Daniel D. Matter, blacksmith and farmer, Washington Township, was born in the house in which he now lives, in Washington Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 11 February 1852.
Michael Matter, the grandfather, was born in Mifflin Township, now Washington Township, 29 March 1791, the name of whos efather is not known, and he was the first to come into the Lykens Valley. The grandfather was reared a farmer boy and followed farming as his occupation. He was first married, 29 September 1814, to Annie Catherine Cooper, who died in 1824, aged thirty-six years and by whom he had six children:
David Matter;
Christopher Matter;
Ann Matter;
Margaret Matter;
Levi Matter; and
Christiana Matter.
He was married the second time, 29 March 1825, to Margaret Keener, daughter of Philip Keener. Their children are:
Catherine Ann Matter;
Charles Matter;
James Matter;
Martin Matter;
Sarah Matter;
Conrad Matter;
Elizabeth Matter;
Reuben Matter;
Lavina Matter;
Lewis Matter; and
Mary Matter.
His second wife died 7 May 1854. She was previously married to John Herman, by whom she had five children. She was the mother of seventeen children!
Levi Matter, the father of Daniel D. Matter, was born in Mifflin Township, now Washington Township, 24 November 1820, and received his education in subscription schools, the tuition being two cents per day. He was reared on the farm. His father dying when he was about sixteen years old, he farmed the home place for two years, and at the age of eighteen years he became an apprentice at the blacksmith trade in his native township, with George Stabler, and afterwards followed this occupation. In 1885, he sold the old home farm to his son Levi Matter, and moved to another farm, where he died 6 December 1895. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and is buried in the cemetery. His wife Esther [Dubendorf] Matter still survives. She was born in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, 16 November 1841, and is a daughter of Samuel Dubendorf. Her children are:
Emma Jane Matter, born 12 February 1844, Mrs. John Emerson, of Clinton County, near Lock Haven;
Elizabeth Matter, wife of Jacob H. Jury, of Washington Township;
Amos Matter, died aged seventy-eight years;
Daniel D. Matter;
Sarah Ellen Matter, wife of Amos L. Koppenhaver, Harrisburg.
Daniel D. Matter attended school in his native place from the age of six years until he was eighteen years of age, working on the home farm during the summer months. He then served a three year apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade after which he was for two years in partnership with his father, and then bought the shop of his father and began business for himself which he continued up to April 1896, when he turned his attention to farming. He is the owner of the old home farm, having purchased it from his father in 1885, and now it consists of thirty-seven acres. He was married in Washington Township, 29 November 1873, to Miss Emma Susan Lask, who was born in Mifflin Township, 15 October 1856, and is a daughter of Daniel Lask and Susan [Hoy] Lask. Their children are:
Carrie Minerva Matter, born 2 September 1874;
Maggie Irena Matter, born 10 February 1877;
Aaron Franklin Matter, born 13 December 1878;
Warren Lask Matter, born 9 February 1886.
Mr. Daniel D. Matter has interested himself in the success of the Republican party and has served as township supervisor for one term. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon for three years, and as an elder for two years.
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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 #25617979. Daniel D. Matter died on 15 January 1934. He is buried at the St. John (Hill) Church Cemetery, Mifflin Township [Berrysburg], Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.