George Cromwell Scott
Encyclopedia
George Cromwell Scott was a Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 11th congressional district
for just over four years, and was a federal district court judge for over twenty-one years.
Born near East Kendall (now Morton), Monroe County, New York
, Scott's mother died when he was two years old, and his father died when he was five. After being raised by his uncle, Scott moved to Iowa in 1880, when he was sixteen, to live with other relatives. He attended the country schools and the high school at Dallas Center, Iowa
. He taught school while studying the equivalent of a full college courseload under the tutilege of his wife, Laura.
After studying law while working for a law firm in Adel, Iowa
, he was admitted to the bar
in 1887 and commenced practice in Le Mars, Iowa
, in 1888.
He moved to Sioux City, Iowa
in 1901 and continued the practice of law.
In January 1912, Scott announced his candidacy for the U.S. House seat in Iowa's 11th congressional district, which was then held by fellow Republican Elbert H. Hubbard
. Hubbard defeated Scott in the June 3 primary, but died the following day. A nominating convention in July 1912 gave Scott the nomination over state senator L.E. Francis. Upon defeating Democratic and Bull Moose Party challengers in the general election, Scott was immediately sworn to fill the remainder of Hubbard's term in the Sixty-second
Congress. Scott then served another full term in the Sixty-third
Congress.
In 1914 Scott was renominated by the Republicans for a second full term, but was upset in the general election by Democrat Thomas J. Steele
. Explained one rural newspaper, "the central feature of the Steele campaign was personal solicitation of votes and personal publicity concerning the candidate." By contrast, "Mr. Scott remained in Washington until ten days before the election and put in only one week of
campaigning." However, Scott ran again two years later, and recaptured his seat from Steele. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1918. In all, Scott served in Congress from November 5, 1912, to March 3, 1915, and from March 4, 1917 to March 3, 1919.
Scott resumed the practice of law in Sioux City. He was appointed by President Warren G. Harding
as judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
, and served from March 4, 1922 until his retirement on November 1, 1943.
Scott died in Sioux City, Iowa
on October 6, 1948. He was interred in Graceland Park Cemetery in Sioux City.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 11th congressional district
Iowa's 11th congressional district
Iowa's 11th congressional district existed from 1883 to 1933, when Iowa sent eleven congressmen to the United States House of Representatives. The district covered northwestern Iowa.-Makeup:...
for just over four years, and was a federal district court judge for over twenty-one years.
Born near East Kendall (now Morton), Monroe County, New York
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, Scott's mother died when he was two years old, and his father died when he was five. After being raised by his uncle, Scott moved to Iowa in 1880, when he was sixteen, to live with other relatives. He attended the country schools and the high school at Dallas Center, Iowa
Dallas Center, Iowa
Dallas Center is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, USA. The population was 1,595 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Dallas Center is located at ....
. He taught school while studying the equivalent of a full college courseload under the tutilege of his wife, Laura.
After studying law while working for a law firm in Adel, Iowa
Adel, Iowa
Adel is a city along the North Raccoon River in Dallas County in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 3,435 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dallas County and the birthplace of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick....
, he was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1887 and commenced practice in Le Mars, Iowa
Le Mars, Iowa
Le Mars is a city in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,237 at the 2000 census. Le Mars is the home of Wells' Dairy, the world's largest producer of ice cream novelties in one location and is the self-proclaimed "Ice Cream Capital of the World". Wells...
, in 1888.
He moved to Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
in 1901 and continued the practice of law.
In January 1912, Scott announced his candidacy for the U.S. House seat in Iowa's 11th congressional district, which was then held by fellow Republican Elbert H. Hubbard
Elbert H. Hubbard
Elbert Hamilton Hubbard , a second-generation congressman, was a four-term Republican U.S. Representative from the now-obsolete 11th congressional district in northwestern Iowa....
. Hubbard defeated Scott in the June 3 primary, but died the following day. A nominating convention in July 1912 gave Scott the nomination over state senator L.E. Francis. Upon defeating Democratic and Bull Moose Party challengers in the general election, Scott was immediately sworn to fill the remainder of Hubbard's term in the Sixty-second
62nd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Democratic : 230 * Republican : 162* Socialist : 1* Independent : 1TOTAL members: 394-Senate:* President: James S...
Congress. Scott then served another full term in the Sixty-third
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
Congress.
In 1914 Scott was renominated by the Republicans for a second full term, but was upset in the general election by Democrat Thomas J. Steele
Thomas J. Steele
Thomas Jefferson Steele was a one-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 11th congressional district in northwestern Iowa...
. Explained one rural newspaper, "the central feature of the Steele campaign was personal solicitation of votes and personal publicity concerning the candidate." By contrast, "Mr. Scott remained in Washington until ten days before the election and put in only one week of
campaigning." However, Scott ran again two years later, and recaptured his seat from Steele. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1918. In all, Scott served in Congress from November 5, 1912, to March 3, 1915, and from March 4, 1917 to March 3, 1919.
Scott resumed the practice of law in Sioux City. He was appointed by President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
as judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over fifty-two of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (in case citations, N.D. Iowa) has jurisdiction...
, and served from March 4, 1922 until his retirement on November 1, 1943.
Scott died in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
on October 6, 1948. He was interred in Graceland Park Cemetery in Sioux City.