MARY SCOFIELD AND FAMILY PAPERS:

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Scofield, Mary Isobel, Mary Scofield and family papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 14,479; 15,692; 15,693

Processing Information:

Processed by: Frank Hennessy, May 1991; Christopher G. Welter, February 2009.

Catalog ID number: 001714534

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Contains a photocopied letter (May 12, 1856) from Levi C. Hillman to his daughter Mary Isobel Hillman while he was traveling in Massachusetts; a love letter (February 11, 1872) to Mary Hillman from Theodore Newell, an early fiancé; and correspondence (1876) between Mary Hillman and James Luther Scofield discussing her mother's disapproval of their relationship and the couple's frustration prior to their marriage (June 25, 1876). There is also correspondence during James's travels out east (1887) and related to James and Mary Scofield's daughter Mayme, and her marriage to Arthur J. Glover (1899).

The correspondence provides a detailed account of Mary and James Scofield's life in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and the lives of their two daughters, Mary "Mayme" Glover and Myra Poe. Topics include illnesses, births and deaths, domestic activities, child rearing, church and social functions, and business matters. The bulk of the correspondence is between Mary Scofield and Mayme Glover. Other correspondents include James Scofield, Arthur Glover, and Myra and Richard Poe.

For a short time after their marriage Arthur and Mayme Glover lived in St. Anthony Park, Minnesota, where Arthur was an instructor at the University of Minnesota Dairy School and inspector for the Minnesota Dairy and Food Commission. In 1901 Arthur accepted a position as assistant professor of dairy husbandry at the Illinois College of Agriculture, Urbana. Correspondence during this time (1901-1904) relates Mayme's discontent with Arthur's job and her life in Illinois; the death of their first child, Scofield James (August 1901); the birth of their second son, Robert (February 1903); and their move to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin (1904).

Upon arrival, Arthur served as managing editor of Hoard's Dairyman (1918-1949), was secretary of the Wisconsin Dairyman's Association (1909-1915), and sat as a member (1937-1943) and president (1939-1943) of the University of Wisconsin board of regents. Mayme gave birth to a third son, Arthur, on December 1, 1905.

The correspondence (1905-1906) is primarily concerned with domestic activities, including the furnishing of the Glovers' new home, sewing and fashion, and the hiring of domestic help; the rearing of the two Glover boys; family trips between Fort Atkinson and Cannon Falls; and Arthur's work.

On August 20, 1907, Mayme gave birth to a premature baby girl, Myra Lucile, while visiting her parents in Cannon Falls. Due to the baby's fragile condition she was left with the Scofields when the Glovers returned to Fort Atkinson. Unable to secure milk for the baby, the Scofields hired two wet nurses from St. Paul. The women were both unwed mothers, and Mary's letters (December 1907-March 1908) describe the women's stay with them and the problems associated with their individual situations. Both women were forced to give up their infants when they left the Scofields.

Myra Lucile was plagued with persistent illnesses throughout her childhood and as a result was raised by the Scofields until her early teens. Her health is a topic throughout the correspondence , as is Mary Scofield’s detailed description for the Glvoers of Myra’s childhood activities.

James Scofield owned Scofield Brothers Drug Store and the Cannon Falls Telephone Company with his brother Charles and nephew Fred. The operation of both enterprises is covered throughout this period, particularly the building of new area telephone lines. James Scofield's death (August 14, 1919) is the subject of two letters (August 17, 1919) from Mary's brother William and a niece, Mabelle Smith.

Myra Poe, the Scofields' other daughter, attended Mankato Normal School and graduated in 1906. In 1907 she taught primary school in Cannon Falls. Her engagement to Richard Poe is discussed in a letter from Mayme (July 17, 1908), and her elopement with Richard in another (October 16, 1908). Myra and Richard lived in St. Paul while Richard finished school at the University of Minnesota. In January 1910, Myra gave birth to their first son, Morris. Richard graduated and accepted a teaching job in Glencoe, Minnesota (March 1911).

Myra gave birth to a daughter, Marjorie, while visiting her parents (June 13, 1913), and there are a number of letters from Richard at the time. The Poes moved to Willmar, Minnesota (September 1913), where Richard worked as one of the first county agents in Minnesota. After Richard's resignation as a county agent, the family moved to Cannon Falls (August 1915) and lived on the Poe family farm for the next forty-three years.

Beyond family matters, the correspondence during this period presents a picture of midwestern small town life during the early 1900s. All three families were active in their churches and various social clubs. Mary Scofield's letters discuss the building of a new Methodist church in Cannon Falls (1907-1908); the election of new ministers (July-September 1911 and October 1914); and the Cannon Falls church’s merger with the Oxford Methodist Church (October 1914). The correspondence also gives an account of the new technologies introduced during this period, including the telephone, phonograph, motion picture, and automobile. Illnesses such as tuberculosis and scarlet fever are discussed throughout. Prices for various consumer items are given, including a list of furniture prices for the Poes’ new home in Glencoe (April 23, 1911).

The collection also includes letters (undated and July 30, 1942-April 6, 1943) from Myra Lucile Bostwick to her parents, Mayme and Arthur Glover. Myra lived in Houghton, Michigan, with her husband, Lester Bostwick, and two children, Thomas Arthur and Barbara Ann. There are also letters (September 1943) from Lester to Myra and the children just prior to his death (October 10, 1943). Newspaper obituaries enclosed with the letters indicate that Lester died following surgery in Milwaukee.

Also includes letters (January 2, 1965-May 1966) from Mayme Glover to Myra and Richard Poe. Mayme lived with her son Robert and both suffered from poor health. During this period Myra Lucile Bostwick was also living in Fort Atkinson, where she worked as a nurse. The letters discuss the weather, Mayme's and Robert's health problems, and family news.

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Includes genealogical charts and letters containing genealogical information for both the Scofield and Hillman families; newspaper obituaries for Scofield James Glover (August 1901) and Mary Scofield (December 1922); a newspaper clipping (July 22, 1971) detailing Myra Poe's life in Cannon Falls; newspaper clippings (October 24 and November 17, 1968) and a letter (September 20, 1968) related to the centennial celebration of the Scofield Brothers Drug Store; and two photographs, one of Theodore Newell and the other apparently of Myra and Morris Poe.

Also includes an oversized genealogical chart tracing the Scofield family from the early 1300s in Lancashire, England, up to the 1970s.

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Typed transcript (296 pages) by Wilbur H. Glover, grandson of Mary (Hillman) Scofield, son of Mary E. (Scofield) Glover, and professional historian. No table of contents nor index.

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The Levi C. Hillman and family letters, 1846-1860, are in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscripts collections. Levi Hillman was Mary Scofield's father.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Child rearing.

Drugstores -- Minnesota -- Cannon Falls.

Family -- Minnesota -- Cannon Falls.

Infants (Premature) -- Minnesota -- Cannon Falls -- Home care.

Persons:

Bostwick, Lester, 1908-1943.

Bostwick, Myra L., 1907-1993.

Glover, Arthur J., 1873-1949.

Glover, Mary E., 1879-1966.

Glover, Wilbur H.

Glover family.

Poe, Myra, 1885-1979.

Poe, Richard, 1881-1966.

Poe family.

Scofield, James L., 1844-1919.

Scofield family.

Organizations:

Scofield Bros. Drug Store (Cannon Falls, Minn.).

Places:

Fort Atkinson (Wis.) -- Social life and customs -- 1865-1918.

Cannon Falls (Minn.) -- Social life and customs -- To 1918

Document Types:

Autobiographies.

Titles:

Hoard's dairyman.

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