John Mateer

b 13 Mar 1797, , Rockbridge, Virginia
d 13 May 1897, Oskaloosa, , Iowa

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John Mateer
\|Susan Roberts
\|m 1835
\|, Ripley, Indiana	\|

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Children

1		Elizabeth Mateer
2	<	William Mateer
3	<	Christopher C. Mateer
4	<	James Mateer
5	<	Samuel Mateer
6		George W. Mateer
7		John H. Mateer
8		Mary A. Mateer
9		Nancy Isabella Mateer

Notes

John Mateer 'was reared to manhood by his grandparents, receiving such education as the common schools of that day afforded. He removed (from Rockbridge Co., Va.) to Ripley Co., Indiana, in the year 1828, and in 1835 was married to Miss Susan Roberts of that county. ... In the fall of 1848 they came to Mahaska Co., locating in Adams Township, of which they were among the earliest settlers. He purchased a clam on which there was a little breaking done, and upon which a small cabin, 15x12 feet, had been erected, into which he moved his family until he could build a more substantial and suitable home. The country was at that time wild and very sparsely settled, and their nearest neighbors were miles away. Their trading-point was Oskaloosa, which at that time contained but one general store.

'Mr. Mateer came to the county a very poor man, but by industry and economy has accumulated considerable property. He removed to this city [Oskaloosa] in 1882, and is living a retired life. ... [He] had two sons in the late Civil War, who enlisted in the 40ths Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war, doing every duty imposed upon them in a most credible manner. Their regiment was under the command of General Steele and participated in many of the prominent battles of the Valley of the Mississippi.'

The 1840 census of Ripley Co., Ind., lists John Mateer aged 40-50 years as a resident in Johnson Twp.; He was engaged in agriculture; his wife was then aged 30-40 years, and there were three children under five years, two boys and a girl. This family does not appear in the 1850 census in either Ripley Co., Indiana, or Mahaska Co., Iowa. In the 1860 census of Adams Twp., Mahaska Co. 'Joseph' Mateer aged 65, born in Virginia, was listed with wife Susan and all the children mentioned hereafter.

The will of John Mateer of Mahaska Co., Iowa, written 21 Aug. 1880, probated 5 Oct. 1897, bequethed to his wife Susan Mateer, one third in value of the whole estate; to William H. Ankenny, $5.00; the remainder equally to his children except that $150 should be deducted from the share of son Christopher C. Mateer in consideration of money already given to said son. Executors: James Mateer (son) and James S. Roberts, both of Mahaska Co. Witnesses: B. C. McClain, F. M. Davenport.

On 5 Oct. 1897 James Mateer and John H. Mateer were appointed Executors of John Mateer's estate, with William Mateer and C. C. Mateer as sureties. The real estate included 180 acres located partly in Sec. 27 Twp. 76 Range 15 and partly in Sec. 2 Twp, 75 Range 15 in Mahaska Co. The heirs were listed as William Mateer, son aged 58; Christopher C. Mateer, son aged 56; James Mateer, son aged 54, George W. Mateer, son aged 50, John H. Mateer, son aged 48, and two children of Samuel Mateer deceased, namely Nellie Mateer aged 18 and Albert Mateer aged 15.

Source: McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis McTeer, 1975, p 192.

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