Scottsville

Not much is left of the town of Scottsville, but it was once the second largest settlement in Sullivan County, next to Milan.  It is the second oldest settlement in Sullivan County.  Scottsville was located approximately six miles NW of Browning and was first settled in 1836, even before Linneus.  At one time, there were 300-400 people who lived there, and it had two general stores, one drugstore, one hotel, one saw and grist mill, two blacksmith shops and one church.

The first merchant in Scottsville was Washington Weathers (1847).  One of the early settlers was the great-great-grandfather of Rick Thurlo, John Thurlo.

Located between two creeks, East Locust and West Locust,  Scottsville was thought to be a good choice of land.  (See Map)  It thrived until the railroad came to Browning, then it quickly declined as people moved to be near the railroad (late 1880's).

During the Civil War, there was a Union camp at Laredo and people would come to the tavern in  Scottsville.  One story is that once they were there, soldiers would harass local farmers by telling them to yell for Lincoln or else they would beat them up!  Bushwhackers for both the Union and the confederacy roamed this area during the Civil War, terrorizing people of both convictions.

Around 1900, Scottsville's doctor, Dr. Whaley, tore down his brick house and rebuilt it in Browning.  It was located in SE Browning.  Today, all that is left of Scottsville is a tree that stood near the old school and a garage.