Louise Scott Wescotte

Louise Scott, sister of my great-grandmother Leta, was born in March of 1890. There is no formal birth record, so no exact date. She most likely was born at the family home on Woodville Road in Millbury, Ohio. She was the fifth surviving child of David Scott and Julia Snyder, and four years older than Leta. She most likely had a sixth grade education. According to the 1910 census, she lived with her parents and worked in a factory.

On September 19, 1911, Louise married Hiram Ellsworth Wescotte in Lucas County (Toledo), Ohio. He was a carpenter. Hiram was born on April 12, 1891 to Fred Wescotte and Mary (Sarah) Tiplady Wescotte. According to the 1910 census, he had two younger brothers and one younger sister.

Louise and Hiram had four children: Leta (born in 1912), Doris (born in 1916), Robert (born in 1919), and Paul (born in 1925). Doris F. married Elroy Streit and moved to nearby Rossford. Paul ended up in Tampa, Florida. By 1940, Paul was no longer living with the family. Leta was named after her aunt, my great-grandmother, and never married; she lived with her parents her entire life.

While Louise’s family lived in Michigan for a short time (after 1917 until before 1920)—their son Robert was born there—they settled in Oregon, Ohio by the 1920 census, and would remain there for the rest of their lives.

In the 1917-1918 conscription, Hiram registered for the World War I draft. He was 26 years old and pleaded exemption because he had a wife and two children (Leta and Doris) to support. At age 51, in 1942, he registered for service in World War II. It does not look like he served either time.

Hiram was employed for most of his life as a carpenter. According to his obituary, he worked for A. Bentley & Sons, and then American Ship Building Co. However, other records indicate that he worked for several companies: In 1917, he was employed by R. S. Burnor at Houseville West in Toledo. When he registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he was working for John Naumann and Son. He retired in 1956.

Louise and Hiram’s daughter Leta Wescotte was a prominent figure in Oregon, Ohio. She earned her B.S. at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and her Master’s in Education at Ohio State University. She was first a teacher and then a counselor in the Oregon City Schools. She originally taught at Clay Junior High School and the system’s elementary schools. When Josephine Fassett Junior High (now Fassett Middle School) opened in 1960, she became a guidance counselor. Little Leta, as she was known in the family, was also active in the community, with memberships in Delta Kappa Gamma women’s education society, the Oregon-Jerusalem historical society, Oregon Federation of Teachers and the Oregon Artists Club.

She was also a member of Toledo Gospel Tabernacle (now First Alliance Church) in East Toledo. In 1957, the parish founded the Cherry Street Mission, East Toledo’s most well known shelter and service provider.

Leta Wescotte was only 57 years old when she died after a stroke in May of 1970. After her death, an award at Clay High School, presented by the Athletic Association and voted on by the coaches, was created in her honor for the top female athlete in the senior class. The first award was presented in 1976.

Louise died on April 12, 1971 at age 81. She had been living in a nursing home. Of her four children, only two were still living—daughter Doris and son Paul. She had ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her obituary notes that she was a charter member of the First Church of the Nazarene on Starr Avenue in Oregon, Ohio.

After Louise’s death, Hiram moved to Indian Harbor Beach, Florida, where he lived until he died in 1978 at the ripe old age of 87. Their son Paul Wescotte and daughter Doris Streit survived him, as well as 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.