Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ALBERT L. SCHOFIELD. The Hoosier state has produced a very large percentage of the nation's capable men, many of whom have distinguished themselves as statesmen, generals, authors and scientists. This state has furnished to the West and Middle West a myriad horde of capable men who have been of material assistance in furthering our civilization. They have established schools, churches, and various kinds of industries and have proven to be valuable citizens wherever they have dispersed. Albert L. Schcofield, foreman of the coach department in the South Side Frisco shops, Springfield, is one of this number, and he seems to have many of the commendable characteristics of the native Hoosier.
Mr. Schofield was born at Cochran, Dearborn county, Indiana, May 22, 1872. He is a son of Thomas Schofield, who was born in England, in which country he grew to manhood and received his education. When twenty-one years of age he immigrated to the United States, where he has since made his home, settling in Cochran, Indiana, where he began working for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company, in 1863. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1889, and secured employment with the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company, remaining in the coach department as carpenter from that time until in 1912, when he was retired on a pension by the company. He was a skilled mechanic and one of the most faithful employees of the local shops. He is living at 1065 Commercial street, being now in his seventy-second year. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Second Presbyterian church. He was the father of three daughters and two sons, namely: Lillie married Harry Fenton, a cabinet maker in the new Frisco shops, Springfield; Emma married Clarence Warner, a fireman on the "high line" division of the Frisco, between Springfield and Kansa s City; Albert L., of this sketch; Agnes is deceased; Earl is a clerk in the Frisco offices, Springfield, in the master car builder's department.
Albert L. Schofield attended the common schools in his native town until he was fifteen years old, when he gave up educational pursuits to begin his career as railroader, for which he had a natural bent. He began working in the coach department of the Ohio & Mississippi railroad, where he remained a year, then came to Springfield, Missouri, and continued his apprenticeship in the coach department of the Frisco shops, also learned body work, beginning his apprenticeship in 1889, remaining in the North Side shops until 1909, a period of twenty years, then was sent to the new shops here, where he worked as journeyman until 1912, being appointed foreman in November of that year. He remained there until July 10, 1914, when he went on the road as traveling passenger car inspector. On October 1, 1914, he was placed in the South Side shops as foreman of the coach department, which position he now holds, having charge of about sixty men on an average. In all the various positions he has been placed he has never been found wanting, always capable and trustworthy, he has given entire satisfaction.
Mr. Schofield was married June 26, 1895, in Springfield, to Emma R. Rathbone, a daughter of Barney and Rush (Woods) Rathbone, an old Springfield family, where Mrs. Schofield grew to womanhood and received her education. The union of our subject and wife has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Schofield is an independent voter. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Schofield is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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