History of Westfield, (Middlesex County) Connecticut United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Westfield, (Middlesex County) Connecticut, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

The Biography of Roland Mather

Roland Mather, philanthropist, was born at Westfield, Conn., May 31, 1809; son of John and Sophia (Taylor) Mather, and a descendant of the Rev. Richard Mather, the immigrant (1635). He attended the district schools and worked on his father's farm until 1825, when he engaged in the dry-goods business in Boston. He removed to Hartford, Conn., in 1828, and in 1836 established the firm of Howe, Mather & Co. He retired in 1851 and devoted his time to the care of his estates. He was a trustee and president of the Society for Savings and endowed the Hartford Public Library with $35,000 and the Congregational Educational society with more than $500,000. He bequeathed to the Congregational Home Missionary Society of New York and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions each $15,000, and to the American Missionary Society and Hampton Normal and Industrial institute each $10,000. He died at Hartford, Conn., May 10, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor