1894 Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Co., IA History
pgs. 472-473
NATHAN SCOFIELD, a retired merchant
of Strawberry Point, was born in Essex County, N. Y., on Lake Champlain, November 6, 1827. The family has been
represented in America for many generations. Our subject's great-grandfather, Ebenezer Scofield, was a native of Connecticut and had a family consisting of nine sons and four
daughters. Among his sons was Amos, who participated in the War of 1812, and
afterward settling in Saratoga County, N. Y., spent his remaining years there. Our subject's father, Harvey Scofield, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., March 16, 1802, and in early life followed the trade of a
wagon-maker. Later, however, he was extensively engaged in the lumber business.
In 1837 he removed to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and thence in 1865 came to Iowa, settling at Strawberry Point, Here he died in 1872
at the age of seventy years. His wife, who was also his second cousin, bore the
maiden name of Elizabeth Scofield; she passed from
earth in January, 1888, aged eighty-one years.
In a family of three sons
and five daughters, our subject was next to the oldest. At present three of the
sisters and the brothers are living. The eldest, H. H., was appointed
Postmaster at Strawberry Point under the administration of President Grant and
held the office for sixteen consecutive years; he is still a resident of this
place. George D. is a farmer and lives near Strawberry Point. Laura Ann, now
living in this village, is the widow of Dr. H. N. Sill, who died in 1892.
Harriett is single and lives in this city. Sarah E. is the wife of William
Madison, a retired agriculturist whose home is in Edgewood, Iowa. Receiving a
fair education in the district schools, our subject early became self-supporting,
and learning the trade of a carpenter he followed that occupation for about
twenty years. In 1852 he removed from New York to Michigan, where he sojourned two years. From there he went to
Rockford, Ill., and thence in 1855 came to Strawberry Point, Iowa. Until 1873 he followed his trade,
but during that year opened a general store, and for the fourteen ensuing years
he was one of the most successful and prosperous merchants of the place.
Misfortune, however, came to him. On the night of November 8, 1887, his store was burned to the ground with all its
contents, entailing a heavy loss. Since that time Mr. Scofield
has not been actively engaged in business, but leads a quiet and retired life.
In 1858 Mr. Scofield married Miss Harriett, daughter of Lorin Noble. Her father was born in New York State
in 1802, and there engaged in the lumber business. In 1854 he came to Iowa and settled upon a farm in Delaware County. He attained an advanced age, dying in April, 1893. His wife,
whose maiden name was Fannie Boardman, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., and was a well educated lady. She taught the first school in
the village of Napoli, Cattaraugus County, N. Y. In November, 1887, she passed from earth aged eighty years. Her
family consisted of four sons and three daughters. Harrison, who followed the
dual occupation of farmer and merchant, died in Edgewood, Iowa, in March, 1893. Timothy is a retired agriculturist.
Dwight, who during the late war enlisted as a soldier in the Twenty-first Iowa Infantry,
died in hospital during his service. Emily married Martin Richard, a retired
farmer of Brush
Creek, Iowa. Horace is engaged in the stock business in Montana. Susan, now living in Edgewood, is the widow of Milo Russell.
Mr. and Mrs. Scofield were the parents of three children. The eldest, Orissa, died of diphtheria in 1864 at the age of three
years. Neola, who was born in September, 1865, was united in marriage in April,
1888, with George Steinhilber, and they have one
child, Ethel. The only son, Fred W., was born April 20, 1868, and received an excellent education, graduating from
Upper Iowa University at Fayette. For some time he was employed as a
bookkeeper, but on the 1st of November, 1889, went to North Dakota and was appointed Deputy Auditor of Ransom County. This position he was filling at the time he was taken fatally ill, August 31, 1893, he passed away. He was young, and had a bright
future before him. His death was mourned by a host of friends and was a
crushing blow to his devoted parents, whose pride he was. His musical ability
was of a superior order, and at the time of his demise he was a member of the
First North Dakota Regiment Band.
Politically a Republican,
Mr. Scofield has been chosen to fill many offices of honor
and trust. For six years he has been Justice of the Peace, in which capacity,
as in his other public offices, he has rendered excellent service. In 1855 he
was made a Mason, and three years afterward became one of the charter members
of the Strawberry Point Lodge, of the original members of which he is the only
survivor. For seven years he was Master of the lodge. He is a Royal Arch Mason
and is prominent in the fraternity. In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he
has filled all the chairs, and has served several terms in many of the offices.
He is a man who numbers as his friends all with whom social or business
relations have brought him into contact. The principles of honor arid
uprightness, which have ever guided him in his dealings with his fellow-men,
have won for him the confidence of the people of the town and county.
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