Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1911 — NOTED FINANCIER AND RAILROAD DIRECTOR DEAD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NOTED FINANCIER AND RAILROAD DIRECTOR DEAD

Robert Mather, chairman of the board of directors of the Westing-

house Electric and Manufacturing company and director of many railroads and banks, who recently died at his New York home, was born at Salt Lake City, Utah, July 1, 1853, the son of James and Margaret Holt Mather. His father was a Scotch-

man, a native of Forfarshire, and his mother came to this country from the county of Lancashire, England. He attended the public schools of Galesburg, 111., until he was thirteen years old, when he went into a factory, where he worked three years learning how telegraph instruments and switchboard apparatus were made. He had his first railroad experience in the master mechanic’s office of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road. While getting this early training he also was studying nights to prepare for college, and he was graduated from Knox in 1882, His first degree did not satisfy him, so he continued to dovetail study with railroad work until 1885, when he received an A. M. Four ydars ago Knox made him an LL. D.

Soon after his graduation in 1882 Mr. Mather entered the treasurer's office of the Chicago, Burlingtop and Quincy railroad in Chicago, and remained there until 188.5, devoting his spare time to the study of law. In 1886 he was admitted to the Illinois bar, and for three years thereafter he engaged in general practice in Chicago. In 1889 he became, local attorney at Chicago of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway company. He held this place until 1891, when he was promoted to be assistant general attorney. From 1894 to June, 1902, he was ‘general attorney, and in June, 1902, he was made general counsel of the same road. In the meantime, he had been ■•elected second vice-president of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railway, an office he held from 1889 until April 5, 1904, ‘when he became first vicepresident of the same road.

In October, 1904, be was made chairman of the executive committee of the company and at the same time was elected president of the Rock Island Company of New Jersey, He had been third vice-president of the St. Louis and San Francisco from 1903 to April, 1904, and in April, 1904, was made first vice-president of the same road. He also had been first vice-president of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad company and the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad company and chairman of the board of directors of the St. Louis, Kansas City and Colorado railroad. In January, 1909, Mr. Mather was made chairman of the board of directors of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing company. Mr. Mather was married April 23, 1892, at Detroit, to Alice Caroline, daughter of Horatio Jell of Walkerville, Canada.