MATERN, M. C.

MATERN, AHMEREIN, GATES, LAWRENCE, LOEBIG, KUNZ, STUDER

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/2/2004 at 15:16:38

Biography reproduced from page 674 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

A worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Prairie township is M. C. Matern, who owns and operates a fine farm on section 1. He was born in Illinois on the 6th of January, 1855, and is a son of Adam and Theresa (Ahmerein) Matern, natives of Bavaria, Germany. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1846 and were subsequently married in La Salle county, Illinois. The father first located at Hall’s Landing, La Salle county, but later removed to Putnam county, Illinois. His energies were always devoted to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, in both of which he met with more than average success. In matters of citizenship he was public spirited and took an active interest in the political affairs of the county, giving his support to the men and measures of the democratic party. He passed away on the old homestead in July, 1910, while the mother’s death occurred about seventeen years ago at the same place. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Matern numbered ten, our subject being the eldest. In order of birth the others are as follows: Jacob, deceased; Elizabeth, the widow of Joseph Gates, of Algona, Iowa; Joseph J., a grain merchant at Tonica, Illinois; Barney, who is living at LaJunta, Colorado; Theresa, who lived on the old home place; William F., who is engaged in farming in Prairie township; Andrew and Martha, who are deceased; and Henry, who makes his home on the old farm in Illinois.

M. C. Matern was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of his native state, spending his early boyhood and youth in very much the same manner as all country lads. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, when he began farming for himself. He continued to reside in Illinois until 1898, when he came to Iowa, taking up his residence on his present homestead in Prairie township. Mr. Matern exercises much sagacity and foresight in the direction of his interests, and as a result has met with more than average success in his undertakings. During the period of his residence here he has increased his property holdings until he now owns two hundred and forty acres in Wesley township, this county, and one hundred and sixty in Hancock county, Iowa. He has made many improvements on his homestead, including the tiling of his fields, which he has brought under high cultivation. In connection with general farming, Mr. Matern is raising Percheron horses, Shorthorn cattle, and Duroc Jersey and Hampshire hogs, all of a high grade. He is generally recognized as one of the most capable agriculturists of the county, where his success is attributed to his unceasing diligence, systematic methods and competent supervision.

In Illinois in 1880, Mr. Matern was married to Miss Elizabeth Lawrence, and to them have been born sixteen children: Louis A., who is living in Wesley township; Clara, the wife of D. N. Loebig, a farmer residing a mile south of the Matern homestead; Victor, a railroad engineer at Tacoma, Washington; Anna, who married Otto Kunz, of Wesley, this county; Emma, who is at home; Lena, Sister Illuminati of the order of St. Francis, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Ida, Sister Hertula of the Order of St. Francis, also of Milwaukee; Martha, who is at home; Zita, the wife of Ben Studer, a son of Nathan Studer, of Wesley; Joseph, who is a resident of Emmetsburg, Iowa; and Hettie, Stella, Julius, Adam, Benjamin and Frank, all of whom are at home.

The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church at Wesley, and Mr. Matern is a member of the Western Catholic Union. He gives his political support to the democratic party, and has served for eight or ten years as trustee of his township. Through energy and perseverance he has attained the goal to which he aspired and is numbered among the prosperous citizens of his community.