Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/349

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HUGH LENOX SCOTT

SCOTT, HUGH LENOX, adjutant-general in the United States army, military governor of Cuba, 1900-02; and author of valuable ethnological works, was born at Danville, Kentucky, September 22, 1853. He is the son of William M. Scott, a Presbyterian minister, "a fine speaker, kindly and very religious." His mother's maiden name was Mary Elizabeth Hodge, a daughter of Doctor Charles Hodge, Presbyterian divine, author, teacher, of Princeton theological seminary. His mother's influence over his early development was strong both intellectually and morally. His earliest known ancestor in America was Josiah Franklin. Among his especially distinguished ancestry was Benjamin Franklin.

His health was excellent in childhood, his early life having been spent in Princeton, New Jersey, where he developed sportsman-like tastes and proclivities. His studies preparatory to West Point military academy were carried on at small town schools, chiefly at Lawrence ville, New Jersey, and at Edge Hill school, Princeton, New Jersey. He was graduated from West Point, June 14, 1876; was commissioned second lieutenant, 9th United States cavalry, June 15, 1876; he began his active career as a soldier at Fort Lincoln, Dakota, in 1876; was transferred to the 7th cavalry June 26, 1876, and in this year served in the Sioux expedition, and in the following year served in the expedition against the Nez Perces Indians; promoted first lieutenant, 7th cavalry, June 28, 1878, and was assigned to Camp Robinson, Nebraska, and participated in the Cheyenne expedition during this year. The years from 1878 to 1891 were spent on duty, chiefly with the Indians of the plains; and it was at this period that he had excellent opportunities of studying the sign languages, spoken languages and dialects of several of the tribes of North American Indians. He was honorably mentioned at the war department for his services at Oklahoma in 1891. He was put in charge of the investigations in regard to the Ghost Dance disturbances, 1890-91. He had great success in enlisting and commanding Kiowa, Comanche and