Amy Tanner, family history, undated

Source: Amy Tanner, family history, undated.

The Mattocks family were settlers around Momence. They came from Vermont when Grandfather Cyrus Rumsey Mattocks was quite young. He had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. The brothers were Edwin, Monroe & Walter (Walter must have been the youngest as he visited us about 1910. Momence. He was the only one of the 6 living then.[)] The sisters were Adelaide M. & Abba (Mattocks) Force. Their parents were Ichabod & Matilda Mattocks. They are buried in Shrontz Cemetery Momence. Our grandfather is also buried there. There may be more information on the tombstones. (South west corner of cemetery near some evergreen trees.)

Grandfather Cyrus Rumsey Mattocks was born at Bennington, Vermont in 1827. He died in 1892.

Bennington is along the Walloomsac River (branch of Hudson). He (grandfather) was married to Hester Ann Hess also of Momence. Their children were Walter Andrew Mattocks (that’s Uncle Walter) & William Eugene Mattocks (our father).

After the civil war, they separated. Grandmother married Lucien Jones (Aunt Cora (Jones) Scott’s parents[)]

Grandfather married Abigail Perry (Aunt Abbie’s parents)

Aunt Ida & Uncle Walter were buried at Hobart, Ind.

I don’t know what became of the Grandmothers (I’ll guess) Hester Ann probably Momence, Abigail Kankakee or Aroma

Wm Eugene Mattocks was born April 17, 1861 at Momence, Ill.

He married Anna Mary (Fedde) Mattocks in 1885

Our mother was born in Blankenmoor, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, Oct. 16, 1864. She died Sept. 5, 1943.

Our father died Sept. 1, 1906.

Their children: (six of us)

Andrew Cyrus, Lake Village, Ind. Feb. 17, 1887 – Nov. 1960

Katie Idella (West Creek near Lowell, Ind.) Oct. 24, 1888 – Sept. 25, 1962

Clara Mabel (Chicago) April 22, 1892 –

Amy Emily (Morocco, Ind.) Aug. 3, 1898

Anna Lorraine (Fair Oakes, Ind.) May 8, 1901 – died fall of 1904 (she was buried at Koutz, Ind.[)]

Walter Clarence born June 7, 1904 at Koutz, Ind.

Fred George Tanner born Kankakee June 3, 1892, married March 17, 1934, died Apr. 21, 1953.

Our mother was buried at Creston, Ind. (near Lowell). Her mother, Uncle John, Aunt Katie & uncle Ed Meyers are also there at Creston. Uncle Henry at Lowell, Ind. (Her two brothers John & Henry & sister Katie & husband.) Maybe the sister Margaret & husband too (Joe Fedde a dist. cousin). These had a daughter Minnie (Fedde) Beckers who lived in Prairie Elk, Minnesota.

Grandfather Cyrus R. Mattocks & 3 brothers enlisted in the Civil War.

From Kankakee County

Edwin Mattocks – 42nd Illinois Infantry, Company D.

Monroe Mattocks – 42nd Ill. Inf., Company D.

• Organized in Chicago, July 22, 1861
• reenlisted Jan. 1, 1864
• Mustered out Dec. 16, 1865 Chicago
• Final discharge Jan 13, 1866

Cyrus R. Mattocks – 113^th Illinois Infantry Co. K from Kankakee County

Walter Mattocks 113^th Ill. Inf. Co. K ” ”

• Both enlisted Aug. 1862.
• Mustered out June 20, 1865.
• Final discharge June 25, 1865.

All four were in marches & battles all over the South. Edwin, Monroe & Walter all went to Kansas so we lost track of them.

Granfather Claus Fedde was born in Germany 1821. Died in Germany 1869.

[Sofia?] A little sister of mothers age 3 yrs. also died & was buried in Germany.

Grandmother Anje (Antja) (Clefdt[?]) Fedde was born in Germany 1823.

Grandmother came to America with the three youngest, Anna age 8, Henry (older than 8), John (younger than 8) in 1872. There were 2 older daughters Katie & Margaret who were already in America & married. Grandmother lived in Sherburnville, Ill., where the 3 went to school & were confirmed in St. Petersburg Lutheran church. She was a seamstress, made ladies dresses & men’s suits. She died in 1892. She was then living with daughter Anna when the folks lived at 63rd & Halsted St. & (William) our dad drove horses on street cars in Chicago, during the World’s Fair.

Amy Tanner to Louise Schmidt, letter, 1 May 1979

Source: Amy Tanner to Louise Schmidt, letter, 1 May 1979.

