Emil C. Matthiesen

MATTHIESEN, SEAMON, INGWERSEN, ACENBUSH, BARRY, GRAH, SCHRUM, MOMMSEN

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/25/2011 at 14:47:30

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 2, Pages 1118 and 1119, Biographical Sketch

Emil C. Matthiesen

Among the number of thrifty and much welcomed Germans who have settled in Clinton county and benefited alike themselves and the community in general, the name of Emil C. Matthiesen stands out conspicuously, for he has long been known as one of the leading agriculturists, stock and business men of his township.

Mr. Matthiesen was born in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, January 1, 1855, and he was reared there and attended school in his native city and received a good elementary education in his native country and in America. He is the son of Christian and Anna (Ingwersen) Matthiesen, both of the same province. The father learned the blacksmith's trade which he followed and remained there until 1865 when he emigrated with his family to America and landed at New York, coming direct to Lyons, Iowa, where he worked at his trade for six months, then purchased the farm where the subject now lives, buying eighty acres, to which he added until he owned two hundred and forty acres. He had his farm well fenced and furnished with all modern conveniences; he carried on general farming and stock raising, which he continued successfully until the year 1881, when he sold his farm to his son and removed to Lyons, where he spent his retiring years, dying there on May 20, 1902 at the ripe old age of eighty-two. He at first supported the Republican ticket, but on account of local options he left it and became a Democrat. He was a worthy member of the Lutheran church, and was widely known and respected, his integrity and honor being above reproach. In Clinton county he was counted among the solid men financially.

His wife died at Lyons May 28, 1884, at the age of fifty-eight years. She was also a Lutheran, the daughter of Peter Ingversen, of the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The father, who remained and died in Germany, was the owner of a large mill in Holstein. He had two brothers in America who entered the war of 1812, but were never heard of after the war. The parents of the subject had five children: Emil C., of this review; William F., a blacksmith by trade, of South Auburn, Nebraska, who is now engaged in the banking and real estate business; Matthias H. is a blacksmith and lives in Superior, Nebraska; Christ is also an expert horseshoer, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Anna is the wife of Rev. Acenbush.

Emil C. Matthiesen came with his father and family to American in 1865, and he remained under the parental roof assisting his father until twenty-six years old, when, in 1881, he married, then bought the old homestead where he yet remains. It then consisted of two hundred and forty acres, but he has increased this until he now has three hundred acres of valuable land, which is devoted to agriculture and grass. He remodeled the farm and erected substantial, up-to-date buildings. His house is a two-story frame, situated on a natural elevated site, with forest and fruit trees surrounding; he has two large barns with outhouses for machinery and all purposes, and it is among the improved farms in the township. The land is in a high state of cultivation. He does general farming and is grading up all kinds of stock; his shorthorn cattle are all thoroughbred and he has high grade Percheron horses and Poland China hogs. He has a good herd and raises and buys to fill car loads and feeds for the market from 10 to twelve car loads each year. He ships his stock to Chicago. He has given all his attention to his farm and its products and has been successful. In politics he is a stern Democrat and a good campaigner, being one of the party leaders of the county. He has attended the state and county conventions and uses his influence at all times for the grand old Democracy. He has filled all township offices and was for two terms justice of the peace and for thirty years served on the school board, and he is always looking after the good of the schools and the business of the township. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, from which he has never departed.

Mr. Matthiesen married Margaret Seymour (Seamon) , who was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1860, the daughter of Charles Seymour, also a native of the same province and a laborer in the old country. He came to America in the fall of 1863 and located at Clinton county. After a time he bought forty acres of timber land, erected a house and cleared his land and put it in cultivation and later added to his holdings, until he had one hundred and sixty acres where he yet resides, carrying on general farming. He is proud of his adopted county, but he has no aspirations for public notoriety, a plain, quiet, honest farmer. He is a Republican. His wife died in 1890. He is respected in each community in which he has lived. His family consists of seven children, namely: Catherine, Mrs. Barry; Margaret is the wife of the subject,; August is a farmer; Dora is at home; Charles died at the age of twenty years; William is a stock buyer of Elvira, Iowa; Mary, Mrs. Grah, of Walla Walla, Washington; Henry is at home.

To Mr. and Mrs. Emil C. Matthiesen have been born nine children, all of whom graduated from the district schools and in college, namely: Carl, who is a farmer in Clinton county, Clinton township, is married; William, yet at home; Agnes, wife of William Schemmon (Schrum), also a farmer in Clinton township; Edward is head bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Lyons; Helena is the wife of John Monson (Mommsen) , a farmer of Elk river township; Virts, Christ, Milly and Marvin are all at home.

Mr. Matthiesen is a man of professional ideas and is giving his children every possible advantage for life's battle.