Scott, Felix

From Lane Co Oregon

Scott, Felix (1788-1858)

It is known that Virginia-born Felix Scott went to the California gold fields in 1848 and then to Missouri in 1849 to get livestock for his Oregon “ranch.” In 1854 his herds numbered 76 cows, 53 young cattle, 37 horses, two stallions, and 18 hogs (Corning 1956:217-218, 1958:218-219; Stahl:n.d).

Captain Felix Scott abandoned an earlier claim in Pleasant Hill to move to a site on the McKenzie River in 1849. Here he dug an extensive mill race and established a sawmill in 1851-1852 on the south bank of the river. He hired Stevens to build a double log house for his family (Surveyor General’s Office 1855; Walling 1884:451,454). Scott’s son, Felix Scott, Jr., later blazed the wagon road that was the forerunner of the present-day McKenzie River Highway (Corning 1956:217-218).

He participated in the Rogue River Indian Wars and was killed by the Modoc Indians in 1858.