GEORGE WASHINGTON SCHOFIELD.

View Portraits of George W. Schofield and Mrs. George W. Schofield

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         That the qualities which characterize success are the same in every vocation is clearly demonstrated in the life of G. W. Schofield, the president of the Wapello State Savings Bank. Mr. Schofield is not only a well known and successful agriculturist of Port Louisa township, but he has also been prominently identified with the commercial development of Wapello, being one of those progressive, enterprising men who are always expected to take the initiative in the community where they reside.

         He was born near Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, on the 12th of March, 1841, and is a son of Joseph and Charlotte (Cemister) Schofield, who were born near Manchester, England, the mother’s birth occurring in 1806 and that of the father in 1807. They were married and began their domestic life in the land of their birth but in 1839 they emigrated to the United States, first locating in Franklin county, Indiana, where they engaged in farming until 1852, when they came to Iowa. Upon their arrival in this state they purchased . . .

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. . . a farm of three hundred and twenty acres located on section 24, of Port Louisa township, in the cultivation of which the father engaged until his retirement in 1885 from active work, although he still continued to reside upon his homestead.

         Nine children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schofield, but the eldest died in England. The others are as follows: Aaron, who is a resident of Windom, Minnesota; Elizabeth, of Morning Sun, Iowa, who first married Mathew McClung, and after his death married Elisha Dobbs, also deceased; Isaac, who lives in Morning Sun; Mary, who also married twice, her first husband being William M. Herron and her second a Mr. Tucker, both deceased; G. W., our subject; Charlotte, who was born in 1843 and died in 1873; Samuel, who was born in 1845 and died in 1857; and Emeline L., the wife of George Raucher, of Port Louisa township. The mother passed away in 1882 but the father survived her for ten years, his demise occurring in 1892.

         George W. Schofield was only a lad of nine years when the family located in Louisa county, in the district schools of which he acquired his education, and he assisted his father in the cultivation of the homestead until 1863. On the 7th of December of that year he enlisted as a private in Company K, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, under command of A. J. Smith, and went to the front. He saw considerable active service and participated in some of the sharp skirmishes and notable battles waged in the latter days of the war. On the 24th of August, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Davenport, having served for one year and eight months. Returning home, he and his brother took charge of the homestead, upon which Mr. Schofield has ever since resided, having acquired by inheritance and purchase two hundred and twelve acres of fine improved and highly cultivated land. He has met with most gratifying success from his various undertakings and in addition to his homestead owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Dundy county, Nebraska, and some business and residence property in Wapello. In addition to his extensive realty holdings Mr. Schofield is one of the stockholders of the Wapello State Bank and of the Wapello Fair Association, while he was one of the most active promoters, as well as largest stockholders, in the canning factory. He always gives his hearty support and cooperation to every enterprise which he feels is at all likely to advance the commercial interests of the town or county, and owing to his unusual powers as an organizer as well as his executive ability anything he undertakes is usually carried to a successful issue.

         In April, 1888, Mr. Schofield was united in marriage to Miss Cassie Williams, a native of Louisa county, but she only lived about fourteen months, her demise occurring in June, 1889. The one child born of this union died in infancy. On the 28th of December, 1893, Mr. Schofield was again married, his second union being with Miss Analetta Hamilton, also a native of Louisa county and a daughter of Alexander and Susanna Hamilton. The parents were natives of Ohio, in which state they were married, subsequently coming to Iowa. They were among the pioneer settlers of the southern part of Louisa county, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits. The mother passed . . .

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. . . away in 1898 but the father still survives at the age of seventy-nine years, and is living on the old homestead with his son. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Mrs. Schofield is the eldest. The others are as follows: Alonzo G., Davilla, Frank, Bertha, George B. and Charley.

         Mr. Schofield affiliates with the Presbyterian denomination while his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His political support is always given the republican party, and he has practically filled all of the offices in his township. Success has attended the efforts of Mr. Schofield, whose foresight and sagacity, as well as strength and determination of purpose, has enabled him to attend the position to which he aspired.