The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-08-27
OBITUARY


was therefore aged 81 years and ?
month at the time of his death.
Nj. Mather and his wife
were on a vacation at Carp Lake,
Michigan, which is small village To-
Gated a few miles from Petoskey.
Relatives at Bay View were notified of
Mr.. Mather's sudden illness and these
were present when death overlook
him. Mr.. Mather was stricken with
apoplexy about o'clock in the after
noon while at the village post office,
Wednesday. August 18th. He was con-
yeyed to his room in the hotel where
he fingered until eleven o'clock that
night, without regaining conscious
ness when death relieved him.
Mr. Mather's long and active bust
ness life brought him in contact with
all classes of people almost daily. He
was therefore, one of the best known
men of this city for many years. The
news of his sudden death came as a
distinct shock to this community and
was the topic in almost every home for
that day. His body, with Mrs. Mather
and friends, arrived here at S, o'clock
on Thursday morning and was con-
veyed to the Mather home on North
18th street.
The funeral took place at the house
on Friday at o'clock. The services
were in charge of his pastor, Rev. T. j.
Graham. Doctor l. M. Hughes, who
had also been the family pastor for
many years, assisted in the service.
Mr.. Frank |. Braffett and Mrs. Ray
Longnecker sang some of Mr.. Math-
er's favorite selections. Six of the
,nephews of the deceased acted as pail
bearers. The eulogies of the two min
listers were very eloquent of Mr.. Math-
-er's life as a christian citizen and
brother. The floral offerings were
most profuse and beautiful. The serv-
bors, friends and business acquain-
tances. Burial took place at Earlham
cemetery.
ID. L.. Mather was born on a farm in
Warren County, Ohio, near the town
of Lebanon. He spent his early boy
q
try school. His parents being men,
bers of the Friends church, he was
sent to the Friends Boarding School
at Richmond, which is now Earlham
College. This experience at Earlham
had always been a source of pride to
him. He was chairman of the enter
tainment committee at the recent
car ,,rSs e
Earlham students and entered into the
occasion with great enthusiasm. He
taught school in his native county for
a few years and in 1873 was employed
to teach the Bethel School in this
county.
In 1876 he decided to enter a bust
ness career and did so by opening up
a coal and wood yard. This was in a
very modest way in this city, a one
horse cart constituted the entire equip
ment for making deliveries. If this is
contrasted with the very extensive
business of this firm at the present
day, it is certainly indicative of bust
ness success, and Mr.. Mather was the
recognized genius in all its developing
experiences.
In 1880 his brother Harry joined him
and it became known as Mather
Brothers, Harry taking charge of the
lumber trade and d. L. of the fuel
trade, and later the cement trade. Mr..
Mather brought to Richmond the first
car load of Pocahontas coal and the
first car load of cement. In 1899 the
firm was organized into a stock COM
pany and became known as Mather
Brothers company, d. L. still remain
ing the recognized business head of
the firm and continued to be so until
his death. This career of 81 years in
one business in the same community
with a business that developed to larg-
er proportions every year, speaks we'll
for his business integrity.
Mr. Mather was much devoted to
his church, being a member of the
board of trustees, and acted as its sec
rotary for many years. He became a
member of the First Presbyterian
church together with his wife some
time after their marriage. He was
nifty for many years and was made a
Knight Templar. He was a very act
i've member OF the T. P. AS and es-
pecially so with its social functions.
He has been a member Of the CONNER
cial Club from its beginning, and has
served on many important committees
in this organization, his counsel being
regarded as valuable.
He was married to Miss Emma E
Harris, of Cincinnati. December 10,
1878. They have ever since ived in
this city, and for many years at the
present homestead on North Twelfth
street. There are no children in this
family but the devotion OF husband and
wife were most beautiful He leaves
two brothers and one sister, Harry,
Samuel and Mrs. Albert Kelsey.