23 Facts About Samuel Mather

Samuel Livingston Mather was an American industrialist and philanthropist from Cleveland, Ohio.

Samuel Mather co-founded Pickands Mather and Company, a shipping and iron mining company which dominated these two Great Lakes industries from 1900 to 1960.

For many years Mather was that city's richest citizen and a major philanthropist, contributing more than US$7 million to community-based organizations in the city.

Samuel Mather was a descendant of Rev Richard Mather, a famous English pastor who emigrated to North America in 1635.

Samuel Mather's mother died two months after giving birth to Katherine, and his father then married Elizabeth L Gwinn in June 1856.

Samuel Mather was educated in Cleveland's public schools, attending Cleveland High School before transferring to and graduating from St Mark's School in Southborough, Massachusetts in 1869.

Samuel Mather intended to attend Harvard University, but while working as a timekeeper in one of his father's mines in Ishpeming, Michigan, a premature explosion left him with a fractured skull, broken left arm, and a spinal injury.

Samuel Mather spent the next three years convalescing.

Samuel Mather spent several months traveling in Europe in 1872 and returned to Cleveland in 1873, where he became an executive in his father's company.

In 1881, Samuel Mather married Flora Stone, daughter of Cleveland industrialist and railroad magnate Amasa Stone.

Samuel Mather had been Abraham Lincoln's secretary and later became Secretary of State during the McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt administrations.

In 1883, Mather co-founded Pickands Mather and Company with James Pickands and Jay C Morse.

Samuel Mather opened a fuel coal supply business three years later.

Samuel Mather was elected mayor of Marquette in 1875, and five years later formed the Taylor Iron Co.

Samuel Mather invested widely in Michigan iron mines, and by 1882 was a wealthy man ready to form his own company.

Pickands Samuel Mather became one of the four major iron ore companies in the United States through the operation of extensive mines in the Lake Superior region.

Samuel Mather gave generously to educational and health institutions throughout his life.

Samuel Mather served as a trustee of Western Reserve University for forty-five years, contributing to the provision of residential accommodation and additional classroom facilities benefiting women students.

At Kenyon College, Samuel Mather was known for decades for his generous financial gifts and management of the college's financial affairs.

Samuel Mather was a trustee to Kenyon for forty-three years; before his death, Samuel Mather was the oldest living member of Kenyon's Board of Trustees.

The library was named in honor of his father Samuel Livingston Mather, who was a long time supporter of overseas mission activities of the Episcopal Church.

Samuel Mather suffered from heart problems at the end of his life.

Samuel Mather's heart began to fail on October 10,1931, and he died of heart disease on October 18.