John Matson, a son of Elijah Matson, was born near Rutland, Vermont February 3, 1806, where he lived until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he went to Onondaga County, New York. In 1835 he came to Indiana and entered 160 acres of wild land in DeKalb County, had a cabin built on section 30, Franklin Township and the following year with his family moved there, reaching Hamilton September 30, 1836.
He was very energetic and ambitious, working all day clearing his land of timber and preparing it for cultivation, after which he worked several hours each night at the carpenter's trade, making doors and window frames for the new settlers, taking his pay in work on his land. In this way he soon had 100 acres under cultivation. He became a successful farmer and owned, at the time of his death, a pleasant home and 213 acres of valuable land. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was public spirited, and contributed liberally toward the advancement of any laudable enterprise. He was a kind and obliging neighbor, and a benevolent and considerate friend of the poor.
He was married September 10, 1833 to Margaret Waterman, daughter of Elijah Waterman and sister of Honorable Miles Waterman. To them were born ten children: Cordelia, Alvin, Chloe, James, Lewis, Lydia, George and Ophelia. Two died in infancy. Cordelia married Chester Taft and lives at Waterloo, Iowa. Chloe married Alonzo Collin of Mount Vernon, Iowa and has two children: Ruth and Margaret. James of Cedar Rapids, Iowa married Frances Taylor and has two children, Lillian and Abbie. Lewis of Pleasant Lake, Indiana married Orcelia Clarke and has four children: Clarke, James, Mabel and John. Lydia married J.B. Albrook of Iowa and died in her twenty-seventh year, leaving one child, Luella. George married Matilda Ridge and has one child, Merritt. Ophelia married Merritt A. Goodell of Iowa and has four children: Willard, Alonzo, George and Edward.
Mr. Matson died November 4, 1876. Mrs. Matson lives with George on the homestead and is one of the few old settlers of the county now living, and has witnessed all the varied changes which have brought the country from a wild state to one of advanced cultivation.
John Matson, a son of Elijah Matson, was born near Rutland, Vermont February 3, 1806, where he lived until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he went to Onondaga County, New York. In 1835 he came to Indiana and entered 160 acres of wild land in DeKalb County, had a cabin built on section 30, Franklin Township and the following year with his family moved there, reaching Hamilton September 30, 1836.
He was very energetic and ambitious, working all day clearing his land of timber and preparing it for cultivation, after which he worked several hours each night at the carpenter's trade, making doors and window frames for the new settlers, taking his pay in work on his land. In this way he soon had 100 acres under cultivation. He became a successful farmer and owned, at the time of his death, a pleasant home and 213 acres of valuable land. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was public spirited, and contributed liberally toward the advancement of any laudable enterprise. He was a kind and obliging neighbor, and a benevolent and considerate friend of the poor.
He was married September 10, 1833 to Margaret Waterman, daughter of Elijah Waterman and sister of Honorable Miles Waterman. To them were born ten children: Cordelia, Alvin, Chloe, James, Lewis, Lydia, George and Ophelia. Two died in infancy. Cordelia married Chester Taft and lives at Waterloo, Iowa. Chloe married Alonzo Collin of Mount Vernon, Iowa and has two children: Ruth and Margaret. James of Cedar Rapids, Iowa married Frances Taylor and has two children, Lillian and Abbie. Lewis of Pleasant Lake, Indiana married Orcelia Clarke and has four children: Clarke, James, Mabel and John. Lydia married J.B. Albrook of Iowa and died in her twenty-seventh year, leaving one child, Luella. George married Matilda Ridge and has one child, Merritt. Ophelia married Merritt A. Goodell of Iowa and has four children: Willard, Alonzo, George and Edward.
Mr. Matson died November 4, 1876. Mrs. Matson lives with George on the homestead and is one of the few old settlers of the county now living, and has witnessed all the varied changes which have brought the country from a wild state to one of advanced cultivation.
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