Oconto County has a history rich in Civil War Veterans, Lumberman, and a few senators.  But only once  has it sent one of her own to the Governors Mansion in Madison.  Major Edward Scofield was elected twice to the position of Governor.  In 1896 Major Scofield as a Republican defeated Willis Chisholm Silverthorn a Democrat, Joshua H. Berkey of the Prohibition Party, Christ Tuttrop of the Socialist Labor Party, and Robert Henderson of the National Party.  In 1898 he went on to again defeat challengers Hiram Wilson Sawyer a Democrat, Albinus A. Worsley of the Peoples Party, Eugene W. Chafin of the Prohibition Party, Howard Tuttle of the Social Democratic Party and Henry Riese of the Socialist Labor Party.

 A man of quiet dignitary, he left a mark on a county that he called home for 57 years.  He left his stamp on the business sector and economy of this county and his political mark on the history of the state of Wisconsin.  The granite marker in the Evergreen Cemetery bears final tribute to a man and an era.  What follows below is a collection of excepts and articles from the Oconto County Reporter, and the Commemorative Biographical Record of the West Shore of Green Bay, as well as photos and graphics.   Edward Scofield, hero, entrepreneur and statesmen.
 
 

Mrs. Maj. Scofield has gone to Know, Penn., where she will spend the remainder of the summer with friends and relatives. We hope that she will have a good time and return in safety to her home in the fall.

Jane Collison Scofield in her gown for the Governor's Inaugural Ball

Although Scofield’s name was prominently discussed as a vice presidential candidate in the 1904 elections, his return to Oconto marked the end of his political career, and also his gradual retirement from the lumbering business. His mill at Superior burned in the spring of 1903, a loss estimated at $75,000. At about the same time, something happened that almost made the ex-governor give up his ideas of retirement. As the story was told in a 1903 issue of the Reporter, Scofield’s son, George, had gone west for his health a few years previous, and while tramping around Idaho had come across a stand of pine that “set his blood tingling with visions of lumber.” George hurried back to Oconto to tell his father of his discover, but the ex-governor scoffed at his description of the stand of yellow pin, claiming he must be exaggerating. This made George mad and he immediately returned to Idaho where he hired a couple of men and went into the woods and cut a sample log, shipping it home to his dad. When the log arrived, Ex-Governor Scofield became so excited he hardly waited for his grip to be packed before he started out for Idaho. George met him at the station and together they took a tramp through George’s discovery that resulted in the ex-governor buying a ten square mile section. George wanted to erect a mill on the site then and there, but his father thought he was too old to become a pioneer lumberman again.

Scofield Mansion  in the City of Oconto,  Oconto County, Wisconsin

Page 474-75

Major Edward Scofield, whose name, in connection with the lumbering interests and progressive enterprises of northern Wisconsin, is “familiar as household words,” is a native of Pennsylvania, born March 28, 1842, at Clearfield, Clearfield county.

Isaac Scofield, his father, was a native of Virginia, descended of English colonists, and in early life moved to Clearfield Penn., where he combined the occupations of lumbering and farming.  He married Miss Jane Collison, a lady of Pennsylvania birth, and nine children were born to them, five of whom are yet living; Julia, wife of J. R. Arnold, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; James, Henry C. and F. R., all three in Clearfield, Penn.; and Edward.  The father died in 1873, the mother in 1885.

Our subject passed his boyhood days on his fathers farm, during the winter months, attending the district school, later taking a course at an academy at Clearfield.  In 1855, at the age of thirteen, he entered the office of the Democrat newspaper, at Indiana, Indiana Co., Penn., in the capacity of printer’s “devil” and here not only learned the “art preservative of all arts,” but had ample opportunity of familiarizing himself with a considerable amount of general knowledge he failed to imbibe in his limited school experience.  For three years he remained in the office of the Indiana Democrat, in return for his labor receiving his board and clothing.  In 1858 he secured a position on the Jeffersonian, a journal published at Brookville, Penn., his salary being one hundred dollars per annum and his board.

