Tolla Burr Mateer (1872-1950)

From the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, July 26, 1924.

  Tolla Burr Mateer was a longtime attorney residing in Mt. Gilead, Ohio who served three terms as prosecuting attorney for Morrow County. During his third term, Mateer was an aspirant for the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's eighth district but would lose the 1924 Democratic primary. In addition to his time as prosecuting attorney and his congressional candidacy, Mateer was an alternate delegate from Ohio to the 1924 Democratic National Convention in New York City.

  The son of John and Sarah (McClarren) Mateer, Tolla Burr Mateer was born in Morrow County on March 14, 1872. One should note that in addition to the spelling given here, Mateer's first name has two variations, being spelled as "Tollie" and "Tolly". While the latter is noted in his 1950 Marion Star obituary and the 1910 census, other sources, like the 1911 history of Morrow County, the 1905 state roster of county and township officials, the 1900 and 1930 census, and the 1975 History of the McTeer-Mateer Families, record it as Tolla. All in all, very confusing!

  "T.B." Mateer, as most sources list him, decided upon a career in law early in life and graduated from the Ohio Northern University in 1899 with his law degree. He established his practice in Mt. Gilead and married in Morrow County in December 1903 to Mary Lanah Tuttle (1868-1944). The couple had two children, Ruth Tuttle (1907-1996) and John Owen (1910-1912). In the same year as his marriage Mateer entered into the race for Morrow County prosecuting attorney, and in that year won the Democratic primary. In November 1903 Mateer defeated Republican nominee Benjamin Olds, 2,311 votes to 1,928, and entered into his duties in early 1904.

  Mateer won a second term in November 1905, and served from 1906-08, being succeeded by J.C. Williamson. He returned to private practice in Mt. Gilead and in April 1913 was retained as defense counsel for John Morrow, charged with the smothering death of Stella Platt's eighteen-month-old daughter. Morrow was subsequently convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He returned to political life in 1922 when he won a third term as county prosecuting attorney, serving from 1923-25.

  In March 1924 Mateer's name was put forward by the Democrats as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 8th congressional district. After accepting the nomination, campaign notices touting his candidacy appeared throughout area newspapers leading up to the August primary. Remarked as having "demonstrated his fairness as well as ability in the performance of a public duty", Mateer stood "four square on all public questions", especially those involving agriculture. In July 1924 the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum detailed Mateer's agricultural interests, noting:

"Having been interested for years in farming he is in a position to know some of the difficulties that have confronted the farmer for the last four years nd his close contact with public affairs, his knowledge of politics and his statesmanlike vision makes him the most available man to meet these conditions. The Eighth Congressional district will make no mistake in selecting his as its leader in this coming campaign."

From the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, July 31, 1924.

  When the polls closed in August 1924 Mateer lost out to fellow Democrat Thomas Brooks Fletcher (1879-1945), a newspaper editor and publisher. Fletcher would go on to win the general election and served five terms in Congress (1925-29, 1933-39). While his congressional aspirations may have been dashed, Mateer further aided the Ohio Democrats in June and July 1924 with his service as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Held in New York City, this convention nominated John William Davis for the presidency, with Mateer being one of over forty alternates selected as part of the Ohio delegation.

  Mateer returned to his law practice in Mt. Gilead after his convention service and in the late 1920s served as a member of the Ohio Democratic State Central Committee, representing the eighth district. He continued with his practice until the year of his death, dying at his Mt. Gilead home on December 17, 1950, aged 78. He had been predeceased by his wife Mary and was interred at the Rivercliff Cemetery in Mt. Gilead.

From the Marion Star, December 19, 1950.