BIO: Charles Oliver MATTERN, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 553 & 554.
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  CHARLES OLIVER MATTERN, a prosperous farmer and dairyman, residing on his well 
improved farm of ninety-five acres, situated in Decatur Township, Clearfield 
County, Pa., was born on the old homestead farm on which his father still 
resides, in Decatur Township, July 30, 1872, and is a son of George Perry Greene 
and Angeline (Conrad) Mattern, and a grandson of Samuel Mattern.
  Samuel Mattern was born and lived out his life on Spruce Creek, Huntingdon 
County, Pa., where the family can be traced back for 185 years and a farm there 
has been in the possession of the Mattern family for 125 years.  The Matterns 
are of German and Swiss descent.  Samuel Mattern was a hatter by trade, was also 
a merchant and, in association with his son, operated woolen mills.  He married 
Mary Elizabeth King, who lived to the age of ninety-six years, while his life 
span was eighty years.  They had seven children, namely:  John W., who is now 
deceased, was a lawyer in Huntingdon County; William, who is deceased, lived for 
a time in Clearfield County but subsequently returned to Huntingdon County;  
George Perry Greene; Catherine, who now lives on Coal Run in Decatur Township, 
was married first to George Tate and second to John R. Martin; Eliza Jane who 
spent her life on the old homestead; one who died young in Spruce Creek; and 
Mary Ann, who is the wife of Jeremiah Mattern and they live at Gaysport, Blair 
County, Pa.
  George Perry Greene Mattern was born August 6, 1826, on the old family 
homestead in Huntingdon County and when he grew old enough he learned the 
hatter's trade and the woolen manufacturing business with his father.  In 1855, 
with his brother William he came to Clearfield County where they took up land 
which was valuable on account of its coal deposits, but they were not able to 
pay for it and William then went back to Huntingdon County and the younger 
brother moved to a wild tract in Decatur Township, which was then covered with a 
heavy growth of timber.  There was an old abandoned church building on the place 
which Mr. Mattern converted into a residence and he set about clearing his two 
and one-half acres as speedily as possible.  Through his persevering industry he 
prospered and as he gradually added to his land from time to time he became 
possessed of a farm aggregating 200 acres.  He married Angeline Conrad, who was 
of German extraction and was born December 2, 1834, in Huntingdon County.  Her 
parents were John and Mary Ann (Stonebreaker) Conrad, the former of whom, a 
shoemaker by trade, made his home at Franklinville.
  To George Perry Greene Mattern and his wife the following children were born:  
John Asbury, who is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, is located at 
Martinsburg, in Blair County; George Washington, who resides at Osceola; Mary 
Elizabeth, who is the wife of Jacob Miller, of Decatur Township; Lidie J. who 
resides with her parents, has been a school teacher for fifteen years; Charles 
Oliver; and William Luman, who died at the age of fourteen years.  The mother of 
the above family is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  For some twenty 
years George P. G. Mattern was a justice of the peace as well as school director 
and during a long period was secretary of the school board.  The family is a 
long-lived one and both Mr. Mattern and wife retain their physical vigor and 
mental faculties to a remarkable degree.
  Charles Oliver Mattern obtained his education in the local schools and Stone 
Valley Academy, in Huntingdon County.  He then interested himself in farming and 
dairying and was in the dairy business for three years at Osceola.  In March, 
1901, he bought the Walter B. Morgan farm in Decatur Township, a valuable 
property which he has improved by remodelling the buildings and making changes 
that have transformed it into a model dairy farm.  He is a man of practical 
knowledge along the line of his business and is deeply interested in everything 
that contributes to the advancement of agricultural conditions.  He is a charter 
member of Moshannon Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Philipsburg, and the Odd 
Fellow Lodge at Osceola Mills.
  Mr. Mattern was married February 14, 1895, to Miss Luella Shipton, who was 
born at McAlevy's Fort, Huntingdon county, Pa., and is a daughter of J. Bilger 
and Clara (Harman) Shipton.  After the death of Mrs. Shipton, Mr. Shipton moved 
to Philipsburg, where he stills resides.  Mr. and Mrs. Mattern have four 
children:  Clara Lucinda, James Lawrence, Angeline Marks and William Luman.  
They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  In politics Mr. Mattern is 
identified with the Republican party and at present he is serving on the 
township school board.  He is numbered with Decatur township's representative 
men.