Biography - HORACE E. SCROGGINS

Horace Edward Scroggins, proprietor of the well known "Silver Creek Stock Farm," which consists of 160 acres in section 35, Staunton township, belongs to an old Virginia family which settled in Illinois in the early days of this region. Mr. Scroggins was born in Dorchester township, Macoupin County, Illinois, September 3, 1866, and is a son of Clayborn and Lucy V. (Rounds) Scroggins.

The father of our subject was born in Madison County, Illinois, and died at the age of 40 years. The mother was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, in 1846, and is a daughter of Nathan and Patience Rounds, natives of Vermont. They had three children: Horace Edward, Milton (deceased) and Otis, of Bunker Hill. Clayborn Scroggins was a farmer of Macoupin County and was one of its representative agriculturists. He served his country with bravery through four years of the Civil War, its hardships probably closing his life in middle age. He vras a consistent member of the Methodist Church.

Our subject was reared and educated in Macoupin County. He has become one of the foremost breeders of live stock of all kinds in Macoupin County. He is known over a wide section of the State for the fine standard bred road horses that are a feature of his stock breeding operations. The stallions "Village Boy," No. 39,000, "Galberta," No. 34,342, "Martin Lee" and "Betta Boy," which compose his stud, are splendid animals, extremely valuable, and with few equals. He also gives a great deal of attention to the raising of Jersey and Durham cattle of the very best strain, and is noted for his thoroughbred Plymouth Rock poultry. Mr. Scroggins also pays attention to modern dairying and places a butter product upon the market that is unexcelled.

Mr. Scroggins was married October 23, 1888, to Nancy Olive, who was born on the present farm, April 2, 1864, and they have a family of five interesting and intelligent children: Jesse E., born September 19, 1889; John H. O., born December 9, 1891; Myrtle M., born March 5, 1894; Mabel V., born November 14, 1896; and Marion E., born September 6, 1899. Mrs. Scroggins is a member of the Christian Church. Fraternally he is a Mason.

Mrs. Scroggins belongs also to one of the old pioneer families of Illinois. Jesse Olive, her father, was born November 27, 1820, in Trigg County, Kentucky, and was about nine years old, when his parents settled in Illinois. He died May 1, 1881, in Macoupin County, on the present home farm of our subject and wife, which he had entered and operated as a stock farm for years. In 1843, Jesse Olive married Margaret Keown, who was born September 7, 1826, and died March 12, 1887. They had a family of 12 children, the four survivors being: Elizabeth, wife of J. T. Crowder, of St. Louis, Missouri; Malvina, wife of H. J. Crowder of New Douglas, Madison County; William, of Dorchester township, Macoupin County; and Nancy (Mrs. Scroggins). In politics, Mr. Olive was a Democrat. He was frequently called upon to hold local office and was considered one of the representative and substantial men of his township.

Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 424-425.