Samuel Nelson

Notes:

William Diven, John Mateer's father-in-law, "was born 3 November 1787 in a
small stone house which is still standing (1893) on the west bank of the
Susquehanna River, just south of the Cumberland Valley Railway bridge close to
the river. His father had charge of the ferry, was a stone mason by trade, and
is said to have built the second stone house in Harrisburg and the stone wall
enclosing Silver Springs Graveyard." William Diven's wife Rebecca, daughter of
Samuel and Mary (McMullen) Nelson, was born in Monaghan Township, York County,
Pennsylvania, 31 August 1789.
----------
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 78.

Samuel — Mary McMullen. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

William Diven, John Mateer's father-in-law, "was born 3 November 1787 in a
small stone house which is still standing (1893) on the west bank of the
Susquehanna River, just south of the Cumberland Valley Railway bridge close to
the river. His father had charge of the ferry, was a stone mason by trade, and
is said to have built the second stone house in Harrisburg and the stone wall
enclosing Silver Springs Graveyard." William Diven's wife Rebecca, daughter of
Samuel and Mary (McMullen) Nelson, was born in Monaghan Township, York County,
Pennsylvania, 31 August 1789.
----------
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 78.

Rebecca — William Diven. William was born 3 Nov 1787. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

William Diven, John Mateer's father-in-law, "was born 3 November 1787 in a
small stone house which is still standing (1893) on the west bank of the
Susquehanna River, just south of the Cumberland Valley Railway bridge close to
the river. His father had charge of the ferry, was a stone mason by trade, and
is said to have built the second stone house in Harrisburg and the stone wall
enclosing Silver Springs Graveyard." William Diven's wife Rebecca, daughter of
Samuel and Mary (McMullen) Nelson, was born in Monaghan Township, York County,
Pennsylvania, 31 August 1789.

On 1 April 1835 John Mateer Jr. and wife Mary, for $4259.13, conveyed to
Christian Musselman of Fairview Township, York County, Pennsylvania, a parcel
of land in Allen Township, Cumberland County 125 acres 43 perches, "neat
measure", bounded by property of John Mateer Sr., James Mateer, Henry Myers,
Henry Lonecker, Nancy McCue and Abraham Hensh. This tract in his lifetime and
at the time of his death property of William Mateer, grandfather of the present
grantor, passed by his will dated 23 July 1810 to his son William, father of
the present grantor; the second William died intestate and title to the land
passed by Orphans Court decree dated 10 November 1834 to the aforesaid John
Mateer, eldest son of the decedent. Musselman, the present grantee, agreed to
pay $2882.91 1/2 in cash, also annual interest on $1032.16, "her thirds" to
Rebecca Mateer widow her lifetime, and to post bond for the payment to William
Wise and Margarete Jane his wife, for $344.05.5 "their distributory share of
her father's estate." Witnesses: John Mateer, Andrew Mateer.

John and Mary (Diven) Mateer first went to housekeeping on a farm described as
the Clovermill property, located near Shiremanstown, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania. Their son, John Lowrie Mateer takes up the story there: "In the
spring of 1840 they sold the Clovermill property for $3000.00. They rented a
house in Dillsburg and lived there one year. During this year father bought a
farm in Adams County, two miles from Petersburg towards Gettysburg. They moved
onto this farm in the spring of 1841."

In 1850 this family was listed as living in Huntington Township, Adams County,
Pennsylvania.; John aged 42 was a farmer with real estate valued at $4500.
Other members of the family were Mary aged 34, Calvin aged 14, Jane aged 12,
William aged 7 and John aged two years.

Continuing with John L. Mateer's account, this Adams County farm "contained 120
acres with a good brick house and barn. Father paid $3000.00 for it. They
lived there until 1857 when they sold the farm for $6000.00 cash. Father went
at once to Mercer County Pennsylvania and bought from Samuel Park (mother's
cousin) for $6000.00 cash. This farm contains 209 acres and is located one
mile west of Pine Grove, now 'Grove City'. The family went out in the spring
of 1857 on the Pennsylvania Railway to Pittsburg, thence by stage. Father and
brother Will drove three hourses to a wagon loaded with household goods over
the mountain. In spring 1865 they sold this farm for $15,000.00 and removed to
Henry, Illinois.

In the summer of 1872 John Mateer moved again to Monmouth, Warren County,
Illinois; so that his younger children might have greater educational
opportunities at the college there.

Mr. Mateer was a devoted and upright Christian man, an Elder in the
presbyterian Church at Monmouth. He took special interest in foreign missions,
to which cause he gave two sons.

The will of John Mateer of the Town of Henry and County of Marshall, Illinois,
now the City of Monmouth, Illinois, "of the age of 65 years", written 13
January 1874, bequeathed to wife Mary N. Mateer, "that part of my estate which
the law provides"; to son Calvin W. Mateer and to Jennie Henderson, $500 each;
to son John Lowrie Mateer, $1000; to son Horace N. Mateer, $625; to son Robert
M. Mateer and to daughter Lillie E. Mateer, $500 each; also $150 to Nettie
Henderson my granddaughter; all of the balance of the estate to be divided
equally amongst seven children, namely, Calvin W., Jennie Henderson, William
D., John L., Robert M. Horace N. and Lillie E. Mateer; their mother his wife
Mary N. Mateer to be guardian for Horace N. and Lillie E. Mateer, minors.
Witnesses; J. R. W...ter, William F. Smith.

In the 1880 census of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, First Ward, Mary N. Mateer
aged 62 years was head of a household which included three of her children:
Robert M., minister aged 27, Horace N. aged 24 "at school", and Lillian E.,
teacher aged 22 years.
----------
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 78-79.

Mary married John Mateer 11 Mar 1835, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. John (son of William Mateer, Jr. and Rebecca Black) was born 17 Nov 1807, Allen Township, Cumberland, Pennsylvania; died 29 Jan 1875, Monmouth, Illinois; was buried Henry, Illinois. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Book written about Calvin:
"Calvin Wilson Mateer - A Biography" by David W. Fisher
"Forty Five Years a Missionary in Shantung, China"
Philadelphia, The Westminster Press, 1911

Within months of their marriage Calvin and Julia Mateer set sail for China and
more than twenty years of service to the cause of Missionary and Christian
Education which culminated in the establishment and recognition of Shantung
Christian University. Dr. Mateer was also active in the translation of
textbooks and was a principal editor of the revised Madarin Bible.

Julia Mateer shared in vaious teaching responsibilities, in the construction of
Chinese textbooks and was particularly successful in counselling students and
their families, in giving aid and comfort to the sick, and in conducting
religious classes for Chinese women.

As Ada Haven, the second Mrs. Mateer, came to China in 1879 to take charge of a
school for girls. During the Boxer Uprising, June to August 1900, she and some
thirty of her charges were among the foreigners and Christian Chinese who were
beseiged in the British Legation at Peking awaiting the arrival of American
Troops.

In addition to missionary work and teaching Ada Mateer was a fine linguist and
a pioneer in the development of a simplified set of Chinese characters, which
could be used for mass publication and general education.
----------
Reference:
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 110.

Calvin married Julia Ann Brown 30 Dec 1862, , Delaware, Ohio. Julia (daughter of Robert Brown and Hannah Cunningham) was born 6 Jul 1837, , Ohio; died 18 Feb 1898, Tengchow, China; was buried Chefoo, China. [Group Sheet]

Calvin married Ada Haven 25 Sep 1900, Chefoo, China. Ada (daughter of Joseph Haven and Mary Emerson) was born 19 Nov 1847, Brookline, Massachusetts; died 1 Aug 1936, Peking, China. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Jennie Mateer's first husband was a Presbyterian minister who had planned on
mission work in China, until he was prevented by health difficulties. Dr.
Kirkwood, her second husband, was a graduate of Indiana State University, a
physician who went to Wooster to practice medicine; he was also Professor of
Mathematics and Astronomy at Wooster College 1870-1901.

The 1880 census of Wooster, Ohio, lists Samuel J. Kirkwood aged 40 as head of a
household which included his daughter Agnes J. aged 9 and his son Samuel K.
aged 3, both born in Ohio, his parents William C. and Jane Kirkwood, both aged
76 and born in Maryland, as well as a housekeeper, Martha McDonald aged 30 born
in Ohio.

The will of Samuel Jabez Kirkwood of Wooster, Ohio, aged 60 years, written 12
February 1900, probated 8 July 1901, directed his Executors to spend up to $400
for a suitable monument in the Wooster Cemetery; bequeathed to wife Jane M.
Kirkwood, exclusive use and control of the residence in Wooster her lifetime,
then to daughter Agnes J. Armstrong and son Samuel K. Kirkwood in equal shares;
to daughter Agnes, the best set of walnut bedroom furniture "it being the set I
made for her when she was a little girl"; two other sets of walnut bedroom
furniture, one to wife Jane and one to son Samuel; to son Samuel, "my walnut
table and desk which I made for myself, the small water-color picture of his
mother's early home", Family Bible, watch and chains, ring and books; to
daughter Agnes, other books; to wife Jane, all unspecified household furniture,
horse, buggy and sleigh; all other property, including insurance, to be divided
equally between wife Jane, daughter Mrs. Agnes J. Armstrong and son Samuel K.
Kirkwood.

There were further provisional items: in case his daughter "should die before
my own decease and leave no surviving child or children," in case son "should
die before my own decease and leave no surviving wife or children;" any other
real estate besides the residence in Wooster to be sold by the executors, Jesse
McClellan and Elias Compton, both of Wooster. The will closes with the
exhortation, "I counsel and entreat all who are dear to me to live lives
devoted to the service of God, placing their whole reliance for their eternal
salvation on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, in whom is my only hope."
Witnesses: S. H. Boyd, J. G. Kester, both of Wooster, A codicil, dated 16
July 1900, directed that the proceeds of a policy with the Mutual Benifit Life
Insurance Company should be invested with the interest to the widow her
lifetime, then two-thirds of the principal sum to be divided equally between
the son and daughter, and the remaining third "divided equally between my
wife's three children of her own body." Witnesses to the codicil: Frank
Taggart, J. E. Applebaugh.
----------
Reference
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 110-111.

Jane married Samuel McFarren Henderson 22 Oct 1863, , Mercer, Pennsylvania. Samuel was born 24 Dec 1839, Ohio; died 2 Apr 1879, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Jane married Samuel Jabez Kirkwood 27 Jul 1882. Samuel (son of William Coulson Kirkwood and Jane Thompson) was born 29 Jan 1840, Woodsfield, Monroe, Ohio; died 24 Jun 1901, Wooster, Ohio. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In 1885 William D. Mateer was engaged in the hardware business in Onargo,
Illinois. In 1893 he was living in Carthage, Missouri. About 1900 he and his
family moved to california.
----------
Reference:
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 111.

William married Anna F. Hamaker 3 Dec 1867, Lacon, Illinois. Anna was born 6 Feb 1845; died 30 May 1919, Santa Ana, California. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Zechariah G. Stewart was born and reared at New Alexandria, Pennsylvania. He
studied medicine and settled to practice at Murrayville, where he was living in
1830 when he married Jane Laird. Dr. Stewart lived in Murraysville until 1857,
when he removed with his family to Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, to educate his
children. He died there in 1863 from typhoid fever contracted while acting as
a volunteer surgeon on the Gettysburg battlefield in the Civil War.

At the urging of his brother Calvin, John Lowrie Mateer studied printing,
lithographing and other publication processes in order to take charge of the
Presbyterian Press at Shanghai, China. He served in China from 1872 until his
health broke down in 1876. Then he returned to the States and bought a farm in
northwest Missouri.

After his marriage in 1879 John continued farming for about two years. From
1883 until 1885 he was in Front Royal, Virginia, where he engaged in the
manufacture of molasses "from sorghum by means of sulfurous acid." Then he
spent two years in Onargo, Illinois, in the hardware business with his brother
Will, and six years selling sewing machines in Burlington, Iowa. When his wife
died in 1893 after a long bout with consumption, John L. was himself just
recovering from typhoid fever. Weak, exhausted and miserably discouraged by a
succession of commercial misadventures, he was neverless firmly convinced "that
God had for me yet some special work to do for Him."

After a year spent in visiting family and friends across the country, John with
his second wife returned to China to take over the management of the American
Board Press in Peking, where he died just a few weeks before the Boxer
Rebellion.

During the sojourn in America between his two trips to China, John L. Mateer
had begun the collection of material for a Mateer genealogy. In a letter from
Peking, written 16 March 1900 to Major Will A. McTeer he says, "The
arrangements which I made before leaving home for printing the family history
were not carried out. We shall be going home in two years or less and then I
hope to do it." But he died less than six weeks after the date of this
writing.

No children.
----------
Reference:
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 112.

John married Jane Eliza Stewart 23 Dec 1879, Murraysville, Pennsylvania. Jane (daughter of Zechariah G. Stewart and Jane Laird) was born 25 Oct 1848; died 1 Apr 1893, Burlington, Iowa. [Group Sheet]

John married Mary La Rhue Sellers 14 Aug 1894, Beulah, Pueblo, Colorado. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Robert M. Mateer attended college at Monmouth, Illinois, before transferring to
Princeton, where he graduated from the University in 1878, and from the
Theological Seminary in 1881. That same year he went to China, where, except
for one brief furlough in the States for reasons of health, he spent the
remainder of his life as a missionary evangelist in southern Shantung province
based at Wei Hsien.

"Of the varied and eminently successful labors of Dr. Mateer, it is impossible
to do more than indicate briefly the apparently more important factors, such as
the founding of the Boys' High School at Wei Hsien; his efficient aid in
securing the funds for the Girls' High School ... together with his active
interest in promoting other forms of educational work for the women and girls
of this large field; his energy and zeal in devising plans for the support of
the Chinese pastorate ...; the founding of numerous churches, and his continual
efforts to secure pastors for them; his untiring efforts toward securing a
properly educated, competent Chinese ministry; ... and the establishment of The
Cities Evangelization Project ..., where some of the ablest Chinese in our
midst, the finest product of our education, secular and religious, have been
put in charge of extensive evangelistic and educational work, and given a free
hand in its development.

"Dr. Mateer was particularly loved and trusted by the Chinese ... between him
and them, lines east and west were obliterated - all were simply servants of
one Master ... His highest honor was the regard in which he was held by our
large body of Chinese pastors and church-workers."
----------
Reference:
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 112-113.

Robert married Sarah Archibald 29 Mar 1882. Sarah was born 6 Mar 1851; died 8 Apr 1886, Wei Hsien, China. [Group Sheet]

Robert married Madge Dickson 20 Jan 1891, , China. Madge was born 4 Apr 1860, Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania; died 12 Sep 1939, Tsingtao, China. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Horace N. Mateer graduated from Princeton College in 1877 and went on to get
his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1883. In 1884 he
moved to Wooster, Ohio, where he was engaged in private practice and was
instrumental in the founding of the town's hospital. In addition he was
professor and head of the department of Biological Science at Wooster College,
where he established the first pre-medical course in any American college.
----------
Reference:
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 113.

Horace married Elizabeth Orpha Gaston 25 Oct 1888, East Liverpool, Ohio. Elizabeth (daughter of George Gaston and Rachel Montgomery) was born 2 Mar 1866, East Liverpool, Ohio; died Oct 1961, Wooster, Ohio. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Lillian Mateer attended Hollidaysburg Seminary near Altoona Pennsylvania,
before she went with her brother Robert in 1881 as a missionary teacher to
China; she served at her brother Calvin's school in Tengchow until her marriage
to Mr. Walker, who was a Baptist missionary; in 1885 the failure of her
husband's health compelled their return to the United States. In 1893 she was
living in Kirksville, Missouri. Rev. W. S. Walker was living on 25 April 1942
when he officiated at the marriage of a granddaughter, Lillian Sherwood Walker,
to Benjamin Austin Ballard.
----------
Reference:
McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis
McTeer, 1975, p 114.

Lillian married William Stokes Walker 25 Nov 1897, , China. William was born 19 Nov 1858; died Aft 25 Apr 1942. [Group Sheet]