MATSON, HIRAM A.

MATSON, MCCLELAN

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/4/2005 at 09:13:27

Biography reproduced from page 461 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

Hiram A. Matson was born Jan. 4, 1826, in Rochester, N. Y. His father, John Matson, was a large contractor on the Erie canal, and run canal boats a number of years. He built the first log house in Rochester. His mother, Mrs. Mary Matson, was a woman of excellent qualities. When six years old, he went with his parents to Dearborn, Wayne Co., Mich., where they lived ten years, and then moved to Henry Co., Ill., twenty-six miles east of Rock Island. At the end of sixteen years, he moved to the northern part of Illinois, Jo Daviess county, making it his home twelve years. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he has since lived. He owns 160 acres of land on section 7, township 94, range 29, having 110 acres of it under cultivation, besides raising good Durham stock. His buildings cost probably $1,500. He was married Nov. 3, 1853, to Eveline McClelan, of Indiana. They have five children—Clarence B., who has been for three years attending the Iowa State University, with the intention of graduating. He is highly spoken of as a very nice and talented young man; Henry O., Francis A., Selestia A. and Hannah F. The family are all Methodists. In politics he is a republican, and has been school director in district No. 6, also superintendent of Sunday schools a long time, at one time being superintendent of three different schools.