Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 630
PROF. C. C. MATTER

Among the names which should ever be preserved in the annals of Harrison county, Iowa � especially in the vicinity of Woodbine is that of Prof. C. C. MATTER, who was one of the three gentlemen who founded the Woodbine Normal School.

Professor MATTER, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elias MATTER, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1849, and died at Le Mars, Iowa, Tuesday, March 26, 1895, of apoplexy.

C. C. MATTER obtained a good education, beginning with public common schools of his native state, later attending the Iowa State University, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, the agricultural college at Ames, and several business colleges in the west, including St. Joseph, Missouri. He received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. He was one of Iowa's most thorough educators. He came to Iowa in 1865 with his parents, the family locating at Blairstown, and there he remained until his coming to Harrison county in 1875, he then being about twenty-six years of age. He taught in the public schools here and in 1878 was promoted to the principalship of the Woodbine schools, which position he held with credit and great efficiency until the founding of the Woodbine Normal School in 1887. He held such position by virtue of his exceptional fine educational qualifications. Before teaching in Woodbine, he had taught the schools in Bigler's Grove, in Clay township, the spring and fall terms at the Patton school in Magnolia township, taking charge of the schools at Woodbine during the winter of 1876-77. He taught there until the spring of 1879, when he removed to a prairie farm in Carroll county, near the town of Glidden, where he lived one year and returned to Woodbine in the summer of 1880 and taught constantly until the founding of the Woodbine Normal School, which was effected by himself, and Professors Kinney and Riddell. Professor MATTER remained in this institution until the summer of 1891, when he withdrew and moved to Wisner, Nebraska, where he was principal of the public schools. On account of ill-health he resigned from his school duties and in 1892 he resumed his work at Pender, Nebraska, where he continued until the month of June, 1894, then removed to Le Mars, Iowa, where he became proprietor of the Le Mars Normal School and Business College, which he had worked in season and out of season to build up into a strong educational institution of the northwestern part of Iowa. He was suddenly called from earth's shining circle, to try the realities of another sphere. The able management of the two normals which he had the honor to aid in organizing he left on a solid basis, and many are the alumni of both schools that have gone forth fully equipped for the duties in the great battle of life, and who ever hold his name in grateful remembrance. They are today filling places of trust and honor by virtue of the training and sound personal advice given them by Professor MATTER, who ever took a lively interest in the welfare of all of his students.

At the funeral of Professor MATTER, which took place at Woodbine, the deceased's standing in the county was evidenced by the long procession of old and young that accompanied his remains from the railway station to the Methodist church and cemetery. The deceased educator was also honored by a large delegation of Masonic brothers from Le Mars and Missouri Valley, that order having special charge of the funeral services. To have known and to have been associated with this truly excellent man was but forever to remember his name as among the best of early-day citizens really a good and just man.

In his youth Professor MATTER was a member of the Evangelical church, but during the last dozen or more years of his earthly career he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal church. He also was an honored member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen fraternities.

Professor MATTER was married in November, 1878, to Mary Jannette SELLECK, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David SELLECK, pioneers of Boyer township. To this union were born three children, Lloyd S., Tena L. (Mrs. H. A. FARNSWORTH) and a daughter who died in infancy. The son and daughter who survived the father now reside near Woodbine in homes of their own, while the mother is now the wife of Will L. Clark, of Woodbine.

It was said of the deceased educator, at his death: He was a man of generous deeds, thoughtful actions and noble impulses. Though of a masterful spirit, by the strength and breadth of brain power, he was ever thoughtful of the weakest person whom he could cheer. His dealings with his students were ever marked by impartial kindness.

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