The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-04
DEATH OF c. F. MATES
Short Illness Ended Long and Very
Useful Career.
ONE or OUR OLDEST RESIDENTS
Was m Important Factor in the Devei'
opmcut Of Scranton rs Msuufactur'
lug and Commercial Center-Msm.
bcr Of City Councils for Years.

There passed away yesterday morn
ing in the person of Charles Frederick
Mates, a pioneer of the lackawanna
valley and a prominent. progressive,
and influential resident of Scranton.
He was born In Easton on May 70.
1919. and came to this city first In the
autumn of 1910. He located permanent
ly here In 1871. assuming a position as
clerk in the store OF the Lackawanna
Iron and Coal company. in the en-
ploy of which he remained until his
death at . o'clock yesterday morning
From an humble position he adj
vanced by stages TO the most trusted
In the bestowal of the company. In all
these years he did not leave his desk
to go on vacation but once. and that
was a few years ago. when he took a
trip to the northwest on business and
pleasure. After serving few years as
clerk In the store he was appointed
to take charge of the blast furnaces
and mines. and not long afterward be-
came vice-president and general man.
ager.
He was succeeded as general mana
ger by +. S. Moffat. deceased. and then
assumed control of the real estate de-
partment of the company. in which
he was actively engaged until ten days
ago, when he was forced to confine
W luc uOuSe. oIl iuSl
day he sat up in bed and examined
with the same business exactness that
characterized him through life, all the
papers and documents of the company
to close up last months business. He
attached his signature wherever 1t was
required with steady hand. showing
the resolute will that was characters
tic of the man.
characteristics of the Man.
Although he was in fairly good health
until less than a year ago, his system
was undergoing the first stages of
wearing out, due to long and active
life. In his boyhood ne was noted for
a steady and we'll directed disposition
to pass every minute of his life doing
something Of profit. His character was
antagonistically opposed to Incidence.
His mind was quick and he had mag
nificent perception. He saw things
quickly. saw what course to pursue.
and had a moral nature that acted in
keeping with his perception. He knew
the right and it was useless to make
an effort to get him to diverge from
his purpose of carrying it out. He was
bitterly opposed to ostentation and
could not be prevailed upon to have his
likeness printed in any of the histories
or books of reference of this valley,
tive and enthusiastic fireman. He repre-
sented the Seventeenth ward In select
council for number of years and
eventually declined denomination and
was treasurer of the Moses TAYLOR hos
pital from the foundation of that noble
institution until his death.
The deceased became a member of
the First Presbyterian church on May
IL, 1852, and. on May 81. 1871, was
ordained an elder. He was a trustee
and also served several times as pres
ident OF the board Of trustees. He was
a man of deep religious conviction, and
his life was lived In keeping with these
convictions.
Members Of His Family.
His brother, Henry L. Mates and
sister. Mrs. Alexander Wilson. both Of
Easton. are the only relatives aside
from his six children, who are: VIII
liam F. Mates and Edward c. Mates,
OF Ouray. Colo; Lieutenant Colonel
Charles G. Mates and Adjutant Louis
Il. Mates, Of the Thirteenth regiment,
and Misses Mary Mates and Nellie
Mates. Of this city.
The family residence Is at 119 JEFF
ferSon avenue, next to the store and
offices Of the Lackawanna Iron and
Steel company. The funeral will take
place on Friday afternoon at o'clock,
interment In DunmOre cemetery. The
services will be at the house. and will
be conducted by Rev. s. c. Logan. d.
D., Rev. James Mcleod, D. D., and by
perhaps other clergymen from q dis
tance.
The store Of the Lackawanna Iron
and Steel company and the Office Of the
1.ackawanna Iron and Coal company,
adjoining. are draped In mourning.
Richard w. Olmstead, employed In the
Office Of the steel company. Is now the
one In this city whose term of service
for the company Is the longest. Mr..
Mates was employed four or five years
longer than he. having been continu-
ously engaged for nearly &c years.
In his death the city loses a citizen
from the foremost ranks, and a man
that has done vast amount Of labor
to build 1t up. He had q distinguished
and patriarchal appearance and won
and retained the respect Of all with
whom he came in contact.