WI BIO - Dane Co - MASON, John Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 1893, Vol II, pp 631-632 John MASON, a farmer of section 28, Verona Township, has been a resident of Dane County ever since 1850. He was born at Lincolnshire, England, 28 Dec 1824, a son of Thomas and Mary (WILLERTON) MASON, both natives of that shire, the father a farmer. The subject's mother died in England. Their six children were: Thomas, who resided in the old country until his death; Elam is still living, in England; the next in order of birth is the subject of this sketch; Mahala, the next, married first Mr. LEE, and subsequently Mr. GRAY, and still resides in the old country, as also does Charlotte, the next, a music teacher. Their father emigrated to this country in 1852, settling in Middleton Township, Dane County, WI, where he died in 1860. Mr. MASON, whose name heads this sketch, learned the trade of miller in his native land, and in 1850 came to the U. S., locating in Dane County, WI. He first purchased 80 acres of land in that township, which he occupied until 1869, when he sold the place and moved to Verona Township, where he now lives. The present place was somewhat improved when he bought it, but he has added many other improvements, and made the farm a valuable one. He still devotes all his attention to farming, in which he has averaged good success. In his political views of matters in this country he is a Democrat. He has been active in political matters, having been delegate to county, district, and State conventions of his party. For seven years he was Chairman of his Township Board of Supervisors; has been Assessor ten years. He and his wife were brought up in the Protestant Episcopal Church, but are not members. He [John MASON] was married in March 1850, in Lincolnshire, England, to Miss Emily, daughter [p 632] of Robert and Hannah DAWSON, born 13 Mar 1832, in that country. She was the only member of the family to come to America. After marriage Mr. MASON first visited this country, to look at various localities with a view to settlement, first thinking of Ohio, but finally selecting the place mentioned in this county, and then returned to his wife. They have had eight children: Charlotte E., wife of M. A. DOYLE [see the Dane County, WI, biography of Michael A. DOYLE]; Agnes, who married William OGILBEE and died, in Verona Township [Dane County, WI], leaving five children; Victor E., a farmer in Verona Township; Emily Maud M., who married R. B. WEST; and Mahala A., a teacher in the public schools. The eldest child died in infancy, and Mary Ann died at he age of ten years. [Note there may be a semicolon missing in the original printed text between "Emily" and "Maud M.," as only seven children are mentioned.] Submitted by Cathy Kubly ======= WI BIO - Dane Co - MATTS, Peter W. Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 1893, Vol I, pp 150-152 Peter W. MATTS, one of the venerable pioneers of Dane County, WI, has been prominently identified with its history, and without him the history of Dane County would be incomplete. Peter W. MATTS was born in Bucks County, PA, 20 Jun 1814, son of John and Catherine (HOFFMAN) MATTS. His father was born in Philadelphia, PA, 16 Mar 1786, and is mother in Bucks County, PA, 07 Apr 1786. Grandfather John M. MATTS was born in Bavaria, Germany, where he grew to manhood and was married. He emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War, and was a resident of Philadelphia during that struggle. Being a cripple he was unable to serve in the army, but he made shot pouches, and his wife carried them on foot or horseback to the front and distributed them among the soldiers. After the war they settled on a piece of land in Bucks County, and engaged in the tanning of leather. He [John M. MATTS] died there [Bucks County, PA], 23 Sep 1813; his wife, 25 Nov 1825. Of their nine children, only two reached adult years: Sarah and John. The former was born 07 Nov 1781, became the wife of Jacob ANTHONY, and died in Northampton County, PA, leaving a large family. John MATTS, the father of our subject, worked in the tanyard with his father, carrying on an extensive business. In 1808 he married Catherine HOFFMAN, daughter of John and Margaret (MAYER) HOFFMAN, natives of Germany. Her father died 28 Nov 1838, aged eighty-two; her mother, 31 Aug 1834, aged seventy-six. After his marriage Mr. MATTS also carried on farming. He died 14 Jan 1875. His wife passed away in PA, 02 May 1887. They had ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, namely: (1) Maria, wife of Joseph ANTHONY, was born 05 Dec 1809, and died in KS in 1892; (2) Josiah H. B., born 07 Jun 1812, was a farmer and at the time of his death, in March 1882, was a resident of Verona Township, Dane County, WI; (3) Peter W, whose name heads this sketch [born 20 Jun 1814]; (4) Alexander J., born 03 Oct 1816, resides on a farm in Lehigh County, PA; (5) Elias, born 24 Jul 1818, lives on the old homestead that was settled by his grandfather; (6) Delia F., born 22 Oct 1820, married William SERVATUS, of Franklin County, KS; (7) John M., born 07 Aug 1822, lives in Oregon [Dane County], WI; (8) Nicholas M., born 16 Oct 1824, is a resident of Franklin County, KS; (9) Jackson F., born 02 Mar 1827, lives in Lehigh County, PA; (10) Catherine, born 28 Jun 1831, lives with her brother on the old homestead. The average age of the eight living children is over 70 years. