Biographical Sketch of

Charles Mather

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 716 - 717


Charles Augustus Mather, the pioneer banker of Berlin, Green Lake County, was born in the town of Schaghticoke, 
Resselaer Co., N. Y., and is a son of Bethel and Huldah (Smith) Mather.  His father was born in Torringford, 
Litchfield Co., Conn., and his mother in Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and both were descended from old New 
England families.  The former was a descendant of John Mather, of Lowton, Lancastershire, England, who was 
born in the beginning of the fourteenth century.  The family was established in this country by Rev. Richard 
Mather, grandson of John Mather, who crossed the Atlantic and settled in Boston in 1635.  He was the father 
of five sons, who were educated and graduated from Harvard College.  One of that number, Increase Mather, 
was the first person in this country who received the title of D. D.  Rev. Richard Mather had the honor of 
being one of the first Presidents of Harvard College and was the first pastor of the old South Church in 
Boston, while his son, before mentioned, was one of his colleagues and together they preached in Boston 
for fifty years.  Another member of the family, whose fame is world wide, is Cotton Mather, who was a 
brother of Charles Mather, of Torringford, Conn., the grandfather of our subject.
 
Charles Augustus Mather, whose name heads this sketch, is of the ninth generation from John Mather, of 
Lancastershire, England, who is herein mentioned as the progenitor of the family.  He received liberal 
educational advantages and when his school life was completed, engaged in business in Schaghticoke and 
Troy, N. Y., until his emigration to Wisconsin in the spring of 1856.  He settled in Berlin, where he 
has since made his home, and shortly afterward embarked in the insurance business, to which he yet 
devotes his energies, in connection with other enterprises.  In 1861 he established a private bank 
in Berlin, conducting it alone until 1864, when in company with T. S. Ruddock and others, he organized 
the First National Bank of Berlin, with a capital of $50,000.  Mr. Ruddock was made President, Mr. Mather 
Cashier, and J. F. Heazlit, Teller.  The bank was in operation until 1870, when upon the removal of some 
of the heaviest stock-holders from the city, it was decided to discontinue it.  Mr. Mather then again 
engaged in private banking, being alone in business until 1877, when he admitted his nephew, Joseph M. 
Hawley, to partnership under the firm name of C. A. Mather & Co., bankers, since which time the business 
has been conducted by those gentlemen, under that style, with marked success.  The capital is $25,000 and 
the bank is one of the most reliable moneyed institutions in this community.  In addition to banking, Mr. 
Mather has continued to carry on the insurance business, and is also largely interested in real estate, 
owning in connection with residence property considerable marsh land which he devotes to the culture of 
cranberries.
 
On the 6th of November, 1878, Mr. Mather was united in marriage with Mrs. A. T. McDonald, widow of E. R. 
McDonald, of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.  She has one child by her former marriage, a son, Eugene R., who 
is now a student of the Wisconsin State University.  Her maiden name was Pares, she being a daughter of 
the late Thomas John Pares, Esq., formerly of Leicestershire, England.
 
Throughout his life, Mr. Mather has been a great admirer of fine horses and manifested his love for that 
stock by purchasing the wonderful pacer, "Johnston," the fastest horse on record in the world, the time 
being 2:6 1/4.  In 1883 he sold "Johnston" to Commodore Kittson, of St. Paul, for $20,000.
 
Mr. Mather has ever been a liberal supporter of all the institutions of Berlin, and has done much for the 
upbuilding of the county.  He was connected with another branch of industry, previously unmentioned in 
this sketch--the quarries.  Not long after his arrival in Berlin, he purchased "The Rocks" adjoining the 
Berlin Cemetery.  Subsequently he sold it to the Berlin & Montello Granite Company, which is now working 
it successfully.  In political sentiment Mr. Mather was formerly a Whig, but at the organization of the 
Republican party joined its ranks and has since been one of its faithful supporters.
 
Joseph M. Hawley, junior member of the firm of Mather & Hawley, bankers of Berlin, deserves more especial 
mention in this volume.  He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Salem, Washington County, 
Jan. 15, 1856, and is a son of David and Lydia Jane Hawley.  He began his school life in Salem, further 
pursued his studies in the Washington Academy and the schools of Springfield, Ill., and completed his 
education at Amherst College, from which he was graduated with honor in the class of 1876.  He came to 
Berlin in November, of that year, and shortly afterwards entered into the banking business, in which he 
is now engaged.
 
 





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