On that paper he worked until April, 1861, when in response to President Lincoln’s call for 75,000 men he patriotically tendered his services for the preservation of the Union, and enlisted in the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, which at that time was encamped at Pittsburgh.  As soon as the battle of Bull Run was fought the regiment was ordered to Washington, arriving in time to assist in checking the advance of the Confederates on the capital.  Here the members of the Eleventh P.R. were sworn into service for three years, or during the war, immediately becoming a part of the army of the Potomac, and young Scofield participated in all the engagements of that army up to and including the battle of the Wilderness.  The same traits of character that have made Mr. Scofield a successful man of business were displayed in him as a private in the ranks, and he soon earned and received promotion.  After the battle of Fredericksburg he was promoted to first lieutenant; upon the field of Gettysburg he distinguished himself, and shortly thereafter was commissioned captain of Company K, Eleventh P. R. “for meritorious conduct upon the field.”  At the battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864, within a few days of the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was captured by the enemy, and was held prisoner of war some ten months, during which time he was incarcerated in twelve prisons, to wit:  Lynchburg, Danville, Goldsboro, Columbia, Andersonville, Macon, Savannah, Charleston, then back to Columbia and Goldsboro, thence to Raleigh, whence he was paroled and liberated March 5, 1865, about nine miles north of Wilmington, N.C., a few days after the capture of that city by Gen. Schofield.  During his ten months prison experience Major Schooled suffered terribly, and his life toward the last hung almost on a thread, for when paroled he resembled a parchment-bound skeleton more than a living being.  In Willmington he joined Gen. Schooled, and was at once sent to hospital at Annapolis, Md., where he remained until sufficiently recuperated to return to his home, at Brookville, Penn.  On his arrival there he was pleasantly surprised by being handed a commission from the government promoting him to the rank of major “for gallant conduct at the battle of Wilderness.”

The close of the war found Major Scofield a young man of twenty three summers, and, through his ability and worth, risen to the rank of major.  After his return to Clearfield he re-enlisted, in response to the last call, reporting for duty, but the regiment was not called into further active service.  Truly his army record is one of which he may be, and is justly proud.  On resuming the vocations of peace, he first engaged himself as an assistant to a corps of civil engineers, who were surveying for the low grade division of the Allegheny Valley railroad between Pittsburg and Driftwood, Penn., and after remaining with them in various capacities - from chain-man to transit-man - for a couple of years, he came west, in the fall of 1868, to Chicago.  There he formed the acquaintance of Finn Hall, who had lumber interests in Oconto, Wis., and accepted the position of foreman in his mill there, in which capacity he continued to act for eight years, during which time he mastered all the details of the lumber manufacturing business.  Industrious, shrewd and economical, he saved enough of his earnings to enable him to commence business on his own account, and leasing a mill on contract at Oconto, he operated it from 1876 to 1881.

Major Scofield first came to Marinette as superintendent of the lumber business of William McCartney, which industry after two years was incorporated under the name of the Marinetted Sawmill Co.  In 1890 he and George R. Arnold formed a partnership under the firm name of Edward Scofield & Co., which business was, in 1894, incorporated as the Scofield & Arnold Lumber Co., of Marinette, with Major Scofield as President; George I. Scofield (his son), as vice-president; and George R. Arnold, as secretary and treasurer. The mills furnish employment to about 140 men and, and manufacture from twenty-five million to thirty million feet of finished lumber annually.  The major is also interested in the lumber firm of McElwer & Co.., and having been connected with the lumber business from his youth, he is one of the best informed men on all matters pertaining to that industry anywhere.

In Oconto, Wis., in 1870, Major Scofield was married to Miss Anges Potter, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of John Potter, who died in Clarion county, Penn., some years ago. To this union have been born three children, George I., vice president of the Scofield and Arnold Lumber Co., married and residing in Oconto; Paul D., a student at Amherst College; and Julia A.., who died at the age of five years.  Mrs. Scofield is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Oconto

Politically, the Major is a staunch adherent of the Republican party, and a zealous advocate of the principles embodied in its platform.  He has never sought political preferment, nevertheless in 1887 he was elected to the State Senate from the First District of Wisconsin, serving in that incumbency from 1888 to 1892.  In 1894 he was the choice of a great many Republicans for the position of governor, another evidence of his popularity as a man of executive ability.  For several years he was a member of the board of supervisors of Oconto, in that as in all capacities proving himself to be a hard and honest worker for the good of his city, county, and State.  Socially he is affiliated with E. A. Ramsey Post, G.A.R., at Oconto, and of Wisconsin Commandery of the military order, Loyal Legion.  In business matters he is a man of sound judgment and unquestioned integrity, and in the discharge of his duties of citizenship he has been as prompt and true as when he followed the old flag on Southern battlefields, while private and public life are alike above reproach.
 
