Any man might be proud of the business record of John Scoville, who is the president and treasurer of Bradley & Scoville, Incorporated, stationers, printers and blank book manufacturers. Without financial assistance at the outset of his career he has worked his way steadily upward, undeterred by the obstacles and difficulties that checker the path of every individual. He felt that success was to be won if a person had the determination to persevere in a course which he had marked out.

A native of Massachusetts, he was born at Ashley Falls on the 21st of August, 1876. His father, William F. Scoville, was also a native of Massachusetts and a representative of one of the old families of that state, of English lineage, founded in America by two brothers who at an early day crossed the Atlantic and served with the colonies in their struggle for independence. Since that time representatives of the name have been residents of New England and have ever been loyal in citizenship and progressive in business. The grandparents of John Scoville were Dr. John and Eleanor R. (Fletcher) Scoville, the former a prominent physician of Ashley Falls. Their son, William F. Scoville, became a successful agriculturist of Ashley Falls, where he resided to the time of his death, which occurred in 1889, when he was but thirty-seven years of age. He married Mary E. Hadsell, who was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, daughter of Nelson and Mary E. (Shores) Hadsell, also of Sheffield and representatives of old Massachusetts families of English origin. Mrs. Scoville is still living and makes her home at East Northfield, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Scoville became parents of five children, of whom three are yet living: Mary E., John, and Carrie J.

John Scoville was educated in the schools of Ashley Palls and of Westfield, Massachusetts, completing the grammar school course with the class of 1889. He then started out to earn his own living and was first employed in the shop of J. B. Cadle & Company at Westfield, there learning the printer's trade. In 1894 he became associated with the firm of Curtis & Bradley, with whom he continued as a journeyman until 1909. At that time the present business was incorporated, with Arthur S. Bradley as the president and treasurer, Mr. Scoville as the vice president and assistant treasurer, and Donald D. Macdonald as the secretary. There was no change in the personnel of the officers until October, 1914, when upon the death of Mr. Bradley, Mr. Scoville became the president and treasurer, while Mr. Macdonald is now assistant treasurer and secretary. The office and salesrooms are located at Nos. 67 to 73 Orange street, while tin' factory is situated at Nos. 140 to 144 Derby avenue, which building they erected a few years ago. The factory is equipped with the latest and most modern machinery for carrying on a business of that character, and something of the volume of their trade is indicated in the fact that they employ an average of thirty-five people.

On the 14th of June, 1899, Mr. Scoville was united in marriage to Miss Mary Macdonald, a native of East Haven and a daughter of Donald and Jessie (Moffitt) Macdonald. both of whom were of Scotch birth and have now passed away. To this marriage were born two children: Dorothy M., who was born January 1, 1902; and John M., who passed away at the age of two years.

Mr. Scoville exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and he is now serving as a member of the East Haven school board, but the honors and emoluments of political office have had little attraction for him, as he has always preferred to concentrate his time and energies upon his business. He belongs to Adelphi Lodge, No. 63, A. F. & A. M., and has also taken the degrees of chapter, council, commandery and of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Quinnipiac Club and to the Young Men's Republican Club.  His life has ever been actuated by worthy motives and honorable principles.  He is a member of the East Haven Congregational church, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful part, serving as one of its deacons and as superintendent of its Sunday school. Starting out in life a poor boy, he has allowed neither obstacles nor difficulties to bar his path if they could be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort.