. The calendar is still turned to October 1992 above his computer desk in the basement of his house as I write this on April 5, 1998.
Walter died September 18, 1996 at age 87 after a long struggle with the damage from the stroke. He is buried at Big Springs United Methodist Church cemetery. Some reference files. Obituary.
