Moses Matter a successful farmer and stock-raiser on section 11, Dakota Township, is the owner of 110 acres of land, which he has well improved with fences and buildings, including a fine residence. He purchased his home in 1888, having farmed it as a renter, for the eleven years preceding. He is known by all his neighbors as a skillful manager. Mr. Matter was born in Northumberland County, Pa., on the 26th of February, 1840. He came with his parents to this State in 1855, and resided with them until his marriage. He is the son of William Matter, an old and respected citizen of the township of Dakota, who came here with his family at the date named above, and yet resides on the farm he located at that time. William was the son of John Matter, a native of Dauphin County, Pa., and it was there his son, the father of our subject, and the youngest of twelve children, was born Dec. 8, 1809. His father was a farmer, and lived and died in Dauphin County. He married Elizabeth Rumberger, also born and reared in Pennsylvania. The family on both sides were of German descent. The father at the time of his death was seventy-three years of age, and tlie mother ninety-two years of age when she died. In religion the mother was a member of the United Brethren Church, and the father was a Methodist. William Matter was a tailor by trade; he was married in Dauphin County, Pa., to Lena Troutman, who was born in Northumberland County, Pa., and was there reared and educated. She came of Pennsylvania German parentage, descendants of Jacob and Mary (Williams) Troutman. They were Northumberland County farmers. She became the mother of eleven children—Elizabeth, Moses, Jonathan, Leo, Susanna, Conrad, Gideon, Sarah, James; Mary and Amos, deceased; Amos and Moses,were twins. The surviving children are all married. After marriage, Mr. Matter lived in Dauphin and Northumberland Counties until 1855, when he went to Illinois, located in Buckeye Township, and later, going to Dakota Township, he purchased eighty acres of land on section 23, where he at present resides. Mr. M. is a member of the Evangelical Church, and politically, is a Republican.
Moses Matter, whose genealogy has been traced back three generations, can point with pardonable pride to the record. On Dec. 8, 1867, he was married to Sarah Fehr, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1844. She is the daughter of Peter B. and Lesetta (Reich) Fehr, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Her parents came to this State sometime in the forties, and settled on a farm in Dakota Township, and here the father farmed until his death in 1878. The mother is living with her daughter, Mrs. Matter; she is seventy-eight years of age. Moses and Sarah Matter are the parents of two children, 0. C. and Laura. The parents are members of the Evangelical Church. In politics Mr Matter is a Republican, and is now serving his second term as Commissioner of Highways.
Contributed by Roger Cramer
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Illinois Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1888
