Leverett E. Mather
May 19-1832-Aug. 24, 1914Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, August 25, 1914, page 1, col. 6 &7, microfilm Niles District LibraryL.E. MATHER ANCESTRY WERE OF COLONIAL FAME
Well Known Howard Township Pioneer is Dead
Lived on the same farm 60 years
Brought His Bride Into Wilderness in 1854
Leveritt E. Mather, a pioneer resident of Howard township, passed away last evening about 9;30 o'clock at his home three miles northeast of Niles on Lake street after a long illness from Bright's disease.
Mr. Mather has been a familiar figure on the streets of Niles for many years, scarcely missing driving into Niles every day for many years.
He was stricken with this last fatal illness July 26, and since that time he has been in bed and no hope at any time has been entertained for his recovery.
Mr. Mather was born in Canton, Conn., May 19, 1832. He was a direct descendant of Rev. Richard Mather, who came from England to America in 1635, the subject of his sketch being of the ninth generation of the descendants of this distinguished man.
Cotton Mather, whose name became well known in history as a persecutor of alleged witches in Salem, Mass., was of the fifth generation of the same family.
Mr. Mather had among his valuable papers an article written by a New England divine in which the actions of Cotton Mather were defended on the ground that he was honest in convictions concerning the reality of witchcraft.
Mr. Mather and Miss Anna Stubblebeen of Philmont, N.Y., were married in New York, on July 27, 1854. Two months later Mr.Mather brought his bride to Michigan and purchased the farm in Howard township where they continued to reside in contentment for the 60 years of their married life. Mrs. Mather survives her husband. She is 78 years of age. Her health is in such a precarious condition that she scarcely realized the death of her husband. The death of Mrs. Mather's mother, Mrs. Stupplebeen occurred recently, at the age of nearly 100 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Mather were the parents of two children who survive them, Mrs. John Muffley of Kalamazoo and Ambrose Mather of Niles. Mrs. Muffley has been in Niles since her father was stricken with the fatal illness.
Mr. Mather was one of the earliest settlers of this section and he has often related how he cleared the ground for the log house which he erected for his first residence, and that from the site of his home there was no other land cleared for many miles due south from Niles. He watched with interest the work of clearing the land about him for years until he lived to see some of the improved lands become among the best farms in the state.
Mrs. Mather was highly esteemed in the community and his genial manner made him a welcome visitor at all times.
He has not been in good health for many years and suffered from a distressing affliction that often caused him when the death of some younger person occurred to express the wish that he might have been taken instead.. He was, however, uniformly cheerful and a great joker, despite his physical sufferings.
The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon from the late residence. Rev. R.A. Wright of the Methodist church will officiate.
Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, August 26, 1914, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library The funeral services of L.E. Mather will be conducted at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon from the late residence on Lake street, three miles east of the city. Interment will occur in Silver Brook cemetery.
