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.
~biography source:
Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and
Clayton Counties;Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pgs.
472-473
~transcribed by Becky Teubner
~photo source: 'Baldridge and Kenneally' scrapbook,
repository Strawberry Point library
~contributed by Paula O'Donnell
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