Born on March 11, 1817, in Dewittville, Chautauqua County, New York,[1] Scofield attended the common schools and learned the printing trade.

[2] He returned to classical study and graduated from Hamilton College in 1840 and read law with Carlton Brandaga Curtis in Warren, Pennsylvania in 1842, briefly engaging in teaching while studying law.

[5][1] He was President Judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for the Eighteenth Judicial District from 1861 to 1863.

[1] Scofield was elected from Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district and later Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives of the 38th United States Congress and to the five succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1875.

[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 20, 1881, and received his commission the same day.