James Mateer (1940)

MATEER, ALLGOOD, SAWYER, BAWYER, CAREY, ROSS, BUCKLER, VANATTA, PURDY

Posted By: Kate Hite (email)
Date: 2/14/2010 at 19:57:27

Oskaloosa Daily Herald, 5 Jan 1940, p. 1

Jas. Mateer Pioneer, Vet Dead Today [photo]

98 Year Old Farmer Came to Iowa in 1844, Lived in Old Tavern

James Mateer, 98-year-old Mahaska county pioneer and one of the few Civil war veterans remaining in the county, died at 4:30 o'clock this morning at his home at 210 Fourth avenue east, after about two years illness.

Mr. Mateer was one of the colorful figures of early days. He was born in Ripley county, Indiana, on October 10, 1841, and came to Iowa with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Mateer, in 1844, living on a farm in Adams township, six miles northeast of Oskaloosa on the old overland route to the California gold fields.

Civil War Veteran.

Mr. Mateer served with Company C of the 40th Iowa Infantry during the Civil war and following the war returned to the home place. He married Mary B. Allgood, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Allgood, in 1866[?; not clear] and moved into the Allgood home that had been known as the Buckhorn tavern in the gold rush days. Mrs. Mateer died in 1889[?; not clear], and about 10
years later he married Miss Eola Sawyer [or Bawyer?].

The Mateers lived in the tavern until two years ago, when fire destroyed the old frame building. Since then they have been residing in Oskaloosa. The tavern was one of the historic show places in the county for many years.

Farmed Nearly 75 Years.

Mr. Mateer was active until ill health forced his retirement from farming in April, 1938. For some 70 years he personally tilled the soil and operated his farm. And when the day's work was done it was nothing for him to walk to town for a meeting with his G.A.R. comrades and many friends and then hike back home again.

When he was made a member of the Oskaloosa Knights of Pythias lodge during a district convention a couple of years ago he was one of the last to leave the hall. He was a rock-ribbed republican and had little sympathy for "new deal" farm programs and new-fangled farm ideas.

List of Survivors.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Eola Mateer; one son, A. E. Mateer of Oskaloosa; six daughters, Miss Ella Mateer, Mrs. Emma Carey and Miss Veda
Mateer of Seattle, Wash., Mrs. Martha Ross of San Diego, Calif., Mrs. Hallie Buckler of Sumner, Wash., and Mrs. Della Vanatta of Des Moines, Ia., and eight grandchildren, including Dwight Mateer of Oskaloosa and John Mateer of
Sigourney. Funeral announcement later.

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Oskaloosa Daily Herald, __ Jan 1940 [next issue after the one cited above]

MATEER -- Military funeral services for James Mateer, 98, Mahaska pioneer and one of the few Civil war veterans remaining in the county, who died at 4:30 o'clock Friday morning, January 5, 1040 [sic], after an illness of two years, will be held at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Wilcox-Garland chapel. Rev. George E. Purdy of the Grant Park Christian church at Des Moines will be in charge. Burial in Wymore cemetery.