Winfield Scott Plaque

Scottsdale's founder, a minister, Civil War hero, member of the Territorial House of Representatives and Chancellor of the University of Arizona who promoted the dusty desert east of Phoenix is honored here by the citizens of Scottsdale for his many accomplishments. This memorial depicts Chaplain Scott welcoming newcomers and Helen Scott seated on their beloved mule, "Old Maud"

• Known as "the fighting Parson". Winfield Scott was born Feb 26, 1837 in West Novi, Michigan. His wife Helen Louise Brown, was born Feb. 8, 1838 in New York. They married Dec. 13, 1861, the day he graduated from Rochester Seminary School.

• In 1862 Captain Scott organized Company C of the 126th New York Volunteer Infantry to fight with the Union Army in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania.

• For the next two decades he served as a Baptist missionary and preacher in the West. In 1882, he returned to the Army serving as Chaplain.

• After visiting the Valley and envisioning land where citrus could be grown, in 1888 he purchased 640 acres of desert east of Scottsdale Road and north of Indian School Road.

• In 1893 he retired with his Army mule, "Old Maud," a veteran of the Apache campaigns.

• The city's namesake died in 1910 at age 73. Helen passed away in 1931 at age 93.
----
Winfield Scott is also my Great-Great-Great-Great-Uncle on my mom's side, which means he is my mom's Great-Great-Great-Uncle. Kinda neat :)

-Devin