Extracted From Men Of West Virginia, Volume II (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1903), 424-25
Hon. Nathan Bay Scott, who has long been prominent as a man of affairs, has held many offices of trust and discharged the duties connected therewith in a most creditable manner; at the present time he represents the State of West Virginia in the United States Senate. He is prominent in the councils of the Republican party, and has made a brilliant record in every phase of his public life.
Mr. Scott was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, December 18, 1842, and at the age of 11 years began his business life as a clerk in a country store, meanwhile attending the public schools during the winter months. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Union Army, and served until mustered out in 1863. He then returned to Wheeling, a city he has since called home. Since 1871 he has been engaged in the manufacture of glass and has been since 1883 at the head of the Central Glass Company, which under his vigorous management became one of the largest of its kind in the country. He organized the first savings bank in the State; he was elected its president, and is still at the head of the institution, which is one of the most successful in West Virginia. He has been an extensive traveler at home and abroad, and is a keen observer and a broadminded man.
Mr. Scott is a Republican and has always been active in party affairs. In 1880 he was elected a member of the City Council of Wheeling, and was president of the second branch. In 1882 he was elected a member of the State Senate, and was re-elected in 1886, serving in that capacity for eight years. His opponent upon re-election was Hon. J. O. Pendleton, a very strong man who was afterward elected to Congress. While a member of the State Senate, he served on various important committees, and helped to frame the Mutual Savings Bank law, which has since met with general approval. Since 1888 Mr. Scott has been the representative of West Virginia as a member of the Republican National Committee, during all of which time he has been a member of the executive committee. In the campaign of 1896 he was the choice of President McKin- lev to serve with Gen. Powell Clayton, Vice-President Hobart and J. H. Man- ley at headquarters in New York City, and because of his friendly relations to organized labor had charge of -the w^ork pertaining to the labor organizations of the United States. In recognition of his faithful services, President Mc- Kinicy appointed him commissioner of internal revenue, an office he filled until his election to the United States Sen- ate in 1890. As war commissioner he displayed in the administration of the business of the office executive ability of the highest order. With Mr. Bliss, ex-Secretary of the Interior, and Mr. Manley, Mr. Scott was again, in 1900, in charge of speakers during the campaign.
Mr. Scott is a director in numerous large business foundations in the city of Wheeling, and is extensively interested in tracts of coal and timber lands in Logan and Mingo counties. His earnings have ever been devoted to the extension of business enterprises and the employment of labor. His interests in the glass and steel industries of the State are very large, and it is safe to say that there are few manufacturing concerns of any magnitude in West Virginia which he has not promoted or in which he does not hold an interest. Mr. Scott is, in fine, a public servant of West Virginia, who is able to uphold the highest behests of the people in national council.