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ADA COUNTY
History of Idaho the Gem of the Mountains 1920
Vol. 3 Page 635
Clinton
Matlock
Clinton
Matlock, a retired farmer residing near
Meridian, was born near Hot Springs Arkansas,
October 10, 1856, and in the spring of 1863 went
to the southeastern section of Missouri with
his parents
Clinton Albert and Susan (Weaver) Matlock. The
parents were natives of the state
of Tennessee
and were there reared and married.
After living
for a number of years in Missouri, during which
time he acquired his education
in the public
schools, