Born at Troedyrhiw in the parish of Llansadwrn Carmarthenshire, Wales, August 6, 1858, the son of Daniel and Margaret Theophilus. He received his education in his native country, but came to America with his parents in 1868, settling on a farm near Lime Spring, Howard county, Iowa. There he continued his education, and during his 20 years of residence in that vicinity followed for a time the profession of teaching. In 1892 he was elected clerk of courts of Howard county and reelected in 1884, serving until January, 1887. His leisure time during that period was given over to the study of law, and he was elected to the state legislature in 1887, the Twenty-second general assembly. He resigned from the legislature in 1889 after serving a term and removed to Arkansas City, Kansas where he was admitted to the bar. In May, 1894, he removed to Davenport where he formed a law partnership under the name of Scott & Theophilus. In 1899, he was elected to the Iowa legislature, and upon the expiration of this term resumed the active practice of law. Mr. Theophilus married Miss Minnie Thompson of LeRoy, Minn., in 1888. He was active in the fraternal organizations of which he was a member of the Blue Lodge, A. P. & A. M., Zarepath Consolatory No. 4, B. P. O. Elks, Knights of Pythias, and in his own profession the Scott County bar association.

Born at Troedyrhiw in the parish of Llansadwrn Carmarthenshire, Wales, August 6, 1858, the son of Daniel and Margaret Theophilus. He received his education in his native country, but came to America with his parents in 1868, settling on a farm near Lime Spring, Howard county, Iowa. There he continued his education, and during his 20 years of residence in that vicinity followed for a time the profession of teaching. In 1892 he was elected clerk of courts of Howard county and reelected in 1884, serving until January, 1887. His leisure time during that period was given over to the study of law, and he was elected to the state legislature in 1887, the Twenty-second general assembly. He resigned from the legislature in 1889 after serving a term and removed to Arkansas City, Kansas where he was admitted to the bar. In May, 1894, he removed to Davenport where he formed a law partnership under the name of Scott & Theophilus. In 1899, he was elected to the Iowa legislature, and upon the expiration of this term resumed the active practice of law. Mr. Theophilus married Miss Minnie Thompson of LeRoy, Minn., in 1888. He was active in the fraternal organizations of which he was a member of the Blue Lodge, A. P. & A. M., Zarepath Consolatory No. 4, B. P. O. Elks, Knights of Pythias, and in his own profession the Scott County Bar Association.