 
 

Cemetery Monument of  Edward Scofield 1842 - 1925 Civil War Officer & Veteran Lumberman Senator Resident of Oconto County Governor of Wisconsin 1897 - 1901

 The Career of Oconto’s most distinguished citizen came to a close Tuesday when Edward Scofield, twice Governor of Wisconsin, prominent lumberman, an well known figure in the political and business life of the state died at this home here at 11:45 in the morning Typical of his entire life and character were the words he uttered shortly before death: “Have I a fighting chance?  If I have I will go after it.”  Then slowly his strength ebbed, and he passed quietly and courageously. For some time, he has been very feeble physically, but his fighting spirit kept him up until about a week ago.  Then his son, George was summoned home from Milwaukee an it was learned that he was gradually growing weaker. Daily his many friends and admirers in the city called at the Scofield home to inquire as to his health and a few days ago he rallied slightly.  Anxiously the citizens of Oconto hoped against fear for his recovery but he began to grow weaker, and it finally became known that the day of the end was merely a matter of time. His attending physician, Dr. Minnie M. Hopkins, said that death was incident to old age. The time for the funeral has been set for Friday afternoon to give his grandson, Edward, time to arrive here from Spokane, Washington.  Services will be held from his late home at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, Reverend Garrison to officiate.  Interment will be made in the family lot at Evergreen Cemetery, where Mrs. Scofield is now resting. Deceased is survived by one son, George, one grandson, Edward Scofield, of Spokane, Wash., and one granddaughter, Marian, Oconto. Eventful Life The life of the former governor is a story of heroic struggles in the face of few opportunities and bitter antagonism.  His service to his country during the civil war, his service to Wisconsin as one as one of its ablest executives, and his rise to distinction in the face of few opportunities should be a source of inspiration to every young man of the city. He was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, on March 28, 1842. After a few years study in common school and Clearfield Academy, he started out at the age of thirteen to shift for himself through life.  He first worked as a printers devil in a Pennsylvania printing office, and then though still a boy of nineteen answered his country’s call when the cry to arms rang through the nation with the opening of the civil war. He enlisted with Company K of the 11th Pennsylvania reserves, and the three eventful years that followed brought glory, renown, and untold hardship for the courageous youth.  He participated in every battle  fought with the Army of the Potomac during the first three years, suffered for ten months in Southern prison camps, and when the war closed had raised himself from the position of private soldier to Brevette Major. His first promotion to the office of Lieutenant came as a result of exceptional heroism at the battle of Fredricksburg. Heroism at Fredricksburg The story is told that the confederates placed timed shells before their outworks so as to blow up when the union troops were charging into their earthworks.  The order to charge came at daylight.  With a yell the troops under the command of acting lieutenant Scofield dashed toward the enemy in the face of a withering fire.  When they arrived near the Confederate earthworks, the timed bombs exploded tearing great gaps in the ranks.  But they forged ahead, climbing over the bodies of dead and dying comrades until they were in the midst of the rebels earthworks. The story of this period of the civil war is too well known to require repetition.  Desperate and bloody encounters followed fast upon each other. The fortunes of the union armies ebbed.  Then came Gettysburg.  Here Lieutenant Scofield again distinguished himself and in recognition of his service was made captain. Then followed the desperate fighting of the Battle of Wilderness which took the lives of two thirds of the members of the famous Pennsylvania division in which Captain Scofield served. Here the forces of the south executed a brilliant military maneuver and captured 2,500 union troops in a mass.  Captain Scofield was among them and begining at that time  came the hardest period of the civil war for the youthful officer. Imprisonment Conditions in the southern stockades were intolerable.  Once Captain Scofield escaped for a short time, hid in swamps and woods, lived on what negroes were able to smuggle to him.  But he was recaptured and thrown into a dungeon as punishment. He was transferred from camp to camp.  One period of his imprisionment was served in Andersonville Prison, where the barbarous treatment accorded prisoners cannot be depicted even in the imagination Shortly before the close of the war he was exchanged with many other prisoners.  The long period of exposure, hardship, and starvation had left him thin, haggard, weighing only 96 pounds.  Be he wished to see the conflict through to the end and enlisted as a substitute for a drafted man.  Before he could again reach the front, however, the war came to a close. He was appointed Brevette major at the time he was mustered out, a title which citizens have respectfully applied to him throughout his life. For a short time he engaged in surveying work near his home in Pennsylvania, and then left and went to the home of a relative in Illinois to identify himself with the life of the Midwest.  Shortly afterward he went to Chicago, wondering what to do and where to go.  Seated in the Tremont  Hotel, Chicago, one evenign he overheard tow men discussing the lumber business in Northern Wisconsin.  