The Scott Family - 195 E. Granville Rd.

Images: 1) 195 E. Granville, 2) Harriet Scott's manumission papers, 3) 1872 map of Morris Addition showing James Scott's land, 4) 1894 advertisement for barber Bev Scott from the Westerville Public Opinion

This house is located on the north half of lots 9 and 10 of the Morris Addition. On 9 July 1862, James Scott acquired the south half of lots 9 and 10, which is the property directly south of the current structure at 195 East Granville Road. The 1872 plat map of Morris Addition shows the northern half of lots 9 and 10 in the name of Walter Foss, while the southern half including a structure was in the name of James Scott. Sometime after 1872, James Scott obtained the vacant northern half of lots 9 and 10, since on 8 February 1878, James and Harriet Scott conveyed the northern half of lots 9 and 10 to their son William “Bev” Scott for $100.00.

James and Harriet Scott, along with two of their children, William and James, had been enslaved in Virginia. The Worthington Historical Society holds Harriet Scott’s manumission papers stating she was freed by the will of Ann Watkins in December, 1858. The 1860 Powhatan, Virginia census document indicates that all four family members were emancipated. In notes taken by historian Frank Corbin, he wrote that Harriet told his Grandmother Vest the family was so hungry they ate blackberries on the trip to Ohio.

Documents in the Corbin papers indicate that James Scott built a house on the southern portion of lots 9 and 10 and that William B. (Bev) Scott, son of Harriet and James, built the house at the southwest corner of Plymouth and East Granville Road. Since neither of these houses appear on the 1868 tax list, it would seem that James Scott built his house circa 1870.

It seems likely that William B. “Bev” Scott built the original portion of the house now standing at 195 East Granville Road circa 1880. The addition to the front of the house appears to have been added circa 1895. Scott worked as a barber with shops both in Worthington and Columbus. He also built a two-story frame business building on the east side of High Street on lot 101 (now 666 High/The Whitney House) around 1895. He sold the building in 1904. He and his wife Hester and daughter were still living at 195 East Granville Road in 1928 as shown by the Worthington Directory.

(Private Residence)