Biography - Scott Burgett
Scott Burgett, the proprietor of the Newman Bank and one of the successful financiers and business men of Illinois, was born in Brushy Fork, this county, September 14, 1857, and is a son of the late I.W. Burgett, whose sketch is found upon another page of this book. During the summer months Scott Burgett worked upon his father's farm and in winter attended the district school. When about seventeen years of age he entered Lee's Academy at Loxa, Illinois, and after leaving that institution went to the state normal at Normal, Illinois, where he completed his education. After returning home he taught three terms of school in the Coffey district, in Sargent township, and much of his success as a teacher he claims he owes to his life-long friend, W. H. Coffey. In March, 1879, he entered the large dry-goods house of James Gillogly in Newman as bookkeeper and head salesman, with whom he remained until 1884, when he, with I. N. Covert, established the Newman Bank. Mr. Covert retired from active business in 1888 and was succeeded to the presidency by S. M. Long, who remained president until his death. From that time, August 20 1898, to the present, it has been the private property of Mr. Burgett. In the bank's management he is assisted by J. W. King and George Moore.
September 2, 1879, he was married to Miss Alice V. Hopkins, daughter of the late James Hopkins, who was one of the prominent pioneers of Douglas county. They have had six children, five of whom are living: Jay T., Bessie M., Eva O., Paul H. and Charles C., and James is deceased.
Scott Burgett's business ventures have been thoroughly successful and he has the absolute confidence of the entire public. He owns some of the fine lands in both Newman and Sargent townships, and his real estate holdings in Newman are large. He is treasurer of the Newman Building and Loan Association, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is a Royal Arch Mason and is a member of the order of Knights of Phythias. At present he is erecting what will be finest residence in Newman, costing some six or eight thousand dollars. Quiet and unassuming in his manners, he treats all alike, the poor man as he does his rich neighbors, and counts his acquaintances as his friends. In all the relations of life he has been true to his duty as he has seen it, and in business and in society a well deserved success has come to him as a reward of earnest industry and his upright dealings with his fellow men.
Extracted by Linda Lang from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, pages 209-210.
