His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records John Harvey Scaggs, age 45, residence Morehead, Rowan Co., Ky, occupation farming, self employed, nearest relative wife, Mrs. Therissa Scaggs, same address.

His obituary in the Rowan County News of Thu., May 12, 1949, says "John H. Scaggs, 75, who died at the home of his son Jim in Muncie, Ind., was buried in the family cemetery near Elliottville. He was the son of the late Henry C. and Samantha Slusher Scaggs. In December 1893 he married Tressa Terry. She died in December, 1947. They had 13 children, of whom 12 survive: Mary Bell Gilkerson, of Muncie; Sam Scaggs of Ponca City, Ok; Ambrose, Watseka, Ky; Edith Andrews, Alameda, Ca.; Henry M., Muskoga, Ok; Dollie Willis, Davisburg, Mich.; Jim, Muncie; Elsie Clybull, Chicago; Verna Scaggs, Libertyville, Ind.; and Evangeline Crabtree, St. Louis, Mo. Three sisters and a brother also survive: Miss Mahala Scaggs, Mrs. Josephine Eggers and Mrs. Jane Binion of Portsmouth, Ohio; and Lewis T. Scaggs of Putnam, Ill.” (Despite saying that 12 children survive, only 10 are listed. Probably a typesetting error.)

Her obituary in the Rowan County News read “Therissa Terry Scaggs, 73, wife of John H. Scaggs, died Saturday, Dec. 20 [1947] at the King's Daughters Hospital in Ashland. Mrs. Scaggs had been a resident of Ashland for some time. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 23 at the Anderson Funeral Home with burial in the Scaggs Cemetery in Rowan County. Rev. B. H. Kazee conducted the services. The daughter of Sam and Eady Terry, she was born in Morgan County Dec. 15, 1874. On October 11, 1894 she married John H. Scaggs, who survives. [Transcriber's note: John's obituary states that they married in Dec 1893.] To this union were born 13 children, 6 sons, Jim H. Scaggs, Muncie, Ind.; Ambrose and Oscar Scaggs of Chicago; Samuel of Alva, Okla.; Marion of Spokane, Washington; Henry M. of Portland, Ore.; seven daughters, Mrs. Marybelle Gilkison, Muncie, Ind.; Mrs. Elsie Cybul of Chicago; Mrs. Edith Andrew, Alameda, Calif; Mrs. Dolly Willis, Birmingham, Mich.; Mrs. Verna Anderson, Mundelein, Ill.; Mrs. Evangeline Crabtree, Boulder, Colo., and Rosecrans Scaggs who preceded her in death. Mrs. Scaggs is also survived by 29 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.”

1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Hoggtown precinct, p. 241B, lists as family #191/194:
Scaggs, John, 26, b. July 1873; Theressa, wife, 25, b. Dec 1874; married 6 years, mother of 4 children, 4 living; Mary B., dau, 5, b. July 1894; Samuel B., son, 4, b. May 1896; Ambrose, son, 1, b. July 1898; Oscar, son, 5/12, b. Dec 1899; Mays, Willie, servant, 13, b. May 1887.

1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, district 1, enumerated 22 April, lists on p. 4B as family #73/77:
Scaggs, J. H., 31, farmer, b. Ky Ky Va; Therissa, wife, 35, first marriage for both, married 17 years, mother of 9 children, 9 living; Mary Belle, dau, 15; Samuel B., son, 13; Ambrose, son, 11; Oscar, son, 10; Marion L., son, 8; Henry, son, 6; Edith, dau, 5; Samantha, dau, 3; Wayne, son, 1 2/12. All except J. H. born Ky Ky Ky.

1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, p. 158A, lists as family #9:
Scaggs, J. H., 46, farmer, Ky Ky WV; Rissa, wife, 45, Ky Ky Ky; Mary, dau, 25; Samuel, son, 23; Ambrose, son, 21; Marion, son, 18; Henry, son, 15; Edith, dau, 14; Samantha, dau, 12; James, son, 10; Rose, son, 8; Sarah Elsie, dau, 6; Ferna, dau, 4; Evangeline, dau, 1 1/2. James born in Oklahoma, all other children born in Kentucky.

1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pine Grove precinct, enumerated 8 Apr, lists on p. 3A as family #48:
Scaggs, John H., 56, b. Ky/Ky/Va, age at first marriage 20; Therssa, 55, b. Ky/Ky/Ky, age at first marriage 18; Jim H., son, b. Oklahoma/Ky/Ky; Elsie Sarah, dau, 16; Verna E., dau, 14; Lenora E., dau, 11. All children except Jim born in Kentucky.