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Hon. Leslie B. Mattoon, M.D.

 (photo in book)

One of the prominent men of his day and generation, and a man whose name will ever occupy a fist place on the scroll of representative citizens of Fayette county of a past generation, was Hon. Leslie B. Mattoon, M. D., a man who won distinction in more phases of life than one and did as much or more for this locality than any other man. His example could be emulated by youth with much profit if he is seeking a model that could not help but guide him into planes of higher endeavor than often falls to the lot of man.

Doctor Mattoon was born in Herman, St. Lawrence county, New York, April 29, 1847, and was the son of James and Mary A. (Wheeler) Mattoon., both of whom were natives of the Empire state where they grew to maturity, received their education and were married. The father and three sons proved their patriotism by enlisting in the Union army when the war between the states began, and while thus engaged in the service of his country, James Mattoon gave up his life on July 3, 1862. Vincent served for nearly three years at the front, then returned home; his brother John was killed in the great battle of Chancellorsville. Leslie B. and a sister complete the family.

Leslie B. Mattoon spent his youth under the parental roof-tree and received a good education in the common schools and the Wesleyan Seminary of Gouverneur, New York. Although only in his eighteenth year, he enlisted in the Federal army on August 30, 1864, becoming a member of Battery C, First New York Light Artillery, in which he made a very creditable record, being discharged June 17, 1865. He participated in the second battle of Hatcher’s Run, the capture of Fort Steadman, and the capture of Petersburg. Receiving an honorable discharge, he returned home and attended school through the winter season, and in the spring of 1866 emigrated to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm during the summer seasons and taught school during the winter months.

Having long entertained an ambition to enter the medical profession, he began reading medicine during his leisure moments, and in 1873 he entered the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, where he made an excellent record and from which institution he was graduated in 1875. In the autumn of the same year he came to Elgin, Iowa, and was engaged in practice there continuously until his death. He died on June 10, 1902, having enjoyed a liberal practice and becoming one of the noted medical men of this section of the state.

Doctor Mattoon was married in Elgin on August 23, 1879, to Louise Sutter, a native of this county and the daughter of Louis Sutter and wife. Her death occurring on February 25, 1885, the Doctor was married, on November 14, 1888, to Lillie Stoehr, also a native of Fayette county and a daughter of a worthy and prominent family, George A. Stoehr and wife. To this union were born three children, Leslie Bois, Jamie and Nellie.

Politically, Doctor Mattoon was a Democrat, although he cast his first vote for Grant. He always took considerably more than a passing interest in political affairs, keeping himself well informed on all issues of the day, -in fact, he was a well read man and acquainted with the best literature of the world. In 1887 he made the race for state senator and was subsequently elected, and, having made a very commendable record as a public servant in that important office, he was re-elected in 1891. As an official he won praise both from his constituents and his colleagues, and made a record of which anyone might well be proud. Doctor Mattoon was a successful man in business affairs and laid by a nice competency. For some time he was president of the State Bank of Elgin and occupied the same position in connection with the Elgin Canning Company, the large success of both having been due in no small measure to his able and judicious management. Fraternally, he was a Knight Templar Mason, and belonged also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the United Workmen, the Iowa Legion of Honor, and the Grand Army of the Republic. He deserved the high esteem in which he was held by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Mary Aldrich