Edward Irvin Scott

Who was Edward Irvin Scott?

Edward Irvin Scott was the founder of Scott Paper Company.

He was born on May 13, 1846 in N. Greenfield, New York, the son of Alexander Hamilton Scott and Sophronia Wood Seymour. He was educated at the District School, Juliet Garner's Select School in West Greenfield and Robb's Boys' Academy at Saratoga Springs, New York. During 1866-67, he studied two terms at Albany State Normal School, and became a school teacher. On Sep. 1, 1867, he joined his brother Thomas Seymour Scott in running a paper commission, which lasted for about 12-years.

On Aug. 22, 1872, he married Sarah Frances "Fannie" Hoyt, the daughter of Rev. Zerah T. Hoyt and Sarah Mariah Foote. They had two children, Arthur Hoyt Scott and Margaret, wife of Owen Moon.

Around 1878, the paper commission failed, and the family lived in Camden, New Jersey,

Irvin and brother Clarence Scott took the remaining proceeds and formed Scott Paper Company. Irvin reportedly borrowed $2,000 from his father-in-law and added the $300 the two brothers had to form the capital stock. Irvin became the first president.

In 1890, the family moved to Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where he was Chief Burgess 1893-97.