I was sure our grandfather Cyrus Rumsey Mattocks was born in Bennington, Vermont. – Icabod and Matilda were our great grandparents – mother spoke of them as Icabod and Matilda. During my school days, I began to wonder: did they inspire those names in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”? Did Washington Irving know them? I think I have seen the names on tombstones in Shrontz Cemetery (approx 5 miles east of Momence) next to Grandfather Cyrus Rumsey Mattocks. It seems so real to me but I haven’t been to Shrontz Cemetery since about 1920. The grave stones were toward the south-west corner of the cemetery as it was then. There were other stones there too. As I recall, it looked like a family lot. That is where our father should have been buried, I think.

The four brothers were in service from Kankakee County. We have a “History of Kankakee County” 1906 edition. They are all in that, but only the war records.

I remember hearing the names Abigail and Adelaide but nothing about Josephine. I think Abigail was married to Harv Force. I don’t remember ever hearing of a John; maybe he didn’t come to Illinois and father and mother were not acquainted with him. I’ve heard the family came in a covered wagon to Illinois, had lived in N.Y. at sometime and claimed some Penn. Dutch ancestry. I remember that about 1913 or 1915 Aunt Abbie (Boswell) spent a year or two in Rutland, Vermont. She was with relatives there. She went there after the Boswells – her uncle Charlie and Aunt Phianna died. They had adopted her when her mother, Abigail Perry, Grandfather Mattocks second wife died, and Aunt Abbie was very young. Her Aunt Phianna was her mother’s sister.

In his late years grandfather lived with his sons, his last year with our parents. My grandparents were all gone before my day. Grandmother Fedde lived her last days with our folks too when they lived in Chicago, 1891 and 1892 – at 63rd and Halsted. She died about that time. Clara was born there. My father drove horses that pulled the street cars and cared for the horses and barns. I was born in Morocco, Indiana, so by 1898 they were back this way.

Our Grandmother Hester Ann Hess died when our father was very young (5 or 6 years old). He had no permanent home. He lived with his Uncle Rastus Wells, Aunt Polly Jones, Aunt Miranda, Uncle Rube Hess, the Sherwoods, the West’s, the Parrishes – names I recall hearing and with his father at times. When his sons married, Grandfather Cyrus Rumsey Mattocks gave each son a cow for milk. When we lived on the Merrill Farm, Mahlin Hess lived just S.E. from where you lived – a mile south and a mile east. I think he was Grandmother’s brother, about the last of the old timers I knew of.

Memories of Grandpa’s Fish Camp

Source: Ma Fisk [Lola Jordan], “Memories of Grandpa’s Fish Camp,” Illinois Sports Outdoors (February 1997), page 22.

[page 22]

At age 84, there are many fond memories of family and times long gone. My lifetime of outdoor memories began on a homestead on the prairies of Montana and have paddled along with me on the lakes and rivers of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

But what I am writing about now are my precious days of camping on the Kankakee River in the 1920’s with Grandpa, Grandma, and my three sisters. We granddaughters ranged in age from three to ten. I was the ten year old.

When the cruel disease took our mother away, Grandpa and Grandma Mattocks took us in and our father traveled to the big city to find work. We would only see our dad on weekends, but our grandparents had lots of love to spare.

I think most of Grandpa’s life was spent outside. He was thin, wiry, and strong. Every summer before school was out, Grandpa would go out along the Kankakee River scouting for a campsite. It would not be a fancy cottage. Sometimes it would be just one room downstairs and up a ladder to one room upstairs, or often no cottage at all, just an area for tents. There would be a large one for sleeping and another for storage.

Grandpa would clear the land by the riverbank, making stacks and stacks of firewood, and then spade the soil to plant a big garden. When he had erected our table and benches under a canopy and had a big grate ready for cooking, he would get his boat ready for fishing.

After the end of the school year, the uncles would load up Grandma and us girls along with the grocery staples, dishes, pots and pans, bedding, and clothes. Then off we’d go to join Grandpa on the banks of the river.

In western Indiana near Roselawn, Shelby and Thayer, the Kankakee River had been dredged and straightened so there were huge sand hills and extra oxbow sloughs of water from the old channels…. an ideal place for adventurous children. It seems we played and swam all day! Bathing suits were the usual attire. Up and on the go in the daytime, in bed at dark.

Grandpa was a great outdoorsman, mostly a fisherman. He seemed to know where to fish, when to fish, and what bait to use. He would put our lines out or sit along the bank. Sometimes he might travel little up river. There was no motor, just oars or his hand made a paddle.

