Franklin Scott

1851 – 1901

Franklin Scott, first son of Andrew Hunter Scott and Sarah Ann Humphrey-Roe, was born December 1, 1851, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  In the spring of 1852 his parents moved to Provo, Utah.  He was baptized and confirmed a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 21, 1861, by Edson Whipple.

Franklin Scott grew up on the farm, learning by experience how to turn barren desert land into fruitful fields.  He was a sickly child on account of his parents not being able to provide the proper food and clothing for him.  From the time he was eight years old until he was 14 he attended a log cabin school during the winter months.

He was ordained a Deacon when he was 14 years old and presided over a quorum of Deacons in the Second Ward of Provo for two years. Franklin Scott was ordained an Elder in April, 1866.  In this same year he drove an ox team in the company of his father to the Missouri River to help Saints coming to Utah.

On April 4, 1870 he married Sarah Ellendor Stubbs in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.  To this union 11 children were born, 5 sons and 6 daughters.  On May 2, 1877, he married Eliza Rachel Stubbs, sister of his first wife.  By this married he had 9 children, 5 sons and 4 daughters.

In 1873 he took up some land and built a home in the river bottoms of Provo, near Vineyard.  Here Franklin Scott farmed and hauled farm products to the mining camps.  When the Fifth Ward was organized he was ordained a High Priest and was set apart as Second Counselor to Bishop O. Madsen, where he served until he was called to go to St. Johns, Arizona, in 1881.  He helped build the first meetinghouse in St. Johns and asked the blessing on the first sacrament administered in that meetinghouse.  He was also First Counselor to the YMMIA and a teacher in the Sunday School for four years. 

On account of being a polygamist, he went to Mexico in May 1884.  After being in Mexico three weeks he was advised to return to the Gila River where he contracted chills and fever and had to remain eight months.  He then returned to Provo, Utah in May 1885.  He worked in Spanish Fork Canyon buying charcoal.  In 1886 he was arrested for unlawful cohabitation with his wives.  But when placed on trial, he was discharged for lack of evidence.  He worked in the Manti Temple during June of 1889.

In 1890 Franklin Scott went to Mexico and settled in Pacheco, where he built the first house in this settlement.  On April 11, 1894 at the organization of the Oaxaca Ward, he was set apart as Bishop by Brigham Young, Jr.  He labored faithfully for six years, and helped build the first meetinghouse in Oaxaca.

About 6:00 p.m. on August 7, 1901, at age 49, he was killed by lightning while on his way home from his farm.  He was buried August 8, 1901, in Oaxaca, Sonora, Mexico, leaving 2 wives, 10 sons and 10 daughters.

Inez Haymore Standage

Stalwarts South of the Border, page 602