 |
 EVERHARTY, proprietor of a meat-market on West Broadway, now serving his
fourth term as Alderman of the Second
Ward, is one of the prominent German
citizens of Mattoon. He was born in Prussia, June
28, 1833, and is the son of Matthias and Margaret
(Kemmer) Everharty, the former a native of
France and the latter of Prussia. The father of
our subject was a weaver by trade, and was among
the first of his countrymen who emigrated to
America. He came in 1837 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, the first employment he procured
beino; on the White Water Canal. He was industrious and frugal, but unfortunately placed the
money received for his services in a bank, which
went down during a financial crash, sweeping with it all of his hard-earned savings. He next engaged
in the business of market gardening near the city,
and was one of the first Germans who undertook
that work in Cincinnati. He had a small farm and
kept an excellent garden, supplying the city market
with fresh fruits and vegetables, by this means
making himself quite independent until his death,
which occurred in 1866.When Mr. E. emigrated to America he was accompanied by his aged father, who was a soldier in the French army and had served seven years under Napoleon Bonaparte. He made his home with his sons until his death, which occurred in 1850. Five years later his widow died in her native land. Matthias Everharty had a family of nine children, five of whom are now living, and whose names are as follows: Matthias, the subject of this sketch; Jacob, a resident of Los Angeles. Cal.; Josephine, the wife of Mr. Papp, a resident of Leaven worth, Kan.; Agnes, the wife of Mr. Haag, and Peter, both of the latter residents of Leavenworth, Kan. Mr. Everharty was a Democrat, and with his family belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. Our subject was brought up at home, assisting his father in the labor of the farm and garden until 1848, when he spent two years learning the butcher’s trade, and was engaged in that business several years in Cincinnati. In 1860 he changed his occupation, and embarked in a variety show under the firm name of Everharty & Palmer. Two seasons sufficed for this employment, and he then obtained a position as beef agent in the Commissary Department of the army. He purchased and supervised the slaughter of the cattle, and also had charge of. the distribution of rations to the soldiers. He served in that position three years, and was once shot by a party of bushwhackers in Tennessee, receiving a flesh wound in the arm, arid was taken prisoner, but detained only a short time. After his return from the war, he came to Mattoon and engaged in his present business. In 1874 he purchased fifty feet of land fronting on West Broadway, and erected a substantial brick business house. He also purchased five acres on West First street, where he resides. He owns a share in the fair ground, and an interest in the Natural Gas Company, and also in the Real-Estate and Loan Association of Mattoon. In 1854 Mr. Everharty was married to Miss Elizabeth Horn. Mrs. Everharty is the daughter of John Horn, and was born in Havre de Gras, France, coming with her parents to America in 1836, and settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have a family of four children, all of whom are residents of this city. Their names are as follows: Catherine, the wife of Mr. Mead; John; Annie L., the wife of Mr. Cleveland, and Maggie, the wife of Mr. Timmans. Mr. Everharty and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. In politics he is a Democrat. |
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