Rev. Elmer L. Mattox (1963)
KING, LYON, MATTOX, OMOHUNDRO
Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 10/8/2006 at 19:53:03
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 27, 1963
Page 5OLDEST GRADUATE OF W.H.S. DIES
Rev. Elmer Mattox Served As China Missionary For 40 Years
The Rev. Elmer L. Mattox, who was probably the oldest living graduate of Winterset high school, died Sunday, Jan. 20, at Claremont, Calif., according to a letter received this week from his daughter, Mrs. John B. Omohundro of Huntington Beach, California. He was 93 years of age.
The Rev. Mr. Mattox graduated from Winterset high school with the class of 1886. He went to China in 1893, before the Boxer rebellion and served as a missionary there for 40 years.
The Rev. Mr. Mattox was born near Winterset March 3, 1869. After graduating from Winterset high school, he received his B.A.M.A., and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Parsons college at Fairfield. He also attended McCormick Theologic seminary, after which he was ordained by the Des Moines presbytery of the Presbyterian church in 1893.
That same year he was married to Emma King, and they went to Hangchow, China, where he taught in a boys' school. During his 40 years there the school developed from a junior high school, through the college level to become Hangchow Christian university. He finally became president of the university and was also first pastor of the College church.
Since his retirement he had made his home in California. His first wife died there in 1939; and in 1944, he was married to Lois D. Lyon who survives him.
In addition to his wife and daughter, he leaves three grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and a brother, Ernest E. Mattox of El Paso, Calif.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen