Westcott, James

1795 - 1870  (74 years)

• Name	Westcott, James
  Birth	12 Sep 1795
  Gender	Male
  Death	03 Apr 1870
  Person ID	I65611	My Damon Genealogy
  Last Modified	1 Mar 2014

  
  

  Father	Westcott, Edmund,   b. 07 Mar 1769   d. 14 Jan 1836 (Age 66 years)
  Relationship	Natural
  Mother	Morton, Hannah Whitlock,   b. 1779   d. 11 Dec 1835 (Age 56 years)
  Relationship	Natural
  Marriage	16 May 1793
  Family ID	F25101	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Libby, Dorcas,   b. 22 Feb 1798   d. 08 Feb 1849 (Age 50 years)
  Marriage	30 Apr 1815
  Family ID	F25102	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Mar 2014

  
  

• Notes

  "Quite a growth in the settlement of the town was visible during the year 1853. Among the settlers of that year were P. Chapdelan, F.LeBret, Dosite Auge and his son, Treffle, James and W.L. Wescott, T.N.Dailey, Michael Reid, and T.J.McCollum and sons. Mr. Chapdelan bought of Edward Bibaux and Felix Ake, who had come in earlier, the claim in Sections 12 and 13, now owned by James Wescott ... James Wescott soon purchased LeBret's claim right, and built a house sixteen feet square, which he occupied with his brother, W.L. Wescott. In the fall of 1854, the latter returned to their former home in Maine and brought out his family. James Wescott being at that time unmarried, the brothers continued to live together. Along the route, by their house, there was a large amount of travel, and from the time they began to show the first signs of housekeeping, the Wescotts were besought to entertain the travelers. They were soon forced to make a business of this and Wescott's Inn became famous throughout the country as a traveler's rest. Political conventions were held there at an early day. On one occasion, in 1856, a mass convention assembled there, of which John Van Hoesen of Hastings was chairman. Among other features of the affair, speeches and motions were in French, and the worthy chairman was forced to call an interpreter to his assistance. After a few years, W.L.Wescott removed to a claim of his own, while his Brother, James continued to keep public house until 1863. This he did with great success, being unable at times to entertain all who would be his guests. he still occupies his original home, as much distinguished for his private hospitality as he formerly was for hospitality to the public ... " "In 1866, a flag station without a depot was established on the line of the Iowa and Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railway, near the south-east corner of section 13, on land belonging to James Wescott, from whom the station is named Westcott Station ..." In another edition of History of Dakota County it is stated that "In 1855 Mr. Thomas (most likely it should read James) Wescott opened his house as a tavern, which is the only one ever in the town. It was called one of the best on the route, and many a weary traveler has thanked his 'lucky stars' that he arrived at Westcott's ere the night set in to expose him to the inclemency of the weather." The Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railway purchased the right-of-way for the railroad from James Wescott and proceeded to lay the tracks. However, payment was not made for the land before the first train came through. James sat on a chair on the tracks with a shot gun, stopped the train, and forces it to back up to the last station. When the payment came through, the train was allowed to pass.