James E. Mather Biography


	This biography appears on page 135 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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			JAMES E. MATHER.  

	James E. Mather, a member of the well,known law firm of Mather & 
Stover of Watertown, was born in Frazee, Minnesota, on the 1st of 
December, 1879, his parents being William H. and Lucy E. Mather. His 
elementary education was obtained in the public schools of Council 
Bluffs, Iowa, and later he was a student of Tabor College, Iowa. 
Deciding to enter the legal profession, he attended the Omaha School of 
Law, from which he was graduated in 1902. He began the practice of his 
profession in Omaha, Nebraska, later becoming assistant general 
attorney of the Cudahy Packing Company, and for two years practiced in 
that state and in Iowa. At the end of that period he went to Chicago as 
general counsel for the A. Booth Packing Company and he made his home 
there until 1907, which year witnessed his arrival in Watertown. He 
began practice there as a member of the firm of Louchs & Mather and 
subsequently Mr. Stover was admitted to partnership. On the retirement 
of Mr. Louchs the name was changed to Mather & Stover. The firm is 
meeting with good success, their clientage being of a representative 
character.  

	In 1900 Mr. Mather was united in marriage to Miss Ruby Agnes 
Bryant, who died in 1909, and two of the three children born to them 
are also deceased, the only one now living being Margaret, aged ten 
years. In 1910 Mr. Mather wedded Miss Maude P. Robinson, of Omaha, by 
whom he has a son, George, aged three years. They are members of the 
Episcopal church and are quite prominent socially. Mr. Mather belongs 
to Kampeska Lodge, No 13, A. F. &: A. M., and is a Knight Templar 
Mason, being an officer of the Grand Commandery of South Dakota. He is 
also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent 
Protective Order of Elks. His political support is given to the 
republican party. There is a military chapter in his record as he 
served for ten years in the National Guard. He was a member of the 
organization at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war and was for 
two years in the Philippines with the Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry. When mustered out of the Guards he held the rank of brevet 
major. He has always been found true to every trust reposed in him and 
commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in 
contact.