My Genealogy Hound

JAMES CLUBINE MATES, brakeman, post office Turtle Creek, was born in Wilkins township, Dec. 23, 1837. His grandfather, John Mates, of German descent, came from Berks county to Wilkins township at an early date. He had five sons and two daughters. John, the eldest, was born in Wilkins, and died there in 1848, aged thirty-seven. His widow, Mary, now resides in Turtle Creek, and is seventy-one years old. She was the daughter of John Clubine, who came from Germany and settled in Sewickley, Westmoreland county, where Mrs. Mates was born. Her six children are all living in the vicinity, as follows: James Clubine, Fanny (wife of Henry Linhart), John (in Patton township), Eliza (wife of John Cook, in Wilkins), George (in Patton), Lilah (wife of John West, in Plum township). James C. remained on the home farm until 1862, when he joined Co. A, 101st P. V., which was attached to the Eastern army. The regiment was stationed about a year at Roanoke island, and Mr. Mates was about five months laid up in hospital at New Berne and Beaufort. He was taken prisoner at Plymouth, N. C., and lay eleven months in Andersonville prison. When finally paroled he was too much reduced for duty, and came home on furlough. By the time he had recovered, fighting had ceased, and he was discharged in June, 1865.

In January, 1866, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Linhart. The son of Adam Linhart (Mrs. Mates’ great-grandfather) settled in Wilkins before peace was made with the Indians, and his wife was often obliged to carry her two children through the woods to the blockhouse on the Monongahela, to escape the savages. Six children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mates, viz.: George, James, Mary, Annie, Stella and Sidman. John, their sixth child, died when two years old. The family attend the Lutheran Church. Mr. Mates is a member of the G. A. R., association of prisoners of war, and politically a republican. In November, 1866, he became a brakeman on a coal-train on the Pennsylvania railroad, and has continued since in the same occupation. In 1887 he built the fine residence in Turtle Creek which he now occupies. He also owns a house in Wilkins township.