George P. Scotchbrook, a prominent businessman in Wessington, Beadle County, South Dakota, was born on August 25, 1857, in Whiteside County, Illinois. The son of Edward and Mary A. (Pope) Scotchbrook, he was educated in public schools and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the State University of Illinois in 1883. Scotchbrook initially worked as a civil engineer on the Mississippi River survey before moving to Wessington in 1884. There, he operated a grain elevator and built a successful grain business. A committed Republican and member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, he and his wife, Nettie Barden, whom he married on June 9, 1887, were active in the Presbyterian Church. They had two children, Francis Willard and Carl Edward.
George P. Scotchbrook is one of the leading business men and honored citizens of Wessington, Beadle County, where he has for many years operated a grain elevator and been successfully engaged in the buying and shipping of wheat and other products.
Mr. Scotchbrook is one of the many loyal citizens contributed by the state of Illinois to our great and prosperous commonwealth. He was born in Whiteside County, that state, on the 25th of August, 1857, and is a son of Edward and Mary A. (Pope) Scotchbrook, of whose five children four are living. The father of the subject was numbered among the pioneers of Illinois, whither he removed in 1854, and his active life was devoted primarily to farming and stock raising. His wife died in Illinois in 1890. George P. Scotchbrook secured his early education in the public schools of his native state, and in 1879 was matriculated in the State University of Illinois, at Champaign, where he completed the engineering course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1883, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. Before and after leaving college, the subject became identified with the practical work of civil engineering, in connection with the government survey of the Mississippi River, and he was thus engaged until 1884, in September of which year he came to Wessington, South Dakota, where he engaged in the grain business, operating an elevator at this point in 1884 for G. W. Van Dusen & Company, and now having the best of facilities for the carrying on of his large and important enterprise, while he is known as a progressive and reliable business man, commanding the high regard of all who know him. He is a stanch Republican in his political proclivities, fraternally is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and both he and his wife are active and valued members of the Presbyterian Church in their home town.
On the 9th of June, 1887, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Scotchbrook to Miss Nettie Barden, who was reared in Wellington, Ohio, being a daughter of George L. and Charlotte (Young) Barden. Of this union have been born two children, Francis Willard and Carl Edward, both of whom remain at the parental home.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.