My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. MATLACK, the well known editor and proprietor of the Chester Tribune, one of the leading papers of the county, has exercised a marked influence in the affairs of this section of Illinois, not only professionally, but as a progressive, public-spirited citizen, and is always to the front in guarding and advancing its dearest interests materially, socially and morally. Mr. Matlack is a native of Missouri, and was born in St. Louis December 3, 1844. He is a son of William L. and Harriet A. (McKown) Matlack. The father was born of Quaker parents, in Moorestown, N. J., and came west in 1836. The mother was born in Vincennes, Ind., and went to Missouri with her father’s family in 1835. They were married in Quincy, Ill., in 1838, and resided for many years in the city of Chester, where they ranked among its best residents. The mother of our subject is the daughter of Capt. James B. McKown, of Scotch descent, and a soldier in the War of 1812. She is still living in Chester, but his father died in 1879.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest son in his parents’ family of five children, and was given a good education in the public schools of St. Louis. When leaving Missouri, in 1858, he came to this county, and took up his abode near Steeleville, whence he later went to Sparta, and in that place still continued his studies, attending its public schools. When eighteen years of age he returned to St. Louis and became a member of the St. Louis Fire Department, with which he remained five years. In 1866 he again came to this county, this time making Chester his destination, and was appointed Deputy Sheriff under John K. Shannon. This office he continued to fill during the term of Mr. Shannon. Later, Mr. Shannon having been elected County Clerk, our subject entered his office as a clerk, performing the duties devolving upon him in a most satisfactory manner.

In 1869, Mr. Matlack was appointed City Marshal by the Hon. J. B. Holmes, Mayor of the city, which office he resigned to accept the position of special traveling agent for Cochrane & Brown, general agents for the Howe Machine Company, with headquarters at St. Louis. Mo. After being thus engaged for two years, Mr. Matlack accepted a similar position with the Singer Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, with which he remained for four years, and later was a special agent for the Wheeler & Wilson and Domestic Sewing Machine Companies.

Returning to this city in 1878, our subject entered the service of the state as an officer of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary on its establishment here, remaining for two and a-half years. At the end of that time he became Cashier in John H. Hood & Co.’s Bank at this place, with whom he remained for eighteen months. Then going to Belleville, Ill., he accepted the position of book-keeper with the Fairbanks Sewing Machine Company, with which he was engaged for a like period, when he became connected with the Belleville News, and later with the Belleville Advocate. At the close of the Thirty-seventh session of the Illinois Legislature, during which Mr. Matlack was one of the enrolling and engrossing clerks, he returned to Chester, and soon afterward was elected Justice of the Peace. In the spring of the following year he was appointed by the Hon. William Schuchert, then Mayor of the city, as its Marshal, and upon the expiration of his term was re-appointed to the same position by the Hon. James J. Morrison.

When returning to private life, Mr. Matlack became connected with the Western Boot & Shoe Manufacturing Company in the Southern Illinois Penitentiary. He continued to act in the capacity of book-keeper and cashier with that firm until their removal from the place two years later, when he went to Albuquerque, N. Mex., and worked on the Albuquerque Democrat as one of its staff until his return to Chester in 1890. At that time he became Secretary of the first session of the Southern Illinois Chautauqua Assembly, and in March, 1892, was made Secretary of the Jackson Pipe Organ Company. This position he resigned a few months later, and in company with John T. McBride, purchased the Chester Tribune. In March, 1893, he purchased Captain McBride’s interest, and has since had sole management, taking personal charge of the local and editorial department. It is a six-column quarto in size and Democratic in politics. It is a sound family paper, well supplied with solid and useful information, and one of its interesting features is the correspondence from various localities in the county.