MATERN, W. F.

MATERN, AHMREIN, GATES, BISHOP

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 12/31/2003 at 10:46:58

Biography reproduced from page 467 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

W. F. Matern is the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres located on section 2, Prairie township, to the further cultivation and improvement of which he has devoted his entire time and attention for the past eight years. He was born in Putnam county, Illinois, on the 9th of July, 1868, and is a son of Adam and Theresa (Ahmrein) Matern, natives of Germany. The father emigrated to the United States when a youth of eighteen years and the mother in early girlhood. They were married in Illinois and spent the rest of their days in that state. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Matern numbered ten, and in order of birth they are as follows: Michael, who is residing in Prairie township, Kossuth county; Jacob, deceased; Elizabeth, the widow of Joseph Gates, of Algona, Iowa; Joseph J., a grain merchant at Tonica, Illinois; Barney, who is living at La Junta, Colorado; Theresa, who lives on the old home place; W. F., our subject; Andrew and Martha, deceased; and Henry, who is living on the old homestead.

The boyhood and youth of W. F. Matern were passed on the old home farm in Illinois, his education being obtained in the common schools of that state. He remained at home until he was married at the age of thirty-five, and shortly following this event he came to Kossuth county, purchasing the farm where he now resides in Prairie township. It is one of the well improved and highly cultivated properties of this section of the county, and is in every way a credit to the agricultural skill of Mr. Matern. During the period of his ownership the barn was destroyed by five, but he subsequently rebuilt it, and has at different times made various other improvements, which have added greatly to the general appearance of the place. The entire tract is substantially fenced, his fields are tiled and under high cultivation and he owns an equipment that is fully adequate to meet all the demands of the modern agriculturist. In connection with general farming, Mr. Matern is successfully engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of shorthorn cattle, Percheron horses and Duroc Jersey hogs.

Mr. Matern was married in 1904 to Miss Kate Bishop and to them has been born one child, John Adam, who died at the age of six months. Mr. Matern is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, and his political support is accorded to the democratic party. He is numbered among the substantial and capable citizens of Prairie township, where both he and Mrs. Matern have a large circle of friends, who hold them in high esteem.