MATTES, Joseph

MATTES, SHELLEY

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 22:04:08

SOURCE: "Biographical history of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa" Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1893

JOSEPH MATTES—The hardware firm of Joseph Mattes, of Odebolt, Iowa, was
established in 1879, and now is one of the leading houses of its kind in Odebolt. Mr.
Mattes was born in Clinton county, Iowa, October, 1855, son of R. and Mary Mattes,
natives of Germany, who emigrated to Clinton County, Iowa, in 1854, and still make that
county their home. Our subject was educated in the common public schools, and at the
age of sixteen began to learn the tinners' trade, which he followed for eight years. At this
time he took a trip through western Iowa and Nebraska in order to find a suitable location,
but finally decided upon his native State and settled in Odebolt, Iowa, where he has since
been engaged in business.

Upon arrival in this city he established his present business in the same location he
now occupies, in a small, one-story frame building. This store was the first one erected in
the village and its dimensions were 22x60. In this room, Mr. Mattes operated his business
until 1891, when he erected his present commodious brick building, two-story., with
basement, 50x100 feet. All its appointments are modern and altogether it is one of the
best store buildings in the city. Mr. Mattes carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware,
stoves and tinware, threshing machines, clover hullers and corn shellers. In stoves he
handles the Acorn cookstoves and ranges, Stewart hard-coal stoves and Round Oak
heaters. He makes a specialty of fine hardware, a full line of cutlery and edge tools. He
carries a stock of $10,000; is the oldest hardware dealer in Odebolt and one of the first
merchants. He is the only dealer in his line who has been in the business between Carroll
and Sioux City since 1879.

Mr. Mattes is one of the most active business men in the city. Every since his
arrival in Odebolt he has taken an active interest in everything tending to the good of the
city. He is a stockholder in the Fair Association and also in the water-works. He affiliates
politically with the Republican party and by this party he was elected Treasurer of the
School Board and has held the office for a number of years. He has also served as
Township Trustee for the past eleven years. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic
fraternity and is connected with Wheeler Lodge, No. 298; also belongs to the Knights of
Pythias, Syracuse Lodge, No. 200, and A. O. U. W. Lodge, No. 217. Mr. Mattes has been
connected with the Fire Department since its organization in 1880, and is one of the
original officeholders.

Mr. Mattes was married in Clinton, Iowa, in 1879, to Miss Kate Shelley, a native of
Ohio, and four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mattes, namely: Gracie, Howard,
Hattie and George. Mr. Mattes is a self-made man, having started in life with little or
nothing and risen to his present position by his own, unaided efforts. He is now one of the
solid men of Odebolt, financially, while socially, he is extremely popular. Mr. Mattes has
been one of the prime movers in pushing the little city onward, and to him is due much of
the present prosperity of Odebolt. He is a man of broad and comprehensive views and one
not likely to be influenced by anything save his sense of right and justice.