Abner C. Mattoon

Abner Clough Mattoon
Born	October 15, 1814 Locke, New York
Died	November 20, 1895 (aged 81) Oswego, New York

Abner Clough Mattoon (October 15, 1814 Locke, Cayuga County, New York – November 20, 1895 Oswego, Oswego County, New York) was an American merchant and politician from New York. He was the builder of the first tugboat that was steam powered that was built and operated west of the Hudson River.^[1]

Life

He was born on October 15, 1814 in Locke, New York to Henry Mattoon.^[2]

The family removed to Rochester in 1816. He attended the common schools, and at age 14 began to work on the canals as a horsedriver. Later, he removed to New York City, and then was for a few years a clerk on board a palace steamer on the Mississippi River. In 1844, he returned to Rochester. He married Caroline Nichols in 1844, and they had three children. The couple removed to New York City, and in 1847 to Oswego. He engaged in forwarding, milling, boat construction and the grain trade.

He entered politics as a Whig, became a Know Nothing, and then joined the Republican Party. In 1853, he was an alderman (3rd Ward) of Oswego.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Oswego Co., 1st D.) in 1863 and 1864.^[1]

He was a member of the New York State Senate (21st D.) in 1868 and 1869.^[1]

His health had been failing for a number of years, and he died on November 20, 1895 at his home in Oswego, New York.^[1][2]

References

1. "Abner C. Mattoon". New York Times. November 21, 1895. Retrieved 2014-07-16. Abner C. Mattoon ... died at his home yesterday. He was State Senator in 1868-9, and member of Assembly in 1863-4. ... He was the builder of the first steam tug built and operated west of the Hudson.
2. "Abner C. Mattoon". Oswego Daily Times. November 20, 1895. Retrieved 2014-07-16.

Further reading

• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Stephen C. Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner (1870; pg. 444, 498 and 501)
• Life Sketches of the State Officers, Senators, and Members of the Assembly of the State of New York in 1868 by S. R. Harlow & S. C. Hutchins (pg. 100ff)