Charles T. Mattis, farmer and miller, was born in Mifflin Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 21 April 1943. He is a son of Isaac Mattis and Sally [Troutman] Mattis. John Mattis, his grandfather, was the son of Christian Mattis, who had one brother that died.
John Mattis was born in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated and became a farmer. He served during the War of 1812. His first wife was Katy Swenk, who died in 1816. Their children were:
Daniel Mattis, a plasterer, died in Montgomery County;
Aaron Mattis, died in Mifflin Township, a sketch of his life appears in connection with that of Abram Mattis….
Mary Mattis, married John T. Miller, both died in Montgomery County;
Christian Mattis; and
Susan Mattis, died in girlhood.
Mr. John Mattis was again married to Kate Barley, widow of a Mr. Renhardt. She lived to the age of seventy-three. The children of this marriage are:
Hannah Mattis, married Jacob Barley, both died in Berks County, Pennsylvania;
Sarah Mattis, died in Montgomery County, wife of a Mr. Jones;
John B. Mattis, died in Tower City, Pennsylvania;
Kitty Mattis, married and resides in Kansas.
Mr. John Mattis died in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, about 1833, aged fifty-six.
Isaac Mattis, father of Charles T. Mattis, was born in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 July 1814. He attended the subscription schools of his native township a part of each year until he was seventeen years old when his father died. After that he attended a school taught by George Gross for one term. He worked out among the farmers, receiving $6 per months for his services. At the age of seventeen he became apprentice to a plasterer, and served two years, when, being dissatisfied with his earnings he dropped that trade, and drove a huckster team to Philadelphia. He made and saved a little money in this business, and was enable to start for himself. He then came to Dauphin County with his brother Aaron and for two years drove a huckster wagon to Pottsville, after which he bought a tavern of John Saltzer, which he owned and managed for thirteen years very successfully. During this time he was also engaged in the cattle trade, buying and driving to Montgomery County. At the end of thirteen years Mr. Mattis sold the tavern and bought a farm of one hundred acres and a grist mill, and worked both farm and mill. He hired a miller until his son had learned the business and was fully competent to manage the mill, the young man being then nineteen years old. In 1883, Mr. Mattis retired from business and removed to Elizabethville, where, in 1882, he had built the residence which he now occupies.
Isaac Mattis was married, in Mahantongo, Pennsylvania, in December 1842, to Miss Sallie Troutman, daughter of Peter Troutman. Their children are:
Charles T. Mattis, miller;
Mary Jane Mattis, deceased, wife of Henry Schreffler;
Ellen Mattis, wife of Jonas Swab, Elizabethville;
John Mattis, farmer;
Alice Mattis, wife of William Deibler, Berrysburg, Pennsylvania;
Etta Mattis, at home; and
Katie Mattis, at home.
Mr. Isaac Mattis is Democratic in his political principles. He has served as school director and in other offices. His church membership is in the Lutheran denomination.
Charles T. Mattis was in the common schools until he was eight years old, when his parents removed to Washington Township, where his education was completed. At the age of nineteen, he had learned the business of a miller with John Klinger, who was in charge of his father’s mill. His father then installed Charles T. Mattis as head miller and put that branch of the business under his management; he has ever since continued in charge of the mill. He also owns good farming lands in Washington Township and Mifflin Township and is much interested in agricultural matters.
Charles T. Mattis was first married, 11 December 1869, to Miss Mary Magdalena Romberger, daughter of Benjamin Romberger. They had three children:
Sally A. Mattis;
Carrie E. Mattis, deceased; and a
Boy who died in infancy.
Mrs. Mary Magdalena [Romberger] Mattis died 3 October 1877. Mr. Charles T. Mattis was again married 24 November 1878, to Miss Mary Jane Sheetz, daughter of Simon Sheetz. They have six children:
Dora Day Mattis, born 23 November 1879, at home;
Charles Warren Mattis, born 20 January 1882, at home;
Isaac Blair Mattis, born 22 December 1886;
Mary Mattis, born 8 January 1889;
Annie M. Mattis, twin, born 28 August 1895; and
Ella Marie Mattis, twin, born 28 August 1895.
Mr. Charles T. Mattis is a Democrat. He has served for many years as school director and also as auditor many years, and as judge of elections. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has been deacon and elder for many years and is assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is an upright man, honorable in all business relations, and genial and agreeable in social intercourse.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
See also:
Findagrave Memorial #91136768. Charles Theodore Mattis died on 3 October 1917 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Elizabethville.