BIO: James SCROGGS, Jr., Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 353-355. _________________________________________________________________ DR. JAMES SCROGGS, Jr., an eminent physician and surgeon of Beaver, Pa., a recent portrait of whom is shown on the opposite page, has seen twenty-four years of practice in Beaver alone, and stands at the head of his profession in Western Pennsylvania. Especially is this assertion true of his position in the field of surgery, to which he devotes especial attention, having probably done more work in that line than any other physician in the county. Dr. Scroggs, Jr., was born in Allegheny county, Pa., July 19, 1850, and is of Scotch ancestry. He obtained a good education in the Pittsburg schools, after which he began the study of medicine with his father, who was one of the ablest physicians of his day. The subject of this review then entered the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., and, after taking a course of lectures there, he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1873. Engaging in the practice of his profession at Fairview, Pa., for two years, he met with a good degree of success. From Fairview, he went to Beaver, Pa., and became a partner with his father. In 1890, he took a trip to Europe, where, after visiting the place where his ancestors came from in Scotland, he attended the Charing Cross Medical College in London, taking a special course in surgery, and visiting the leading hospitals on the Continent. He served eleven years as surgeon of the Beaver County Infirmary, and contributed some valuable articles to the press. He was also one of the first promoters of the Beaver County Hospital at Rochester, Pa., and is one of its charter members. The Doctor was united in marriage with Annie M. Aber, an accomplished daughter of John Aber, of Industry, Beaver county. This happy union resulted in the birth of four children, namely: A. Emily; James Joseph, at present a student of Pennsylvania University; Hal E., at present a student at Geneva College; and Fred J. Dr. Scroggs, Jr., has ever taken a deep interest in the educational affairs of his home, having served on the board of education for a period of eleven years. He has always taken a great interest in the progress and development of Beaver, and is one of the directors of the Beaver National Bank. Dr. Scroggs, Jr., is a son of Dr. James and Emily (Seaton) Scroggs, grandson of James and Elizabeth (Gilbraith) Scroggs, great-grandson of James Scroggs, and great-great-grandson of James Scroggs, of Scotland, who was found when a small child by the side of 354 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES his dead parents, victims during the "Rebellion of the Covenanters." This child was named Scroggs, which in Scotch means bush. He was thereafter called James Scroggs, grew to manhood and became one of the representatives to the Lord Chief Justice of Scotland. According to history, James Scroggs, the great-grandfather of our subject, immigrated to America about 1760, from near Edinburgh, Scotland, locating near Cumberland, Cumberland county, Pa., where he settled in company with some Scotch Covenanters. He acquired a large tract of land in that vicinity later in life, and was either a minister of the Gospel, or a physician, - it is not definitely known which. He brought eight children with him to America, having two children born to him later in this country. His first wife, who was a Miss Jack before marriage, bore her husband the following children: James, Ebenezer, John, Ellen, Polly, Reynold, Rachel, and Joseph. His second matrimonial alliance was contracted with a Miss Cowden, but the names of their children have not been preserved. The old homestead in Cumberland is still known as the Scroggs estate, although it is now owned by a Mr. Armstrong. James Scroggs, grandfather of our subject, was born in the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania, and in early life moved to Washington county, Pa., where he came in possession of a large tract of land, near Midway, and, being an ardent lover of the beauties of nature, he devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He was married to Annie Paxton, who bore him two children: Margaret; and James Paxton, commonly known as J. Paxton Scroggs, M. D. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Scroggs remarried, choosing for his second bride, Elizabeth Gilbraith. Being determined to have a son who should be called James, the favorite name in the family for many generations, he called the first son of his second marriage by that name alone. The following children were the result of the second union: James, George, Samuel, Elizabeth, Nancy, Joseph, Robert and Ann, and one more who died at birth. James Scroggs, our subject's grandfather, studied medicine but never practiced it. James Scroggs, father of our subject, was born upon his father's farm in Washington county, Pa., studied medicine under his half-brother, J. Paxton Scroggs, M. D., and engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, at Allegheny City, and at Pittsburg, establishing at the latter place a large and successful practice. In 1875, he decided to locate in Beaver, one of the finest boroughs on the Ohio River. There he built a home in the midst of beautiful scenery, in the hope of enjoying a more quiet life. But his valuable services were soon sought there also, and were in demand among the leading families, who soon discovered his knowledge in medical matters to be far above that of the ordinary physician. Although it was his earnest desire to spend his closing years in retirement he never found time to do so. In his seventy-third year he was stricken with apoplexy, and when able to be consulted he was even then called upon for his valuable judgment. As a BEAVER COUNTY 355 citizen he was highly esteemed and as a physician not excelled. He died in 1894, aged seventy-four years. He was joined in marriage with Emily Seaton, a daughter of Catherine Seaton, whose death occurred at Louisville, Ky., at the very advanced age of ninety-seven years. Mrs. Scroggs bore her husband five children, and lived to attain the age of sixty-two years. Her children were: James, subject of this sketch; Katie, wife of Clark Hunter, of Beaver county, Pa.; Joseph, a prominent physician of Lincoln, Neb.; Mary, wife of John Scott of Beaver; and Elizabeth, who also resides in Beaver. Like his forefathers in this as well as in many other respects, our subject is a lover of nature, in all its beautiful and varied forms. Some years ago, he purchased the M. Graves farm, which is located on an elevation of splendid height, overlooking the beautiful Ohio Valley, with its picturesque villages and boroughs, with ten minutes drive of this farm. Upon this splendid and desirable location, Dr. Scroggs built a handsome brick cottage, tenement houses, barns, etc., and set out thousands of fruit trees of all kinds both small and large. The broad, spacious lawns, surrounding the cottage, contain many beautiful shade trees and fine ornamental shrubbery. Here the Doctor has one of the finest summer resorts in Beaver county, where he spends many happy hours and entertains his friends, although his profession does not allow him half the time he desires to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of such a home, where he hopes to spend his closing years in retirement.