Francis Silas Matt

MATT

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/22/2010 at 20:17:00

The late Francis Silas Matt is still well remembered by the old time residents of Boone, in which city he passed away I 1888 and of which he became a resident in 1868. He was born in Baden, Germany, I 1804, and early learned the shoemaker’s trade, which he followed in the army for sixteen years, being a company shoemaker. He was married in Germany in 1845 and in 1846 set seal for the United States in order to profit by the opportunities which he expected t find in this country. He was not disappointed He landed in New York, the sailing vessel on which he had made the trip being forty days in crossing the ocean, having encountered a heavy storm. The family located at first in Buffalo, New York, and there he followed his trade for two years, then went to Hanover township, Columbiana county, where he conducted a shop and made shoes for the farming people and also for the men who worked on the canal. In 1864, Mr Matt continued on his westward course, going to Fond Du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he joined the father of his wife. On March 12, 1868, he came to Boone and bought a farm comprising half a section of land, and there he lived until 1888.He was a devout member of the Catholic church and was eighty-four years of age at the time of his death.
His wife, who was also born in Germany and whose birthday was April 15, 1824, was a daughter of Robert Denz, a German hotel keeper in the fatherland, who emigrated to America, his wife and family following him after he had been in this country one year, arriving here in 1846. He as a squire and road inspector while I the fatherland besides having been successfully engaged in hotel work. Both he and his wife died in Wisconsin. Mrs Matt in the acquirement of her education attended French school, as did her brothers and sisters. In her parents’ family were the following children: Sylvester, who died in Alton, Illinois, Mrs Mary Matt, Adolph who was a permanent resident of Alton, Illinois, Bertha who died in Cherokee, Iowa, Lizzie deceased of Fond De Lac, and Robert who still resides on the home farm in Wisconsin. MR and Mrs Matt had the following children: Fred Arnold, a soldier of the Civil war, who died in Boone, leaving a widow who now resides in that city, George of Knox county, Nebraska, who is married, Joseph, of Sacramento, California, Fran of Chicago, Illinois, William R who married Christine Hansen and who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Charles deceased, James at home and Mary who is Mrs John Hughberger, residing in California.
Both Mr and Mrs Matt were respected and esteemed residents of Boone, the former participating in many of the movements which were inaugurated in order to advance the interests of the city. Although he passed away twenty-five years ago, his memory still lingers with those who knew of him nothing but good. He was kind, obliging, approachable and courteous and wherever he resided won the friendship of all those who came with in the circle of his acquaintance.

1914 Boone County History Book