Courtland Cushing Matson (April 25, 1841 – September 4, 1915) was an American lawyer and Civil War veteran who served four terms as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1881 to 1889.

Courtland Cushing Matson
From 1889's The National Democratic Party: Its History, Principles, Achievements, and Aims
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
In office
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1889
Personal details
Born(1841-04-25)April 25, 1841
Brookville, Indiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 4, 1915(1915-09-04) (aged 74)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Resting placeForest Hill Cemetery
Greencastle, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materIndiana Asbury University
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branchUnion Army
RankColonel
UnitSixteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers
Battles / warsAmerican Civil War

Early life

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Courtland Cushing Matson was born on April 25, 1841, in Brookville, Indiana. Matson graduated from Indiana Asbury University (now De Pauw University) in 1862.[1] He later studied law. He was admitted to the bar.[1]

Career

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During the Civil War, Matson enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. After one year's service entered the Sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry (Seventy-first Volunteers), and served until October 1865, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of colonel.[1]

After the war, Matson studied law and commenced practice in Greencastle, Indiana. He was three times elected prosecuting attorney of Putnam County, Indiana. He served as chairman of the Democratic State central committee in 1878.[1]

Congress

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Matson was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-seventh and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1889). He served as chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions (Forty-eighth through Fiftieth Congresses). He was not a candidate for renomination. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of Indiana in 1888.[1]

Later career

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He resumed the practice of law in Greencastle, Indiana. He served as member of the board of tax commissioners 1909–1913.[1]

Personal life

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Matson died on September 4, 1915, in Chicago, Illinois. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Greencastle.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Matson, Courtland Cushing". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 7, 2022.

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Indiana
1888
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 5th congressional district

1881-1889
Succeeded by