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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
County Clerk's office in Sangamon County, and, on the death of the latter, (November, 1839), was elected his successor, and re-elected for eight consecutive terms, serving until 1873. Died, April 30, 1877.-James H. (Matheny), another son, born Oct. 30, 1818, in St. Clair County; served in his youth as Clerk in various local offices; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1847, elected Circuit Clerk in 1852, at the close of his term beginning the practice of law; was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteers, in October, 1862, and, after the siege of Vicksburg, served as Judge Advocate until July, 1864, when he resigned. He then returned to his profession, but, in 1873, was elected County Judge of Sangamon County, holding the office by repeated re-elections until his death, Sept. 7, 1890,-having resided in Springfield 68 years.
MATHER, Thomas, pioneer merchant, was born, April 24, 1795, at Simsbury, Hartford County, Conn.; in early manhood was engaged for a time in business in New York City, but, in the spring of 1818, came to Kaskaskia, Ill., where he soon after became associated in business with James L. Lamb and others. This firm was afterwards quite extensively engaged in trade with New Orleans. Later he became one of the founders of the town of Chester. In 1820 Mr. Mather was elected to the lower branch of the Second General Assembly from Randolph County, was re-elected to the Third (serving for a part of the session as Speaker), and again to the Fourth, but, before the expiration of his last term, resigned to accept an appointment from President John Quincy Adams as Commissioner to locate the military road from Independence to Santa Fe, and to conclude treaties with the Indians along the line. In the Legislature of 1822 he was one of the most determined opponents of the scheme for securing a pro-slavery Constitution. In 1828 he was again elected to the House and, in 1832, to the Senate for a term of four years. He also served as Colonel on the staff of Governor Coles, and was supported for the United States Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John McLean, in 1830. Having removed to Springfield in 1835, he became prominent in business affairs there in connect
Dundee Area History
