A front-page article in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper dated Saturday, June 27, 1857, contains descriptions and illustrations of Dred Scott and his family based on an interview conducted with him and Harriet.

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Dred Scott is described by the reporter as “a pure-blooded African, perhaps fifty years of age, with a shrewd, intelligent, good-natured face, of rather light frame, being not more than five feet six inches high.” (p.1) On the second page of the article, the reporter remarks that “Dred Scott, as might be supposed, is quite a humble but nevertheless a real hero, moving about the streets of St. Louis. He attracts a great deal of attention from strangers, and as many stop to converse with him, they rarely fail to contribute something to his wants. He employs himself in carrying to and fro the clothes his wife washes, and waiting, as opportunity offers, upon gentlemen at the hotels.” (p. 1) The reporter also states that Harriet Scott was Scott's second wife and that together they had four children, two sons and two daughters. The sons were dead at the time of the interview.