Occasionally, a relative stopped by with an order of extra groceries. We also would get eggs and milk from a local farmer and vegetables from our garden, but we mostly ate fish…. lots of fish! Since I was the oldest child, I had to help Grandpa with the garden and fishing. I remember once we went to a slough and there were as many mud turtles as fish. How I hated those mud turtles! They’d swallow your hook so you would have to stretch out their neck and stomp on their back to retrieve your hook. Grandpa put the fish in his wire net basket and the turtle carcasses were thrown aside for the wild creatures of the night to clean up. We sure didn’t want them to come alive and bite again. Grandpa teased that I was fishing for turtles and accidentally caught fish.

Another time Grandpa took his spear along some shallow back water. The water was very clear and we had to be very quiet. “Don’t move, don’t move.” Then all at once Grandpa’s spear went sailing out! I couldn’t believe he could throw it so far and impale a big buffalo or carp. I can close my eyes right now and see him pulling up his boots to wade out after that flopping handle with a big fish attached to the prongs of the spear! Holding the fish to the bottom, he would ease his way to the shoreline. Then the water would explode as he would swing the thrashing carp out onto solid ground! I can keenly remember being very proud of Grandpa!

I have always loved the outdoors and the times that were shared there. In those carefree years of childhood, my sisters and I were happy and healthy. Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma! I believe you knew how to care of us four little girls after having raised two girls and seven boys of your own.

Grandpa’s Fishcamp: Part 2

Source: Ma Fisk [Lola Jordan], ‘”Grandpa’s Fishcamp: Part 2,’” Illinois Sports Outdoors (March 1997), page 16.

[page 16]

It’s hard to believe that 70 years have past since those sweet days of summer-long vacations spent with Grandpa and Grandma along the Kankakee River. I close my eyes and we are all there together, Grandpa and Grandma Mattocks and us four granddaughters. The Kankakee blesses two states with clean, cool waters and emerald hardwood bottomlands. In Indiana, the main channel of the river was dredged and straightened, stirring the mud and tempers of those of those downstream in Illinois for years. Indiana’s monumental task resulted in deep sloughs and drainage canals for fish and waterfowl and a river with a unique character. In the 1920’s, it all seemed like a paradise to us.

Grandpa always picked a new campsite for us each summer. One particular time we had a small one-room cottage located on a narrow strip of land between the river and the fenced-in farmland beyond. There was no real road to the cabin, neither was there a gate for the fence. The farm field beyond the fence was off-limits, forbidden territory, despite the fact that the farmer had built a stile across the fence directly in front of our cabin. The bright galvanized wire and rugged steps of the stiles were always tempting us to cross them.

“‘You must not go over the stile or beyond the fence!’” Grandma told us. She didn’t really tell us why, but we could feel that somehow this area concealed dangers just as real as the swift waters of the river. Grandma would let us play on the steps, but to cross them into the cornfield beyond was forbidden. To four adventurous girls, this was hard to understand. Before the summer was over, we would see things more clearly. But as far as we could see right then, our little corner of the world was a safe and perfect place.

Although our cabin was plain and unpainted, not fancy, it served our needs. I’ve often wondered about the origin of these cottages that sometimes became our summer home. I suspect these simple shelters were built to accommodate workers dredging and cleaning the river.

Outside we always had awnings of canvas to shelter our table and benches, as well as a covered workplace and other necessary conveniences. No indoor plumbing, of course, but if there was no well, Grandpa would simply drive a shallow well for an outdoor pump.

Once our garden was planted, Grandpa’s main job was fishing, but he also was quite a cook! At least the fish thought he was! Grandpa had a big iron kettle hanging over the cooking fire grates. Grandma always did the real cooking, so we girls thought it was pretty amusing when Grandpa would mix and cook the doughballs he used as bait for his trotlines. He told us he had a secret recipe, “‘tough and tasty!’” He must have been right, because it seemed we always had plenty of fish. Too bad he didn’t give us the secret to pass along!

As the oldest, I had to help Grandpa run the lines. The river was swift so handling the boat was difficult. This was the most exciting part of my day. It was nice to feel that my little help with a paddle was needed. And I really liked working with the fishing lines, grasping them and feeling then [sic] shake. You knew right away you had at least one fish.

Our catch was tossed in a tub of water in the boat — no live wells back then. When we returned to camp, all the live fish went into a live-box. The one’s that were not so lively were quickly cleaned and became our next big meal.

We didn’t need newspapers or radio weather reports to tell what was going on in our little world. Living under the sky each day kept us in touch with all we needed to know. But there was one frightening afternoon when a fast-moving thunderstorm came bursting in to shake up our peaceful existence. And the danger touched us in an unexpected way!

