Dickson S. Scoffern
Nov. 30, 1861-Feb. 22, 1933
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 23, 1933, Page 1. col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
Friends Shocked to Learn of Death of D.S. Scoffern
Former Head of Niles Bank Dies of heart Attack at Jacksonville Last Night; Funeral to Be Sunday Afternoon
Dickson Scoffern, 71, chairman of the board of directors of the City National Bank & Trust [illegible] Niles and otherwise also prominent Niles citizen died last night in Jacksonville, Fla., following a heart attack. Mr. Scoffern had played golf during the afternoon and apparently was in good health until stricken with the heart attack.
Mr. and Mrs. Scoffern went to Jacksonville in December to visit Mrs. Scoffern's daughter, Mrs. Felix R.Hill, Jr., and her husband. Mr. Hill is presiding elder of the Jacksonville [illegible] church, south.
According to word received last evening the funeral party will leave Jacksonville this evening and is expected in Niles on Saturday morning at 11:10 by the Michigan Central. While details of the funeral plans are not completed it is planned to hold the services on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in Trinity Episcopal church, a church with which Mr. and Mrs. Scoffern have been actively identified with for the 30 years they had resided in Niles.
Mr. Scoffern was born near Hillsdale. When a young man he entered the employ of a railroad company as a telegraph operator and worked for the company at New Carlisle until Mr. Scoffern became interested in the grain business there. In 1901 Mr. Scoffern came to Niles and with associates organized the Niles City bank with a capital stock of $35,000,000. James Reynolds of New Carlisle was the first president of that bank. Charles F. Pears of Buchanan, vice president and Mr. Scoffern was the cashier. Mr. Reynolds served a president until Jan. 1, 1902 when Mr. Pears was elected president, George Faurote vice president and Mr. Scoffern retained the position as cashier. On Jan. 1, 1907, Mr. Scoffern was elected president of the bank, Mathew Stoll, vice president and Mr. Faurote was made cashier. In 1916 Mr. Faurote resigned as cashier and Thos. C. Hance was chosen to succeed him in that capacity. Mr Scoffern continued to serve as president of the bank until in August, 1926, when he retired from the active management of the bank and retained an interest in it and was elected chairman of the board of directors. Mr. Scoffern was for many years also president of the First National bank at Buchanan.
Mr. Scoffern for a number of years was a member of the Niles board of education.
Fraternally Mr. Scoffern was identified with the Masonic order and was a member of Niles Commandery, No., 12, Knights Templar and also was a Shriner.
Surviving Mr. Scoffern is the widow, Mrs. Della N. Scoffern, two brothers and one sister and Mrs. Hill.
The community mourns the loss of a distinguished and highly esteemed citizen in the death of Mr. Scoffern and many personal tributes of respect were paid to his memory as the news passed along today of his sudden death. Mr. Scoffern found pleasure in social life.
Mr. Scoffern was known for a number of years as one of the best golfers among local circles. He held a philosophical attitude toward the game which he told his friends applied to the conduct of life. This was to make every shot count and that when a poor shot is made a greater effort should be put forth to make the others in good form. He was never known as a long driver and had much fun with his companions with the remark that it is the last shot that wins the hole in golf matches and not the long drive. Until illness kept him from enjoying his daily game of golf last summer he was usually able to make the Orchard Hill course in the low eighties.
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 25, 1933, Page 4. col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Funeral D.S. Scoffern
Funeral services for Dickson S. Scoffern who died on Wednesday evening in Jacksonville, Fla., will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock in Trinity Episcopal church. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of the church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends will be received at the Scoffern residence, 16 S. Fourth street, tomorrow between the hours of 10 and 1 o'clock. Mrs. Scoffern, and her daughter, Mrs. Felix Hill of Jacksonville, arrived in Niles this morning.
Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 27, 1933, Page 4. col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Many citizens of Niles and from other cities gathered in Trinity Episcopal church on Sunday afternoon to attend the funeral services for Dickson S. Scoffern, whose death on last Wednesday evening in Jacksonville, Fla., in the home of the Rev. and Mrs. Felix Hill where he and Mrs. Scoffern were guests, shocked the community. The service was conducted by the rector of the church, the Rev. H.L. Nicholson. The active pallbearers were W.H. Parkin, Stuart B. White, F.R. Eaglesfield, Lewis Krell, Malcolm Hull and Albert W. Houseworth of Buchanan. Honorary pallbearers were Judge C.E. White, C.M. Montague, R.F. Kompass, Geo.L. Faurote, M. Stoll and A.F. Howe of Buchanan. The committal was in Silverbrook cemetery. Among relatives from out of the city who attended the services were Mr.and Mrs. A.B. Kirchhoff of Oak Park, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. I. H. Scoffern of Huntly, Ill., Mrs. and Mrs. R.F. Scoffern of Franklin Park, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Clark and Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Baenziger of Chicago. Mrs. Kirchhoff and I.H. Scoffern are sister and brother of Mr. Scoffern.
*DOB from Florida Deaths @FamilySearch.org