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         JOSEPH SCOFIELD, a farmer residing on section 24, Port Louisa Township, was born in Manchester, England, Nov. 11, 1807, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Harrison) Scofield, who were natives of the same place. The father was a cotton manufacturer, as was also the grandfather, Joshua Scofield. Six children were born to Samuel and Mary Scofield: John, now deceased; William, who died when a young man; Fannie became the wife of John Bennison, and died in England; Samuel also died in his native land; Mary, wife of John Bennison, also died there; James, a half-brother, came to America, and died in this county, leaving a family.

Our subject spent his boyhood days in a factory and learned the trade of spinning. On the 26th of May, 1831, he was united in marriage with Charlotte Sinister, a native of Manchester, England. In 1839 the young couple bade good-by to their friends and home, and set sail for America on the 7th of September, reaching America after a forty-two days’ voyage. They went to Philadelphia, Pa., where they remained for four days, and then proceeded by rail to Johnstown, Pa., thence to Pittsburgh, where they took a flatboat for Cincinnati, Ohio, and then went to Franklin County, Ind., where Mr. Scofield purchased forty acres of land. He lived upon that farm until the spring of 1852, when he sold out and emigrated to Iowa, landing at Port Louisa, where a house was rented until a suitable location could be found. Section 24, Port Louisa Township, was finally agreed upon, and there they purchased 320 acres of land, most of which was uncultivated, and here he has made his home until the present time.

To Mr. and Mrs. Scofield there have been born nine children: Aaron, who is now engaged in farming in Minnesota; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Matthew C. McClung, and after his death, of Elisha Dobbs, a resident of this county; Isaac, now living in Nebraska; Thomas, who died in infancy; Mary became the wife of William Herron, who is now deceased, and then wedded W. H. Tucker, of Pawnee County, Neb.; G. W. is farming on the old home place; Charlotte died at the age of twenty-two years; Samuel died in 1857, when thirteen years of age; Emma, who is now the wife of G. J. Rausher, a resident of this county. In 1882 the mother of this family was called to her final home, at the age of seventy-five years. She was a devoted member of the United Presbyterian Church, to which Mr. Scofield also belongs. In his political views he is a Republican, and has held various township offices. His business is that of general farming. Mr. Scofield is one of the self-made men of Louisa County. He came to America a poor man, and his success in life is all due to his energy, enterprise and good management.