Moses Matter is an early settler and well-to-do farmer of Buckeye Township. He was born in Dauphin County, Pa., Dec. 13, 1823. His father, Isaac Matter, came from the same county, and his father, John Matter, was born in Germany. Their ancestors were all farmers. The grandfather spent the rest of his life after coming to America in Dauphin County. The father of the subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, but when he grew to be a young man he learned the trade of a tailor, but after his marriage bought a farm in Dauphin County, which he worked until 1833, when he sold it and moved to Jefferson County, buying a farm there which he occupied until 1845. He then sold that farm and started for Illinois, accompanied by his wife and ten children. He started on the trip in the way common to those times, with a pair of horses and a wagon, camping out by the way. At Red Bank he loaded his household goods on a raft, and the family kept on with the wagon to Mt. Mahonen, where they embarked on a steamer on the Alleghany River and went by boat on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Savanna, making the rest of the way by team to Freeport.
Mr. Matter first located in Buckeye Township, where he rented a house, and while his family lived there he hunted a place that would suit him and bought a farm on section 18. The land consisted of forty acres improved, but there was no house on it. He proceeded at once to build a house and moved his family there, where he resided until his death, which occurred on the 23d of July, 1866. Mr. Matter was twice married; the maiden name of his first wife was M. M. Umhols, and she resided in Dauphin County. She died about 1825. The maiden name of his second wife was Hannah Lanker, and she died June 8, 1884.
Our subject grew to manhood in Pennsylvania on a farm, where he acquired the rugged traits of character which distinguished him through life. After coming to this county he made his home with his parents, and commenced life here by working by the day and month. He first received $9 per month. Saving up his money he bought some land of his father, at $3.50 per acre. He has been farming for himself ever since, and now owns about 500 acres of land, all in Buckeye Township. He has erected good and substantial buildings and planted a large number of fruit and shade trees. On the 24th of April, 1856, he was married to Maria Duth in Lehigh County, Pa. They have had ten children: Charles A., born in Dakota Township; Alice married J. W. Ressman, now dead; Anna M. is the wife of Peter Rubendall, and resides in Nebraska; Nora, John W., Jennie, Edward, Stephen H., Lewis and Lloyd, are at home. Mr. Matter is a self-made man, and has accomplished the ends he has reached under adverse circumstances. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. His father was a Class-Leader in the church for many years. Mr. Matter gives his allegiance to the Republican party.
Contributed by Karen Hammer
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Illinois Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1888
