Orville C. Matteson Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 862-865

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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ORVILLE C. MATTESON. This gentleman is the fortunate possessor of one 
of the fine estates of Westport township, Brown county, and is a 
representative agriculturist of that region. He makes his home on 
section 8, and he is surrounded by more than the usual comforts of 
rural life. His success since taking up his residence in Dakota has 
been far above his most sanguine hopes, in view of the fact that he had 
no resources on which to depend aside from the natural abilities which 
he inherited from thrifty parents. Portraits of Mr. Matteson and family 
will be found on another page. 

Mr. Matteson was born in Chautauqua county, New York, April 16, 1848, 
and was the son of John J. and Amelia A. (Austin) Matteson, the former 
a native of New York, born February 24, 1821, and the latter of 
England. His father was a farmer by occupation and was connected with 
the militia of his native state, being captain in the same. He was a 
successful man and died in Brown county, South Dakota, in 1890, aged 
sixty-nine years, and the mother of our subject died in Winona, 
Minnesota, while on a visit there in 1894, aged sixty eight years. 

Our subject remained in the Empire state until 1855, when he went to 
Winona county, Minnesota, where he worked at farming and attended 
school, and also learned the milling trade, which he followed for 
fifteen years in Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, and Winona county, 
Minnesota. He went to Cass county, North Dakota, in the fall of 1879, 
for the purpose of looking over the country with a view to settling in 
that county. He also visited Ransom county, of that state, and in the 
last-named took a tree claim. After a short stay he returned to 
Wisconsin, where he remained until October, 1881. In that year he again 
spent a short time in Ransom county, North Dakota, and then went to 
Brown county, South Dakota, where he pre-empted a quarter-section; 
also, in 1884, took a homestead adjoining his pre-emption on the east, 
which he still owns and which he has improved to a high state. His 
residence and other buildings partake of the appearance of a well-kept 
estate, and the various details of the work are under our subject's 
personal supervision. He has made a success of farming in South Dakota, 
and has every reason to be proud of the result of his labors. 

Mr. Matteson was married in Stockton, Winona county, Minnesota, 
November 18, 1868, to Miss Martha M. Geeslin, a native of Virginia, who 
was born February 25, 1853. Mrs. Matteson was the daughter of James and 
Nancy Geeslin, who were farmers by occupation and prominent in their 
community. The wedding of our subject and wife was conducted in the 
Episcopal church in the village of Stockton, and on the same occasion 
Mr. Matteson's sister, Adelaide, was married, the two marriages being 
performed as a double wedding and was a pretty affair. Seven children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Matteson, as follows: Orville S., 
William A., Frank J., Fred, Evaline, and two children who died in 
infancy, being the second and sixth in order of birth. Mr. Matteson is 
a member of the National Aid, and the Masonic fraternity. He has filled 
various local offices and takes an active interest in the welfare of 
his community, but does not seek public preferment, choosing to serve 
his country otherwise, and is one of the respected and public-spirited 
men of his locality. He is identified with the Populist party in 
political sentiment and is a man who keeps abreast of the times and 
favors reform.