William Scott, with a single exception the oldest resident physician and surgeon in Oxford County, was born in Everingham, Yorkshire, England, November 27, 1820. His parents, Thomas and Dinah (Easingwood) Scott, came to Canada in 1830, and settled in
the County of Oxford, our subject aiding to clear two farms in the county, one in Eastwood the other in East Oxford. He may almost be called a born physician, having at nine years of age a great fondness for medical studies; and while engaged in clearing and cultivating land, giving his leisure time to such studies, sometimes carrying a book into the field. At length he articled himself to Dr. Samuel J. Stratford of Woodstock, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England; passed an examination at the end of five years at the medical department of the University of Toronto (184S), and from that date has been in practice at Woodstock. About twenty years ago he received the honorary title of Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College at Castleton, VT.
Dr. Scott has made a specialty of no branch of his art, yet early gave a great deal of attention to ‘midwifery, of which he has had at least 6,000 cases in a little less than thirty two years.
He has a great deal of inventive talent, and a few surgical instruments of his invention, have been strongly commended by medical faculties. The last instrument from his skilful hands is an Ecraseur for removing uterine tumors; regarded by eminent surgeons as an improvement on anything of the kind heretofore in use.
Dr. Scott was Surgeon in the 22nd Battalion Volunteer Oxford Rifles for several years, and has been one of the Coroners for the county for the last twenty years or more. During the rebellion of 1837-38 he served in the cavalry dispatch here.
The Doctor was a very zealous Reformer in his younger years, but has pretty much laid aside politics. He is thoroughly devoted to his profession. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Dr. Scott has a second wife, his first being Miss Sarah Maria Eakins of Burford, County of Oxford. She died in 1855. His present wife was Miss Elizabeth E. Martin of Blenheim, same county, married in 1856. By her he has two sons and one daughter. Thomas Walter, the elder son, is a druggist; the other son, William Alfred, is studying for the medical profession.