Washington, Iowa, lawyer and Union officer.

The eldest of five children, Hiram Scofield was born in Saratoga County, New York, on July 1, 1830 to William and Susan (Bishop) Scofield. Scofield's grandfather, Neazar Scofield, and grandmother, Patience, settled in Saratoga County in 1800. Reared on the family farm, Hiram attended country schools and academies, and graduated from Union College (Schenectady, N.Y.) and from the Albany Law School (1856). After law school, Scofield traveled to Little Rock, Ark., where he taught school for two years. He then moved to Washington, Iowa, where he established a law practice in 1858 with A.H. Patterson. This practice continued until his death on Dec. 30, 1906.

With the attack on Fort Sumter, Scofield enlisted in April of 1861 and was sworn in as a private on May 22, 1861. A member of Company H of the 2nd Iowa Infantry, he was soon promoted to second and first lieutenant, and assumed command of his company at Fort Donelson in February, 1862. Scofield was promoted to assistant adjutant general, serving on Gen. Lauman's staff at Shiloh (where he was wounded in the thigh), Corinth, and in Mississippi. He then served on Gen. John McArthur's staff at Vicksburg and Memphis.

In the spring of 1863, Gen. Thomas received orders to organize colored regiments. From May 5, 1863 to Jan. 5, 1866, Scofield commanded the 8th Louisiana Regiment of Colored Troops (in 1864 renamed the 47th U.S. Colored Infantry), which he recruited and trained at Lake Providence, La. Assigned to Vicksburg until March, 1864, the regiment then joined Gen. Canby's division, with Scofield commanding the 2nd brigade. It participated in the capture and occupation of Yazoo City during March and returned to Vicksburg. In Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas during the latter months of 1864, the 47th then served in Florida and Alabama, seeing action at Fort Blakely and occupying Mobile. After June, 1865, Scofield's regiment was stationed at various Louisiana locations, and was mustered out in Baton Rouge. Scofield himself was mustered out of service as a brigadier general on May 22, 1866.

Scofield returned to Washington, Iowa, after the war and resumed his law practice. In 1866, he married Amelia B. Wilson. The couple had two children, Clara J. and Cora L. Scofield.