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county [Bucks County, PA] and spent his early life working in the tannery and on the farm, receiving only a limited education in he country schools. At the age of eighteen he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of [p 151] carpenter and cabinet maker, and served two years. He then followed his trade in PA, NJ, and New York City. In 1837 business almost suspended on account of the panic, and he returned home. He did not remain long, however, for a desire to see the Western country brought him out to the frontier. He went by stage to Philadelphia, then by railroad to within eight miles of Harrisburg, by stage of Pittsburg[h], and thence down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, then only a small village. This was in the summer of 1837. From there he went on foot and alone to Indianapolis, IN, where he found business lively, and at once obtained employment at $2.50 per day. In 1838, in company with Elias STOUTHOVER and his wife, and two young men, with a four-horse team, he started for [the Territory of] Wisconsin, arriving in Madison [Dane County], in June. The old capital was then being erected and he worked on it two months. After that he again started out along and on foot, going to Galena [Jo Daviess County], IL, Dubuque [Dubuque County, IA], and Potosi [Grant County, Territory of Wisconsin], and returning to [the Territory of] Wisconsin and again locating in Madison. There he worked at his trade and also did contracting, continuing thus employed until 1846. That year he was elected Sheriff of Dane County. In 1848 he was again elected to the same office, and served efficiently in that capacity two terms, his first term being the last under the Territorial Government, and his last term, the first after Wisconsin was made a State [WI granted statehood 29 May 1848]. In 1848 he moved his family to the present site of Paoli [Dane County, WI], where he purchased a section of land from the Government and built a house. After leaving the sheriff's office he improved the water power at Paoli and built a saw mill and several houses, and also cultivated his land. He ran the saw mill until he sold the water power to B. M. Minch & Company, about 1867. In the meantime, in 1853, he was elected to the State Legislature, and served one term. As the years rolled by and the country became settled, he was one of the prominent factors in advancing he interests of this place. He platted Paoli on his land, and still owns nearly all the unimproved lots in the town. He finally sold his farm, with the exception of 40 acres. For a number of years he was Chairman of the Town Board. He has been serving a number of years as Justice of the Peace. On 04 Sep 1842, Mr. [Peter W.] MATTS married Helen R. DICKSON, who was born in Butternuts, Otsego County, NY, 07 Oct 1824. Her father, Thomas P. DICKSON, was born in Voluntown [New London County], CT, 01 Apr 1780, son of Thomas DICKSON, who was born in the same place, 27 Oct 1753, and died 13 Jan 1803. Thomas P. DICKSON was married three times. His first wife, nee Hanna OLMSTEAD, died in 1808, leaving two children: Anna, wife of David HYER, who died in Madison, [Dane County, Territory of] Wisconsin, in Sep 1843; and Hannah, who died at the age of 18. On 15 May 1809, Thomas P. DICKSON married Deborah RICHARDSON, who died 10 Mar 1825, leaving an only child [Helen R. DICKSON], the wife of Mr. [Peter W.] MATTS. The third wife of Thomas P. DICKSON was Esther RICHARDSON, whom he wedded 05 Feb 1827. She departed this life at Galesburg [Knox County], IL, in 1869. Mr. [Thomas P.] DICKSON died at Butternuts [Otsego County], NY, in 1829. The only child by his third marriage is David T., who came to Madison [Dane County], WI, when a small boy, and was "devil" in the first newspaper office in Madison, delivering the first papers there. This was in 1838. He is now a printer in Chicago [Cook County, IL]. Mr. and Mrs. [Peter W.] MATTS have had seven children: (1) Eugene W., born 15 Nov 1845, married Calista ANDREWS and lives in Paoli [Dane County, WI]; (2) Alvernon T., born 25 May 1848, died that same year; (3) Mary, born 22 Jun 1852, [p 152] married Edwin D. WOOD, and her death occurred in Paoli, 10 Nov 1878; (4) Ella, born 25 Mar 1855, died 05 Jan 1878; (5) Orville E., born 07 Jul 1857, resides at home; (6) Florence, born 04 Feb 1860, died 02 Oct 1886; and (7) Elmer D., born 01 Oct 1863, resides at Missoula [Missoula County], Montana, a lawyer by profession. After fifty years of happy married life, Mr. and Mrs. MATTS celebrated their golden wedding in 1892. They are not members of any church, but are believers in the faith of the Second [Seventh?] Adventists. Politically Mr. MATTS was a Whig in his early life. From 1854 until 1868, he was a Republican [that party formed in 1854], then he was independent of party for a while, and since 1876 has voted with the People's party. Submitted by Cathy Kubly