“‘Hurry! Hurry, get inside! Inside, everyone!’‘” Grandpa called! As we all scrambled into the tiny cabin, Grandma remembered she had left dishtowels hanging to dry on the wire fence by the stile. Out the door she rushed to gather then [sic] up before they were blown far out into the cornfield beyond. Just as she grabbed them, a huge bolt of lightning struck, knocking her to the ground! It felt as if the lightning bolt had pierced all our hearts and souls as we watched through the open cabin door.

But even before Grandpa could fly to her side, magically Grandma scrambled to her feet, clutching the dishtowels. Grandpa gathered her in his arms and helped her inside, with all of us girls still screaming and crying, but now bursting with joy. All that our dear Grandmother had to show for her close encounter was singed hair on the front of her head. We were lucky that day and thankful that Grandma survived to supervise many more years of camping. And when Grandma warned us of danger, we never again questioned her judgement [sic].

Lola (Leverenz) Jordan to Chauncey Leon and Carol Lee “Suzi” Mattocks

Source: Lola (Leverenz) Jordan to Chauncey Leon and Carol Lee “Suzi” Mattocks, letter, 1 Jan 1997.

[Return address: L. JORDAN, 13 Riser Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701-1905.]

Dear Leon, Suzi:

I’ve been trying to sit & write a letter.  Seems I haven’t found that time when I have time & feel better also.  So, now will settle for this card.  Want you to know I have been thinking of you so much.  How you’re progressing healthwise and news too of your safety because of the weather.  Any damage to homes (yours & “kids”, traveling, etc.)

We’ve seen pictures on TV that look terrible.  No recent news of my grandson either.  I think Mike is on base (Ft. Lewis) most of the time, but they have an apt. in Tacoma.

I did receive a letter from your bro. Carl, newsy & some info of “whereabouts” of your dad & mother & “you all” some yrs. ago.  He (Carl) claims he can’t recall those years so well anymore.  That seems sad (unless he’s kidding me) as Earl said he has (had?) a memory like an elephant.  Gave me your birth date & place as 1933, Palestine, Ill.  Does that strike you as correct?  So I was 20 when you were born kid!!  I was 6 when Carl was born.  I lived in Detroit, Mich. then, but we returned to Parr, Ind. when I was 7.  Your folks lived there then too — as did Grandpa & Grandma Mattocks.  After my sisters & I went to live with them we’d go camping every summer when school was out.  So I’m an “old time country river rat”.  More on that at a later date.  Just hope I hear from you B/4 long.  Loved your letter.

Cuz, Lola

P.S.  Sending you this outdoor magazine, a “part” of the TV show, radio & mag.  An article by my son John Fisk you might enjoy.  [Magazine entitled: Illinois Sports Outdoors (Mason City, Illinois).]

Genealogical and Biographical Information from the Research of Carl Kenneth Mattocks

Source: [Carl Kenneth Mattocks], genealogical and biographical information from the research of Carl Kenneth Mattocks.

MATTOCKS, Chauncey Leon
Born [information withheld to protect privacy]
Birth Records should be on file at [information withheld to protect privacy]
May have been the last person to have been born in a log house in [information withheld to protect privacy]. This may be the reason he has such character!!

#2
MATTOCKS, Beverly Earl
Born in Earl Park, IN in 1891
Died 22 October 1971 at Galveston, TX
Buried at Wheatfield, IN

#3
DANNER, Gladys Deema
Born December 28th, 1897 at Liberty, MO
Died November 1957
Buried in Brookings Cemetery, Raytown, MO

#4
MATTOCKS, Walter Andrew
Divorce records of his parents in Newton County IN indicate that he was born in August of 1862.
Died at Thayer, IN 1943. Buried at Hobart, IN.

#5
CRANE, Rachel Idella
Born June 5th, 1865 at Goodland, IN
Father’s name was Peter MURPHY
Married at Niles, MI in August 1881 to #4 above. Have never been able to locate a copy of the marriage license.
Died June 10th 1952 at La Porte, IN
Buried at Hobart, IN

#8
MATTOCKS, Cyrus Rumsey
Born in 1828 at Bennington, NY, which was then in Genessee County and is now in Wyoming County.
Died on March 5th, 1892, at 6634 South Halsted St – Chicago IL
Buried at Schrontz Cemetery 1.1 miles East of Momence – IL.

