Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, brother of William Scovill joined Frederick Leavenworth and David Hayden in forming Leavenworth, Hayden & Scovill after 1811. The two brothers formed J. M. L. & W. H. Scovill in 1827. A fire destroyed the mill March 31, 1830. The firm became a public company as Scovill Manufacturing Company in 1850.

The firms began making gilt buttons. They produced various products of rolled brass and other metals. In 1842 they became one of the first makers of daguerreotype plates. They later made cameras and photographic equipment.

The Scovill Manufacturing Company was a major producer of Hard Times Tokens. They made political medals and store cards in the period 1820 to 1845. Many Scovill dies were purchased by J. N. T. Levick in the 1880's. He had many tokens restruck. The dies were sold to Harry Gray who offered groups of restruck tokens for sale in 1912.

The Scovill Manufacturing Company supplied planchets for Nickel 5 cent pieces. Most Indian Head cents of 1864 to 1907 were struck on Scovill planchets.