Mathewson, Clarence L. (1879 - 1958), Clark County, Wisconsin History

Clarence L. Mathewson, 79, was placed in his final resting place at Riverside Cemetery when services were conducted last Saturday. Rev. Ralph Claybaugh, pastor of the First Congregational Church, Owen, officiated at funeral services conducted from the Hoeper and Kraut Funeral Home at two o’clock. During the service Mrs. Donald Marshall sang "Abide with Me" and "In the Cross." She was accompanied at the organ by Mrs. P. Christophersen.

Serving as pallbearers were Adolph Czeschinski, Carl Riber, James Crowley, Glen Tieman, Harold Wendt and Clarence Strohkirch. In charge of the floral tributes were Mrs. Orland Woodbeck, Mrs. Glen Tieman, Mrs. Adolph Czeschinski and Mrs. Clarence Strohkirch.

Clarence Mathewson was born Aug. 12, 1879 at Stanley, Wis., being the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jule Mathewson. He attained his schooling in the public school system in that city and after graduating continued his education by attending college.

On the 10^th of February 1903 he was united in marriage to Margaret Bacon who preceded him in death, having passed away in 1953.

He had been a resident of this city (Owen, Clark Co., Wis.) for 46 years. In 1953 he retired and for the past 15 years had suffered from a heart condition. He succumbed to a heart attack, being taken ill at his home Wednesday evening of last week, and then passed away while enroute to the hospital at Marshfield in the city ambulance, early Thursday morning.

In recalling his active background and early life one finds that her served as a telegrapher for years on the Wis. Central Railway, taught school and learned the carpenter trade. Later he joined the staff of the John S. Owen Lumber Co., whom he served for 25 years. He also served as surveyor of Clark County for several terms, as well as city assessor.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Owen, having a membership in that organization for the past 35 years. Friends of Clarence will always remember him as being one of the community’s most rabid baseball fans and supporter when baseball was enjoying it heyday in this area.

Surviving are two sons, Kenneth and Donald, both of Owen; two daughters, Mrs. E.F. (Merna) Sullivan, Sheffield, Iowa, and Mrs. Celand (Lois) Melbinger, Owen; 12 grandchildren; one brother, Walter, Duluth, Minn.; three sisters, Mrs. Charles (Kit) Kohlke, Long Beach, Calif., Mrs. Fred (Vernie) Jenkins, Chippewa Falls,a nd Mrs. Simon (Grace) Haug, Eau Claire.

Out of town persons who attended the rites included Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Sullivan and family, Sheffield, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. S. Haug and Mr. and Mrs. R. Bacon and son, Eau Claire; Mrs. Fred Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. M. Lavine and Mr. and Mrs. R. Kuehnast, Chippewa Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mathewson, Duluth, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. E. Neitz and Mrs. Carl Brolin, Beloit.

Walter Mathewson's death certificate told that he was born at Greenwood in 1895, and shortly after moved to Stanley where Julius and Alice Mathewson raised their family. Over the years I looked everywhere possible to find where they lived, reading microfilm of all newspapers of that time, but never found any mention of them. I now have found that they may have farmed in Longwood twp at that time.

My grandfather Clarence Mathewson was born at Blair in Sept 1879, and the following spring the family moved to the Dakota territory. We don't know how long they stayed, but were there just in time to be listed in the 1880 census. Walter's birth is our only clue for their return to Wisconsin. The Mathewsons were pioneers of Stanley listed in census and the local history there shortly after that date.

Clarence, his wife Maggie Bacon, his boys Kenneth and Donald, and Maggie's parents Christian and Mary Bacon moved to Owen from Trempealeau in 1841, purchasing a farm exactly one mile south of Owen. Clarence, known by Mr Owen from earlier days at Jump River was offered the job of clerk in the company office where he worked until the mill closed. From that time on, he served as the Clark county surveyor until he could no longer do so. My own childhood memories are sitting at my grandpa's big dining room table while he worked on making maps.

At the time that my dad, Kenneth graduated from the Owen HS in 1925, he was offered an athletic scholarship to Lawrence college. This was in the depth of the depression and he refused it to go to work as a bookkeeper at the lumber office with his father in order to help support the family. In later years, Kenneth served as one of the two Clark county traffic officers during WWII, and later was a businessman in Owen as well as serving as City clerk, alderman, and Mayor for several terms.

I've been a full time genealogist for decades now and have taken the Mathewsons back in all directions to the immigrants in over 250 lines as far back as 1620. As I've always done all of my work from home, my great weakness has always been with land records. I have the plat map on your site showing the Mathewson/Bacon farm south of Owen in Longwood township. Plat maps have been my only documentation for where they all lived since they moved from New York in 1845 and 1853 to the Wisconsin territory.

Now that I've told you far more than you ever would want to know, please tell me if there might exist a plat map for Longwood twp around 1895. I suspect that the Greenwood reference was that it was the closest town or post office at that time.

I would be most grateful to hear from you.

Carol Mathewson Moore, vgmpaint@aol.com

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