ROB'T M. MATEER
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END OF A PROMINENT AND USEFUL LIFE
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He Died Saturday of Pneumonia, Was the Oldest Member of Westfield's School Board and a Man Whom Office Sought
Westfield, Mar. 23. - Robert M. Mateer, a prominent citizen of this place, died Saturday, Feb. [sic Mar.] 21st, after a brief illness. The cause of his death was pneumonia. Few men are so fortunate as to enjoy the confidence of their fellows in so great a degree as did Robert Mateer. He was loved and trusted by all who knew him, and he leaves to his loved ones the legacy of a good name, untarnished by any stain of wrong-doing.
Mr. Mateer was born in County Down, north of Ireland, Sept. 14th, 1831, and came to this country in 1858 [sic 1852]. Since that time, with the exception of two years spent in California, his home has been in Westfield. He has been engaged in various business enterprises, his first venture being in the marble cutting business with the late Samuel Nixon. Returning from California he conducted a grocery for a number of years, after which he was associated with Jas. Taylor in the meat market. About 12 years ago he retired from business on the street to take a position as chief clerk and cashier, in the office of the supreme treasurer of the Royal Arcanum located here. He continued in this position until his death.
Mr. Mateer was one of the most modest and retiring of men, and never placed himself in the front. For this reason, his choice by his fellow townsmen for various responsible positions, speaks eloquently in praise of his integrity and worth. He has served as town assessor, as a member of the board of trustees of the Union school, as a member and treasurer of the board of trustees of the Westfield Cemetery association, and as clerk and treasurer of the session of the Presbyterian church. His death will remove from the Union school board its oldest member, he having served as trustee and secretary of the board nearly 30 years.
Mr. Mateer united with the Presbyterian church, by letter from Ireland, in 1858, and has been a ruling elder in that body since 1873. He has been twice honored by the Presbytery of Buffalo in being sent as a commissioner to the general assembly of the church. In every place he has won the respect and confidence of his constituents, and his integrity has never been questioned. Aside from his office business, Mr. Mateer found time to manage large farming and vineyard interests. He was a member of A. O. U. W., the Knights of Honor, and Royal Arcanum.
The funeral will be held at his late residence, Tuesday, at half past two.
Funeral flowers for Robert Mateer
ROBERT M. MATEER.
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Sketch of The Life of a Good Man Passed Away
Saturday noon Robert M. Mateer, one of the most respected citizens of Westfield, died at his home on West Main street. For the past year he has not been in as good health as usual, having had an attack of pneumonia a year ago. From this he recovered partially, and went back to his work, but during the late bad weather he again took cold, resulting in another attack of pneumonia, which caused his death.
Robert M. Mateer was born in the County Down, Ireland, in Sept. 14, 1831. He came to this country and this place in 1852, and one of his first acts was to present his letter from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to the Presbyterian Church here.
He first learned the trade of marble cutter, with the firm of Nixon & Smith. The Nixon of the firm was the late Samuel Nixon, father of Emmett and Fred. He continued at this business until February, 1855, when he went to California. After an absence of about a year and seven months he returned to Westfield and on November 13, 1856, was married to Miss Jane Crosgrove. In 1856 he started a grocery and continued in that business until the following May, when he opened a meat market in company with the late David Johnston. In the fall of 1857 he again went back to work as a marble cutter, but in a short time started the grocery business, No. 2 Main street, in partnership with Samuel Nixon. The partnership lasted about a year, when he bought Nixon out and continued the business alone until August, 1868, when he sold out to Shaw & Ellison. From that time until November 27, 1882, he and James Taylor conducted a meat market together.
In the summer of 1883 he entered the office of Supreme Treasurer of the Royal Arcanum, as chief clerk and cashier, which position he held at the time of his death.
While he was one of the most modest and retiring of men, his friends found out his many good qualities and honored him with positions of trust and honor among them.
He was very prominent in church work, has been a deacon and for the past 23 years a ruling elder of the Presbyterian church.
Besides serving several terms [as] Trustee of the village he was elected trus[tee of t]he [Union School] at its organization [.....missing]
In politics he was a Republican. He belonged to the local lodges of the A. O. U. W., Knights of Honor and Royal Arcanum.
Outside of his office work he had quite extensive farming and vineyard interests. Besides his widow he leaves a son and daughter, Joseph M. of this place and Mrs. A. B. Wright of Buffalo.
The funeral was held from his late residence on Tuesday afternon, Rev. G. S. Swezey officiating, and was largely attended. There was a number of beautiful floral pieces the gifts of societies and friends.
--Westfield Republican, Wednesday, March 25, 1896, p. 1
Obituary.
MATEER--Mr. Robert M. Mateer, an elder of the Westfield church, New York, died March 21, from pneumonia.
Mr. Mateer was born in County Down, north of Ireland, Sept. 14th, 1831, and came to this country in 1858. [sic] Since that time, with the exception of two years spent in California, his home has been in Westfield, where he has been engaged in various enterprises.
He was one of the most modest and retiring of men, and never placed himself in the front. For this reason, his choice by his fellow-townsmen for various responsible positions, speaks eloquently in praise of his integrity and worth. He has served as town assessor, as a member of the board of trustees of the Union school, as a member and treasurer of the board of trustees of the Westfield Cemetery Association, and as clerk and treasurer of the session of the Presbyterian church. His death will remove from the Union School Board its oldest member, he having served as trustee and secretary of the board nearly 30 years.
Mr. Mateer united with the Presbyterian Church, by letter from Ireland, in 1858, and has been a ruling elder in that body since 1873. He has been twice honored by the Presbytery of Buffalo in being sent as a commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church. In every place he has won the respect and confidence of his constituents and his integrity has never been questioned.