The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-11-29
ROBERT MATTESON
WAS OLD PIONEER
Came to Morrow County Several
Years Before Heppner Was
Laid Out.

The death of Robert Potter Matte
son marks the passing of one of the
very earliest settlers in this section.
He came to what is now Morrow
county in the days when there were
but few settlers along the creek bot
toms and was here through all of the
vicissitudes, Indian uprisings and tri-
ais incident to the early settlement
Of the West. At the time Mr.. Matte
son located in the stock business ON
Rhea creek in the southern part of
this county, his neighbors were few
and Umatilla Landing on the Colum-.
bia river was the nearest post Office
while The Dalles was the chief trad
ing point for the people here. A
small cabin marked the place where
Heppner now stands, and it was many
years after his arrival here that the
town began to take ON shape. He
had been witness to all the develop
ments made here and had his part in
much that was going on during the
formative period of the county.
Robert Matteson was born in Ell
gin, ILL.,, Nov. 3, 1885, and when yet
very young man he came with his.
family to Yamhill county, this state,
settling near where the present town
of CASTOR now stands, in the year. 49,
54. He lived in that locality for fif-
teen years when he removed to Eas-
tern Oregon, locating first in Umatilla
county where he resided for several
years and then moved onto Rhea
creek in this county, where he had
continued to reside until two years
ago he moved with his family to
Heppner.
He was married in 1877 to Virgin
Ia Hess, who with six children sur
vive him. These children were all
born in this county and have grown
up here. They are four boys and two
girls, Edgar, Newton, and Walter
Matteson and Mrs. May Reid of Hepp-
ner, Alfred Matteson Of Tabor, AL
berta and Mrs. Viola Gabler of Monu-
ment. Two brothers, Albert and Ed
gar Matteson, of this county and a
sister, Mrs. Fridelia Tupper of Port
land, also survive him.
Mr.. Matteson was typical of the
early pioneer stock Of this country.
He with his brothers engaged in
farming and stockraising for num-
Der of years and met with many re-
verses of one kind and another, most
of which were met with smile and
overcome as best they could be.
They engaged also in timber cutting
and coal mining, opening up the first
coal prospects ever discovered in this
county, which are located on Matte
son Butte and for years were known
as the Matteson coal mines. These
deposits were never mined profitably.
however and active work there was
abandoned a good many years ago.
Some very good coal was taken out.
At the time of his death, Mr.. Matt
eson was just past 81 years of age.
His demise was caused principally
| from ailments due to age and he pass
ed away peacefully at his home in
this city on Saturday, Nov "a. Fun
eral services were conducted at the
Christian church of which he was a
member, on Monday forenoon and
burial was in the Mat:eson graveyard
on Rhea creek. Turner B. MacDon-
aid, pastor of the church otficiated.
Robert Matteson was respected
member of this community and he
has passed to a just reward after hav-
ing lived a long life as an honorable
citizen.