Joseph Whitfield Scroggs, was born 26 October, 1852 near Greenfield, Missouri. He died 23 November, 1940 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was married to Flora Hawley Beckwith, [1] 30 August, 1879. She was the daughter of Milan Sumner Beckwith and Flora M. Putnam. Flora was born 24 August, 1861. She was born in Pana, Illinois. She died in Eureka, Kansas 12 June, 1901. He married (2) Idora Rose at Topeka, Kansas on 29 November, 1906.
Joseph received his early education in the rural schools near Greenfield, Missouri. He graduated from Greenfield High School. Then he attended Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania , in 1875. He then returned to Greenville for his firm teaching assignment. From 1876 to 1879 , he was Superintendent of Schools at Pierce City, Missouri. He moved to Vinita, Indian Territory, where he established the Worcester Academy. Joseph was married in 1879 to Flora Beckwith. He also became an ordained minister in the Congregational Church. This would make Joseph the first direct ancestor in at least five generations to leave the Presbyterian Church. During his five years at Vinita, he founded, helped build, and served as pastor of the Congregational Church. He also helped establish Vinita's first newspaper, "The Indian Chieftain." In addition, Maurice , Joseph and Flora's first child was born here in 1880.
From 1884 to 1898, Joseph was on the faculty and head of the American Home Mission Society School at Rogers, Arkansas. Then he served six years as superintendent of the Congregational Academy at Eureka, Kansas. Flora died while they lived in Eureka and is buried there. By 1904, Joseph had received his Doctor of Philosophy degree and became head of the Philosophy Department at Kingfisher College. He taught in many fields at Kingfisher until 1913 when he join ed the faculty of the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Oklahoma, as co-director of Extension . While at Kingfisher, he established and directed the Department of Teacher Education and developed the interest that made him a national leader in university extension programs.
Joseph retired as director of Extension Services at the University of Oklahoma, in 1927. H e remained active at the University as director of Extension Publications until his death, in 1940. He wrote many books and publications. One of his areas of great interest and research was in simplified spelling. He wrote a 56 page bulletin in 1921 on this subject. He was nationally recognized as a leader in education throughout the Extension Services. The model established by the University of Oklahoma was widely copied throughout the country and particularly in the land grant colleges of the Midwest and the West∼Dr. Joseph Whitefield Scroggs, former resident of Eureka, died at his home in Norman, Oklahoma, November 23. Dr. Scroggs was 89 years old.

Funeral service was held in Norman Monday and the body was brought to Eureka, where a graveside service, condcuted by Rev. S. Duane Ogden, was held at Greenwood Cemetery, and he was buried beside his wife, who died here in 1901.

He is survived by four children, Maurice, Wendell, Mrs. Gladys Hawthorne and Schiller, none whom live in this community. The body was accompanied by a son, Schiller Scroggs of Stillwater. Okla.

Dr. Scroggs came to Eureka in 1898 and for a number of years was principal of Southern Kansas Academy. He was a man of exceptional ability and after leaving Eureka taught for many years in Oklahoma schools, including Oklahoma University at Norman.

From Eureka Herald 28 November 1940 page 1