Owen Scott

Owen Scott (July 6, 1848 – December 21, 1928) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois. He was born on a farm in Jackson Township, Illinois, on July 6, 1848. Raised in a rural setting, he attended the common schools of the area and later pursued further instruction at a private school in Kinmundy, Illinois. Seeking professional preparation as an educator, he enrolled in the State normal school in Normal, Illinois, an institution dedicated to training teachers for the public schools of the state.

After completing his studies, Scott taught school, beginning a career in education that led to his election as superintendent of schools for Effingham County, Illinois. He served as county superintendent from 1873 to 1881, overseeing the administration and improvement of local public schools during a period of expanding educational organization in the state. While engaged in educational work, he also studied law, reflecting a growing interest in public affairs and the legal profession.

Scott was admitted to the bar in 1873 and commenced the practice of law in Effingham, Illinois. Alongside his legal practice, he entered the field of journalism, publishing the Effingham Democrat, a local newspaper that aligned with his Democratic Party affiliation and provided him a platform in community and political life. His prominence in Effingham led to his election as mayor in 1882. He subsequently served as city attorney in 1883 and 1884, combining municipal legal responsibilities with his broader civic and political activities.

In 1884 Scott moved to Bloomington, Illinois, where he became proprietor and manager of the Bloomington Daily and Weekly Bulletins, further solidifying his role in the state’s Democratic press. His work in journalism and party politics brought him to the attention of national leaders, and he was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue by President Grover Cleveland. Active in party organization, he served as chairman of the Illinois Democratic convention held at Springfield, Illinois, in 1888, a position that underscored his influence within the state Democratic Party.

Scott was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-second Congress and served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois from March 4, 1891, to March 3, 1893. During his single term in Congress he represented his Illinois district in the House of Representatives at a time when issues of tariff policy, currency, and economic reform were central to national debate. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress, after which he returned to private pursuits in Illinois.

Following his congressional service, Scott continued his career in journalism and business. In 1899 he moved to Decatur, Illinois, where he managed the Decatur Herald until 1904. After leaving the newspaper, he entered the insurance business, in which he remained active for many years. His work in insurance reflected a shift from public office and journalism to private enterprise, though he continued to be a respected figure in civic and fraternal circles.

Scott retired from the insurance business in 1921 to become secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois. In this capacity he oversaw administrative and organizational matters for the statewide Masonic body, a position he held until his death. He died in Decatur, Illinois, on December 21, 1928. His remains were interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Effingham, Illinois, returning him to the community where he had first established himself as an educator, lawyer, newspaperman, and public official.