#9
HESS, Hester Ann
Little is known about her except she was born in 1844 at Morocco, IN.
Married #8 ca 1859. Bore him two children, Walter in 1862 and William in 1865. Divorced #8 in 1870 Newton County, IN. Remarried to a Lucien JONES.

#6
DANNER, Michael Elisha
Little is known of this man except (1) he was a miner and (2) he had red hair. A note from my Mothers Bible indicates he was born March 22nd, 1872.
When he died ca 1908 he left behind a wife and six (6) children.

#7
HOUGH, Martha Minary
Born June 22nd, 1879 at Gallatin, MO
Died – ?
Buried in Brookings Cemetery – Raytown, MO
It is my belief that this woman, my grandmother, may have had some Afro background.
Physical features and mannerisms coupled with the habit of making up surnames support my beleif.
Who ever heard of the names BURLAH and DEEMA ?
Blacks are noted for doing this.
I use to have an old photo of the oldest daughter who was named BURLAH MAE and she had the big nose, thick lips and coarse hair associated with the Afro’s.
Do you remember Uncle Gene – a good case in point.
She remarried to William Orman BEARD who was born in Bloomington, IL. Four (4) children were born of this
union.
It may appear that I am bigoted which is not true. I have many good black friends and slavery was a blot on this Countrys record.

#10
MATTOCKS, Ichabod Jr.
Born – 1802
Sheldon, NY then located in Genessee County, now in Wyoming County
Died at Momence, IL in 1851
Buried in Schrontz Cemetery, 1.1 miles East of Momence.

#11
MATTOCKS, Samuel
Little is known about this man. Born in England.
His name was found on a petition to remove the Narragansett Indians from Massachusettz

#12
MATTOCKS, James
See attached sheet.
His Church affiliation was Congregational.
Organized a guild (Union) of Coopers w/ Boston and Charlestown. (1840’s [sic])
It is believed he departed from England thru the Port of Bristol but he came from Totnes, Devonshire.

*

Personal Information
MATTOCKS, Carl Kenneth
Born-[information withheld to protect privacy]
Place- [information withheld to protect privacy]
Religious affiliation- Baptized in Baptist Church- ca 1927-28 Leeds, MO
Military Affiliation-US Army
Occupation- Operating Engineer
Married- [information withheld to protect privacy] to Jane BAKER of [information withheld to protect privacy]
Divorced in [information withheld to protect privacy]
Married- [information withheld to protect privacy] to Elizabeth Ellen BRYANT of [information withheld to protect privacy]. Her Fathers name was Henry BRYANT and her Mothers maiden name was Ellen McNAUGHTON. (Canadian)

*

Beverly MATTOCKS, b. 1891, m., 1917, Gladys DANNER, d. 1957.

1. Aline VICKERS – [information withheld to protect privacy]
2. Beverly Earl – 1918 Died (Lived 1 hr)
3. Carl – [information withheld to protect privacy]
4. Earl – [information withheld to protect privacy]
5. Donald – Oct 29 1923 D 1944 in Belgium Pneumonia
6. Walter – 1928 D 2 months 22 days
7. Norma – May 3 1925 D
8. Mary – [information withheld to protect privacy]
9. Paul Eugene – 1935 D Lived few hrs
10. Pat – 1929 D
11. Leon  – [information withheld to protect privacy]

*

DANNER-HOUGH

1. Elisha Michael – March 22 1872
2. Martha HOUGH – June 22 1879
3. Burlah Mae – 1895
4. Gladys Deema – Dec 28 [or 18?] 1897
5. Clarence Allen – Nov 16 1899
6. Eugene Ray – July 14 1902
7. Violet Fern – June 17 1904
8. Mary Ellen – May 21 1906

Former Wheatfield Area Resident Dies

Source: “Former Wheatfield Area Resident Dies,” Rensselaer [Indiana] Republican (22 October 1971).

Beverly Earl Mattocks, 80, former Wheatfield area resident, died Thursday, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas.

He was born July 25, 1891, at Earl Park, a son of Walter and Rachel (Crane) Mattocks, and was married Dec. 20, 1917, to Gladys Danner, who died in November, 1957.

A retired drainage contractor, he was a World War I veteran and a member of the American Legion.

Surviving are three sons, Carl K. of Farmington, Conn., Earl E. of Tefft, and C. Leon of Aurora, Colo.; one daughter, Mrs. Mary Stollings of Kansas City, Mo.; three brothers, Elwyn of Parr, and Orval and Oliver K. of Momence, Ill.; and a sister, Mrs. Maude Hires of Walkerton.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday from the Todd Funeral Home in DeMotte.  Interment
will follow in Wheatfield Cemetery.