A Massive Land Grab near Scott
A Missouri doctor orchestrates a massive acquisition of Adams County land, planning to settle twenty-two sections with his kin and neighbors.
Dr. I. A. Cottingham of Aurora, Missouri, has secured twenty-two sections of land through Benj. Martin for the Northern Pacific Railway Company. The doctor intends to settle the land with local people and families from Missouri, and is currently figuring on locating a town at Scott. While not a farmer himself, Dr. Cottingham plans to move to the area along with his two brothers, who are experienced in agriculture, and has initiated plans for extensive well-drilling to ensure a water supply for the new settlement.
“It is the doctor's intention to have this land cultivated and settled up with local people and also some from Missouri.”
This massive land acquisition represents the era of rapid, corporate-driven land promotion that defined Adams County's growth. The doctor's attempt to build a town from scratch at Scott highlights how local geography was often shaped by speculative investment rather than organic settlement.
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