Walter James Scott (1886 - 1988)

Born 17 Nov 1886 in North Branch, Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 9 Sep 1988 at age 101 in Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Wendy Scott [send private message]

Biography

Walter James Scott was born on 17 November 1886 in North Branch (near Goomburra), Queensland. He was the son of William Scott and Sophia Neale.^[1]

At the age of 29, along with several members of the Scott family, he emigrated to Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States of America. They sailed from Sydney on the SS Ventura on 31 May 1916, arriving in San Francisco on 19 June 1916.^[2]

The family became part of the House of David, a religious commune in Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan.^[3]

He appeared in the 1920 US census at the House of David, aged 32, single, the son of the head of house, Sophia Scott, a baker.^[4]

He appeared in the 1940 US census at the House of David, Britain Ave, Benton Harbor, aged 53, single, a baker.^[5]

Walter worked as a baker at the House of David for more than 20 years, however, he developed asthma which became worse working with flour. He also wound motors on equipment, and during the summers, he sold souvenirs at a stand in the House of David park.^[6]

He died on 9 September 1988, at 101 years of age.^[7]

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Links to Photos

• Portrait of Walter Scott, House of David, Benton Harbor, Michigan, Hamilton College Library, Communal Societies, House of David. Viewed on 11 Sep 2020.
• Portrait of Walter Scott, House of David, Benton Harbor, Michigan, Hamilton College Library, Communal Societies, House of David. Viewed on 11 Sep 2020.
• Portrait of Leslie Bowers, Walter Scott and and unknown man, House of David, Benton Harbor, Michigan, Hamilton College Library, Communal Societies, House of David. Viewed on 11 Sep 2020.
• People posing on a bridge with a house and pond visible in the background, Hamilton College Library, Communal Societies, House of David. Viewed on 11 Sep 2020. Note: Walter Scott on left, his niece Angelina Bowers in floral dress.
• Walter Scott, House of David, Benton Harbor, Michigan with car, Hamilton College Library, Communal Societies, House of David. Viewed on 11 Sep 2020.

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Government, Family History Research
   

   Birth registration number: 1887/C/2201
   Name: Walter James Scott
   Date of birth: 17/11/1886
   Father: William Scott
   Mother: Sophia Neale
   Wendy Scott has a photocopy of an Extract from Birth Entry.

2. ↑ "California, San Francisco Passenger Lists, 1893-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1W-83QR : 12 March 2018), Walter J Scott, 1916; citing San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1410 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,465,660. Note: images 540 and 539 form the double-page spread of the manifest
3. ↑ First-hand information as recalled by Wendy Scott whose grandfather Ernie Scott went to the USA to visit his Uncle Walter in 1981.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZSZ-8D7 : accessed 9 September 2020), Walter J Scott in household of Sophia Scott, Benton, Berrien, Michigan, United States; citing ED 78, sheet 1B, line 60, family 27, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 757; FHL microfilm 1,820,757.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K42Z-YBK : 1 March 2020), Walter J Scott in household of Veda F Dalager, Benton Township, Berrien, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 11-9, sheet 3A, line 26, family 30, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1731.
6. ↑ Clipping from an unknown newspaper "Walter Scott Will Celebrate His 100th Birthday Nov. 17" Wendy Scott has a photocopy.
7. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPT8-Z6X : 22 August 2020), Walter Scott, 09 Sep 1988; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

See also:

• VENTURA'S PASSENGERS. (1916, May 31). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
• Additional immigration records: Ancestry.com. Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Honolulu, Hawaii, compiled 02/13/1900 - 12/30/1953; National Archives Microfilm Publication: A4156; Roll: 073; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: RG 85 Image Note: Duplicates of this image are also found at Image and Image. The only additional information these documents provide is that they had 5 pieces of baggage amongst the four family members.

• "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K66G-WFR : 6 March 2020), Walter James Scott, 1917-1918.
• "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4SN-577 : 8 May 2020), Walter James Scott, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• Israelite House of David information: wikipedia,
  Israelite House of David, Benton Harbor, Michigan,
  South West Michigan Directory,
  Casetext: People v. Israelite House of David