However, the trip was not in vain. Although I didn't find anything in the Baldwin Room collection, it turns out that the Toronto Reference Library for many years kept scrapbooks of obituaries and biographies of prominent Torontonians, which have now been microfilmed. I found a very detailed obituary for John Galloway Scott, son of Thomas Chalmers Scott, in Volume 7 page 427 of the scrapbook, which was on Film # T686.3. It was clipped from the Toronto Mail newspaper, June 23, 1928.
The headline was dramatic:
J.G. Scott, K.C., Dies of Injuries
Was Struck Down by Auto While Returning From Board Meeting
Called to Bar in 1862
Chosen in 1885 to Inaugurate Land Titles System of Ontario
"Struck down by a motor car driven by George Kindness, Browning Avenue, at Bay and King Streets, on June 19 last. John G. Scott, K.C., aged 92, of 29 Dunvegan Road, former Master of Titles at the Registry Office, died in the General Hospital yesterday. Coroner McConnell is investigating the mishap. Kindness, who was driving without a permit, was arrested on a charge of reckless driving.
The late Mr. Scott, who was active for his great age, was crossing the road at King and Bay Streets, and was struck down by Kindness' auto as the latter attempted to make a left-hand turn to go along King Street. Removed to the hospital, it was found that Mr. Scott had suffered a fractured skull and other injuries.
John Galloway Scott was born in Dundee, Scotland, December 5, 1836, and came to Toronto with his parents in 1844. He was educated at Toronto Academy and Bethany College, Virginia, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1862.
He successfully practiced his profession in Toronto in partnership, first with the late R.G. Dalton, Q.C., and subsequently with Kenneth Mackenzie, Q.C. In 1870 he was appointed, by the Hon. John Sandfield MacDonald, Clerk of the Executive Council and First Assistant to the Attorney-General's Department, positions which he continued to hold under the Blake and Mowat administrations. During his work with the Attorney-General's Department he drafted two most important acts: The Consolidated Municipal Act, 1873, and the Creditor's Relief Act, 1880. In 1876, while he was deputy Attorney-General he was appointed a Queen's Council.
In 1885 he was chosen to inaugurate the Land Titles system of Ontario, and was appointed Master of Titles at Osgoode Hall, which position he held until his retirement in 1920, after serving the government of Ontario for more than fifty years. It is universally admitted that the success of the Land Titles Act in the portions of Ontario in which it is in force, was due to his careful administration.
Mr. Scott was a Royal Commissioner for the revision of the Statutes of Ontario in 1885, and again in 1896. He took part in the launching of the Toronto General Trusts Corporation, of which he was the oldest Director, in 1882, under its original name of The Toronto General Trust Company. In 1859 he married Mary Elliot, a daughter of the late William Elliot. Until recently he was a member of the congregation of Jarvis Street Baptist Church, which, when he joined in 1863, met on Bond Street, in the building since transformed into St. Michael's hospital. He was a deacon of the church from 1885 to 1921, when he transformed his membership to Walmer Road Baptist Church.
After his retirement, November 30, 1920, he lived at his home, 29 Dunvegan Road, and spent much of his time gardening, which was his favorite hobby.
He is survived by his widow, a daughter, Mrs. R.K. George of Toronto, and a son, Arthur H. Scott of Montreal. The funeral is to be held on Monday at 2 p.m. to the Necropolis."
I find it interesting that John Galloway Scott attended Bethany College. As I mentioned in a previous post about the Oliphants, this was a Disciples of Christ College (in fact, it still is today) founded by Alexander Campbell. I suppose it's not surprising that T.C. Scott would send his son to be educated there. David Oliphant Jr. had attended Bethany College as well, but earlier than Scott.
It's also interesting that this obituary gives a date for Scott joining the Baptist Church (1863). He would have been 27 years old at the time, and his father would certainly have still been active in the Disciples Church. This would have been four years after his marriage. We know that William Elliot also joined the Jarvis Street Baptist Church, and in fact he and John Galloway helped pay for the building on Jarvis Street.
It's also interesting that this obituary gives a date for Scott joining the Baptist Church (1863). He would have been 27 years old at the time, and his father would certainly have still been active in the Disciples Church. This would have been four years after his marriage. We know that William Elliot also joined the Jarvis Street Baptist Church, and in fact he and John Galloway helped pay for the building on Jarvis Street.
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