Edward Scofield

Edward Scofield (March 28, 1842 – February 3, 1925) was an American lumberman and politician who served as the 19th Governor of Wisconsin.[1]

Edward Scofield
19th Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 4, 1897 – January 7, 1901
Lieutenant	Emil Baensch Jesse Stone
Preceded by	William H. Upham
Succeeded by	Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 1st district
In office January 1, 1887 – January 1, 1891
Preceded by	Edward S. Minor
Succeeded by	John Fetzer
Personal details
Born	March 28, 1842 Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Died	February 3, 1925 (aged 82) Oconto, Wisconsin
Resting place	Evergreen Cemetery Oconto, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Agnes Potter (died 1919)
Children	Julia Scofield Paul Scofield George Scofield
Profession	lumberman, politician
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	11th Penn. Reserve Reg.
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Early life

Scofield was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania on March 28, 1842.[2] He became a printer's apprentice at a newspaper in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and worked in the newspaper business for a number of years.

Career

Scofield fought in the American Civil War as a member of the 11th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment.[2] Commissioned a lieutenant, after the Battle of South Mountain he was promoted to captain. He participated in all the battles and marches of his regiment up to the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864, where he was taken prisoner and incorrectly reported as dead. He was a prisoner for ten months, during which time he was held in southern prisons before being released at Wilmington, North Carolina on March 1, 1865.[2][3] He was promoted to major after his release.

After his recuperation from illness, Scofield worked in the "engineer corps" of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. In 1868, he moved to Oconto, Wisconsin,[2] where he entered the lumber business and became a principal in the Marinette Mill Co. He entered politics when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1886 as a Republican, beating Democrat Amos Holgate. He was appointed to the standing committees on engrossed bills (which he chaired) and on railroads.[4]

In 1896 Scofield was elected as the 19th Governor of Wisconsin. He entered the gubernatorial race as a conservative against progressive Republican Robert M. La Follette, winning the Republican nomination on the sixth ballot. In November, he defeated his Democratic opponent, Willis C. Silverthorn, in a five-way general election: 264,981 for Scofield; 169,257 for Silverthorn; 8,140 for Prohibitionist Joshua Berkey; 1,306 for Christ Tuttrop of the Socialist Labor Party; and 407 for Robert Henderson of the Nationalist Party. During his tenure, he introduced the first governor's budget in Wisconsin, established a central accounting system, and oversaw revision of the state's banking laws. He increased public school funding and helped raise troops to serve in the Spanish–American War. After completing a second term in office, he returned to his business interests in Oconto.[3]

Death

The last of several Civil War veterans to serve as Governor of Wisconsin, Scofield died in his home in Oconto on February 3, 1925 (age 82 years, 312 days). He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Oconto.

Family life

Scofield married Agnes Potter (1850–1919)[2][5] and they had three children, Julia, Paul, and George.[6]

See also

• Office of Governor of Wisconsin
• List of Governors of Wisconsin
• Pennsylvania Reserves

References

2. "A Gallant Comrade". The National Tribune. September 24, 1896. p. 8. Retrieved December 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Wisconsin Blue Book, 1899 edition, page 748
4. Timme, Ernst G., ed. The blue book of the state of Wisconsin 1887 Madison, 1887; pp. 465, 472, 484
5. "Mrs. Edward Scofield Expires in Hospital". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. December 8, 1919. p. 15. Retrieved December 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Edward Scofield". Oconto County WIGenWeb Project. Retrieved 28 May 2014.

External links

• Edward Scofield at Find a Grave
• National Governors Association