He struck up an acquaintance with a Finn Hall, who urged him to come to Oconto. At Common Labor He arrived in this city at the age of twenty six in the year 1868, and secured work at common labor in the Hall saw mill.  It was not long, however, and he was put in charge of work outside the mill.  Later he was made foreman. He stayed at this work for several years. He was married in 1870 to Miss Agnes Potter.  Two sons and one daughter were born to them, of whom George survives his death. He went into the lumber business for himself in 1881, by buying a small saw mill located near where the present Holt Lumber Company shingle mill now stands.  Shortly after this he went into partnership with T. W. Harvey in a venture known as the Marinette Sawmill Company.  A small mill was purchased at DePere and the machinery and equipment moved to Marinette. Later he bought out the Harvey interests and formed a company know at the Scofield, Arnold Lumber company, with the headquarters of all operations for a great many years, at first under his supervision, and later under the management of his son, George Scofield. His political career began in 1886 when he was elected state senator from this district.  Four years later he was again elected on the face of the returns, but a Democratic legislature awarded the contested election to John Fetzer, democrat of Door County. While in the legislature, he made an enviable record, and won for himself a position of leadership in his party.  In 1896 he was nominated for Governor, and at the following election was victorious by the largest majority ever rolled up in Wisconsin up to that time. Efficient Administration The efficient businesslike methods he practiced during the years he was prominent in the lumber industry were brought to the service of the state during his tenure as governor.  He was responsible for the first tax commission, instituted many banking reforms, and strived for efficiency in every department of the state. He was governor at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish American War, and naturally his first thought was for the welfare of the enlisted men and the country during its days of stress.  His efficient work in organizing the Wisconsin guard had been the subject of much favorable comment. The following statement with reference to the success of his administration at Madison is taken from the Milwaukee Sentinel: “The legislature of 1897, working in cooperation with the governor, provided the state reformatory at Green Bay and the board of control.  The reformatory was intended for the more youthful offenders to provide a place where they could not be in contact with the older and more hardened violators of the law.  This legislature also elected John C. Spooner as United States senator. Other accomplishments of the legislature under the administration of Gov. Scofield were: Provided an increase in funds for normal schools. Prohibited pool selling. Enlarged and equipped the state historical library. Regulated casualty insurance corporations. Revised the state banking laws. Prohibited sale of cigarettes to minors. Passed first corrupt practices act to govern elections. Sent memorial to congress asking for strengthening of the national credit. Much strife Those were turbulent days in the history of Wisconsin politics.  Governor Scofield was a leader of the conservative Republican wing of the party, but his administration saw the rise of the LaFollette progressive group.  His administration was made the object of many bitter attacks, some of which were felt to be in bad taste by his friends and a large portion of the electorate of the state. In 1904 he was again a candidate for the nomination before the Republican convention, but a split in party ranks occurred at that time, and two conventions were held.   After a long fight, marred by much bitter partisanship, the campaign closed with the election of Robert M. LaFollette as governor. Active in Business Although he took a keen interest in Wisconsin politics from that time forth, he again directed his activities toward the lumber industry following the close of his second term as governor. In 1899 the Scofield Arnold Lumber company purchased a mill at Superior which was operated under the active management of George Scofield.  Then the mill burned, and operations in that section were never resumed.  At the same time he became interested in timber in the West and purchased a tract of Idaho pine amounting to about 400,000,000 feet.  This tract was never developed because it was located at a considerable distance from any railroad.  In 1911 a fire swept through that area destroying a large part of this holding.  A considerable amount of this timber is still available for development however. He also took over a holding in a large tract of timber in British Columbia, Canada, and for several years has served as President of the North Fork Lumber company and as Director of the American Timber Holding company. His long experience in the lumber industry enabled him to serve both of these companies in an advisory capacity.  He made his business headquarters in Milwaukee, where as a guest at the Hotel Pfister he become one of the well known figures of that city.  He was regarded as one of the few remaining pioneers in the lumber business of this country, and numbered among his friends and acquaintances prominent men engaged in lumbering throughout North America. Glowing tributes have been paid to his memory by leaders in the political and business life of the state.  Men whose names are bywords in the public life of Wisconsin expressed great sorrow at his death in the Milwaukee Papers. With one accord they declared him a gentleman of the highest type and patriot who thought first of public service both in times of war and in times of peace.
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