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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
John C. Scoles, photographer of Oskaloosa, who has won the highest honors awarded by the Iowa State Photographers Association, was born in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1866, and in the paternal line comes of Irish ancestry. His father, Curtis W. Scales, was born in Ohio, and was a painter by trade. He removed from his native state to Iowa about 1856, settling in Keokuk, whence after two years he removed to Knoxville, where his death occurred in 1900, when he was in his sixty-third year. He was an Odd Fellow and also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being entitled to membership in the latter by reason of his active service in the Civil war. He enlisted in the Union army in 1862, serving until the close of hostilities and was a member of Company G, Eighteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. On one occasion he was disabled by a sunstroke which caused the loss of the sight of one eye. He served most of the time in Arkansas and Missouri and was ever a loyal defender of the star and stripes. His political allegiance was always given to the republican party, which stood loyally by the Union in the darkest hour of our country's history. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Fannie Craddick, was born in Indiana, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in Iowa in 1881, at the age of forty years. In their family were five children: Albert H., a blacksmith, residing in Hamilton, Iowa; John C., of this review; Louie, the wife of Charles Jenks, of Knoxville, Iowa; and Hamilton and Keziah, both deceased. John C. Scales began his education in the public schools of Knoxville, and he learned photography there. In 1895 he embarked in business on his own account at Dexter, Iowa, where he remained for seven years, after which he spent two years in Stuart. He then came to Oskaloosa and purchased the photograph gallery of George Gesman, the principal studio of the city. He still continues in business here and is considered one of the best photographic artists in this part of the state. He is familiar with all modern processes and added to his thorough understanding of the mechanical work he also possesses much natural artistic taste as seen in his judicious use of lights and shades and of posing. He belongs to the Photographers' Association of Iowa and he has a collection of medals that evidences his proficiency in his profession. These were awarded by the Photographers Association of Iowa. There are four classes in which entries for competition can be made. Mr. Scales won first a medal as a first prize in the fourth class in 1900; then a medal in the third class in 1901; a medal, in the second class in 1902; and in 1903 he took a medal as first prize in the second class, while in 1904 he took first prize in the first class. He is naturally and justly proud of these evidences of his, superiority in the line of his chosen life work. In 1893 Mr. Scales was married to Miss Della Battles, who was born in Illinois in 1867, and is a daughter of C. P. and Frances Battles, the former a carpenter by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Scales have one child, Thelma, born in 1901. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Scales is an Odd Fellow and Modem Woodman, while politically he is a republican. Making good use of his opportunities he has prospered from year to year and has conducted all business matters carefully and successfully, displaying in all his acts an aptitude for successful management. His genial manner and unfailing courtesy add to his social popularity and have gained him many warm friends.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy