BIOGRAPHY: Melissa J. Matteson, Cayuga co., New York transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com) ========================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm ========================================================= BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK BOSTON BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 1894 MRS. MELISSA J. MATTESON is the eldest daughter of a large and eminent family of Cayuga County, and her many interests in different localities have made her well known and much respected, not only in Sennett, but also in many places far beyond the limits of her native town. Mrs. Matteson is the daughter of Moses Moreland and the grand-daughter of Stephen Moreland. The grandfather was born in 1766, and his "wife, Sally Marsh, in 1771, both being natives of New Jersey, from which State they moved about 1795 to Ballston, Saratoga County, N.Y. In 1802 they moved to Scipio, and kept a public house where Bolts Corner now is, and ten years later went to Auburn, residing there until the death of Mrs. Moreland, March 18, 1833, when Mr. Moreland went to live with his son Moses in Sennett. Stephen Moreland died August 22, 1848, leaving seven children, of whom Moses was the eldest. Moses Moreland was born November 13, 1800, and remained with his parents until he was thirty years old. There is a tradition which says that he was not very fond of school, and was a frequent truant, so that at an early age he gave up his books, and became apprentice to a carpenter and joiner. This trade being quite to his taste, he was very successful, and was engaged with Clark Camp, of Auburn, in building and repairing mills, which connection gained for him a reputation as a millwright and secured for him work in various parts of the State. He built a sawmill on his own farm, and engaged in several other enterprises, carrying on his farming at the same time. His was a life of hard and energetic labor, and few men can look back upon such a varied and successful career. Mrs. Moses Moreland was Nancy Putnam, daughter of Lewis and Nancy (Wilson) Putnam, of the town of Brutus. Her father was a native of Vermont, and settled in Brutus in 1804, having previously (in 1794) married Nancy Wilson at Salem, town of Hebron, Washington County, N.Y. He was formerly a wool-carder and cloth-dresser; but, after coming to Brutus, he carried on a milling business, together with farming. He was a Justice of the Peace for twenty years and a prominent man in all town affairs. The numerous family of Putnams now living in Brutus are descended from him. Thus is indicated the honorable line through which the children of Moses and Nancy Moreland have descended. Mr. More-land died September 4, 1884, aged eighty-four years; and his wife died in 1893, aged eighty-three. They had eight children, six of whom are now living, as follows: Melissa, who is the subject of this sketch; Lewis P., born July 9, 1832, married Harriet Daniels of Skaneateles, N.Y., and his children are Willis, Norah, and Lester. He resides in Mottville, Onondaga County, and is engaged in the manufacture of chairs. Ann E., born November 21, 1834, married Willard Daniels, of Skaneateles, in November, 1856, and has one daughter, Alice. Parley W., born October 14, 1836, is a carpenter by trade, and lives in the native town of his wife, Aurelia Clapp, of Skaneateles, whom he married November 29, i860; and his children are Jay, May, Gray. Nancy A., born April 26, 1841, died March 24, 1842. Theodore M. was born March 10, 1844. Alfred J. was born May 13, 1846. Lester E. was born October 22, 1848, and died January 6, 1852. Melissa J. Moreland was born December 1, 1830; and her young days were spent in assisting her mother in the care of the dairy and in the many duties which come to a woman on a farm. She attended the school of the district, and being bright and energetic easily gained a reputation for good scholarship. At twenty-one she was married, March 18, 1851, to Robert Matteson, of Sennett. Soon after their marriage they removed to Iowa, and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. They had but one child, a son, Frank L. Matteson, who married Nellie Scott, of Bremer County, Iowa, and has one child, Jennie. Mr. Frank L. Matteson is now living in Spokane, Wash., where he is engaged in a store. Mr. Robert Matteson died in 1882 at the age of sixty-two; and Mrs. Matteson then left her Western home, and came East to the old homestead in Sennett to be with her two brothers, Theodore and Alfred. These gentlemen were never separated from their father until his death; and then they purchased the interest of the other heirs, and have lived on in the old home, carrying on the farm together. In 1893 their most valuable barn was struck by lightning; but they immediately rebuilt, although the loss was not less than fifteen hundred dollars. These gentlemen are not married, and Mrs. Matteson has kept house for them ever since the death of her husband. The family are all members of the Universalist church of Mottville. Moses Moreland was a member of the early Whig party, and afterward became a Democrat, although he made it a point to vote for the best man, regardless of the party to which he belonged; and in politics, as in other things, the sons followed the example of the father. Mrs. Matteson is justly proud of being the eldest of a family so respected and honored as that which bears the name of Moreland. She is always ready with efficient help in all cases of sickness and trouble, and her broad experience has made her advice much sought after at all times.