Biography of John Matson, pages 628 / 629.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Matson, a son of Elijah Matson, was born near Rutland, Vt., Feb.3, 
1806, where he lived until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he 
went to Onondaga County, N.Y. In 1835 he came to Indiana and entered 160 
acres of wild land in De Kalb County, had a cabin built on section 30, 
Franklin Township, and the following year with his family moved there, 
reaching Hamilton Sept. 30, 1836.  He was very energetic and ambitious, 
working all day clearing his land of timber and preparing it for cultivation, 
after which he worked several hours each night at the carpenter’s trade, 
making doors and window frames for the new settlers, taking his pay in work 
on his land.  In this way he soon had 100 acres under cultivation.  He 
became a successful farmer, and owned, at the time of his death, a pleasant 
home and 213 acres of valuable land.  He was highly esteemed by all who knew 
him.  He was public spirited, and contributed liberally toward the advancement 
of any laudable enterprise.  He was a kind and obliging neighbor, and a 
benevolent and considerate friend of the poor.  He was married Sept. 10, 
1833, to Margaret Waterman, daughter of Elijah Waterman, and sister of Hon. 
Miles Waterman.  To them were born ten children---Cordelia, Alvin, Chloe, 
James, Lewis, Lydia, George and Ophelia.  Two died in infancy.  Cordelia 
married Chester Taft. And lives at Waterloo, Iowa.  Chloe married Alonzo 
Collin, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa and has two children-Ruth and Margaret.  James 
of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, married Frances Taylor and has two children---Lillian 
and Abbie.  Lewis, of Pleasant Lake, Ind., married Orcelia Clarke, and has 
four children---Clarke, James, Mabel and John.  Lydia married J.B. Albrook, 
of Iowa, and died in her twenty-seventh year, leaving one child---Luella.  
George married Matilda Ridge, and has one child---Merritt.  Ophelia married 
Merritt A. Goodell, of Iowa, and has four children----Willard, Alonzo, 
George and Edward.  Mr. Matson died Nov. 4, 1876.  Mrs. Matson lives with 
George on the homestead, and is one of the few old settlers of the county 
now living, and has witnessed all the varied changes which have brought 
the country from a wild state to one of advanced cultivation.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com