Frederick William Matthiessen
{{short description|American philanthropist and industrialist}}
{{Infobox person
| name =Frederick William Matthiessen
| image = Frederick William Matthiessen.jpg
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| birth_date ={{birth date|1835|03|05}}
| birth_place =Altoona, Duchy of Holstein
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| death_date ={{Death date and age|1918|02|11|1835|03|05}}
| death_place =LaSalle, Illinois
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| resting_place =Oakwood Cemetery, LaSalle, Illinois
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| alma_mater =Freiberg University of Mining and Technology[http://www.irvingtonhistoricalsociety.org/forms_pdf/MatthiessenOnlinewNotes.pdf Irving Historical Society]
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| spouse =Fannie Clara Möeller Matthiessen
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| children =5[https://www.lib.niu.edu/2002/oi021011.html Northern Illinois University]
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Frederick William Matthiessen (March 5, 1835 – February 11, 1918) was a philanthropist, industrialist, and mayor of LaSalle, Illinois.{{cite web|author=Bill Stoddard |url=http://clockhistory.com/westclox/company/people/index.html |title=People Associated with Westclox |publisher=Clockhistory.com |date=2013-12-29 |accessdate=2015-10-04}} He was instrumental in the creation of Matthiessen State Park. Matthiessen was the paternal grandfather of scholar and Harvard professor F.O. Matthiessen.
Early life and education
Born March 5, 1835 in Altona, which was then under Danish control as part of the Duchy of Holstein. Matthiessen went on to attend university at the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology. It was here that he met Edward C. Hegeler, a fellow engineering student studying mining. They immigrated together to the United States of America in 1856.{{cite web|author=Raymond Lohne |url=http://immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=109 |title=Mary Hegeler Carus |publisher=Immigrant Entrepreneurship |date= |accessdate=2015-10-04}} After investigating several sites in the Northeast and Midwest of the country, they decided to set up their smelter on the banks of the Little Vermilion River, in LaSalle, IL.
Business success
Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Works broke ground on Christmas Eve of 1858.[https://www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=109 Immigrant Entrepreneurship] The early years of the Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company were difficult, with the Civil War breaking out 2 years after the company's inception. A lack of demand for zinc very nearly ended the company, but troubles proved to be short lived. By 1862, a burgeoning arms industry injected much-needed business, greatly driving up demand for zinc products. Matthiessen would later add rolling mills, coal mines, machine shops, and the forerunner of Westclox to his diverse portfolio.
Edward's daughter, Mary Hegeler Carus, ran Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company from 1903 until her death in 1936. In 1924, the Hegeler-Carus family bought out the Matthiessen family interests in the company.{{Cite web|last=Lohne|first=Raymond|title=Mary Hegeler Carus|url=https://www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entries/mary-hegeler-carus/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Immigrant Entrepreneurship|language=en-US}}
Matthiessen served as the mayor of LaSalle, IL between 1887 and 1897, elected to five consecutive terms.[https://www.enjoyillinois.com/illinois-200/matthiessen-state-park/ Enjoy Illinois]
Philanthropy
Matthiessen donated approximately $500,000 to various causes, such as LaSalle-Peru High School{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkYJAQAAMAAJ&q=Frederick+William+Matthiessen+biographical+notice&pg=PA719 |title=Transactions |year=1920 |page=719 |accessdate=2015-10-04}} and Illinois Valley Community Hospital.{{cite web|url=http://newstrib.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=27&ArticleID=36126 |title=Who cleaned up this town? The Hygienic Institute 100 years ago - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL |publisher=Newstrib.com |date=2014-04-23 |accessdate=2015-10-04}} Perhaps his best known donation is his former estate and private park known as "Deer Park". It is today known as Matthiessen State Park.{{cite web |url=http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R1/mttindex.htm |title=DNR |publisher=Dnr.state.il.us |date= |accessdate=2015-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054858/http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R1/mttindex.htm |archive-date=2013-09-21 |url-status=dead }}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthiessen, Frederick William}}
Category:Mayors of places in Illinois
Category:People from Altona, Hamburg
Category:Emigrants from the Duchy of Holstein