Joseph W. Van Matre is one of the well-known family of that name, whose biographical sketches appear so numerously in the history of this county. He is the son of L. D. Van Matre, and was born Oct. 8, 1838, in the township in which he at present resides. He lived with his parents until twenty years of age, helped till the farm, attended the district school, and obtained his education by observation, and by reading good books and papers. In the spring of 1859, carried away by a spirit of restlessness he started for Pike's Peak, but only reached Ft. Des Moines, Iowa. Remaining there for awhile, he returned to this State, and worked by the day until the spring of 1860. He then entered the store of Squire Hartsough, where he was employed as a merchant's clerk for one year.

After severing his connection with Mr. Hartsough our subject farmed one year on his father's place and then moved to the property across the road, where he rented a farm and staid until the spring of 1865. During this year he enlisted in the 46th Illinois Regiment, but the war was at an end, and the Government not needing his services he returned home, and after a year of doing odd jobs moved on the farm which he now occupies. He bought at first one-half of his farm, and several years later purchased the remainder, now owning all together 182 acres of land, all under cultivation except ten acres, which are in timber.

Mr. Van Matre has filled some of the local offices of the township, and politically, is a Democrat. He was married on his birthday anniversary, Oct. 8, 1858, to Miss Sarah Williams, daughter of George Williams, a native of New York. This lady died in the second year of her marriage, soon after the birth of her only child, George W., who is now living in New York City. He was married for the second time in 1860, to Samantha J. Arledge, daughter of William Arledge, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Van Matre was born in Highland County, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1843. Her father had been a teacher all his life, mostly in district and village schools.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Van Matre are: Dora B., who has become Mrs. Bowen; Lewis D.; Thomas J., who died Sept. 10, 1887; Emma R., Fred N. and Joseph C., who all reside at home. The family belong to the Christian Church. It is a fine home where the family live, as appears from the excellent lithographic view elsewhere given, and it is endeared to them by many ties of tender interest and memory. Mr. Van Matre and family are highly respected in the community where they reside.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 657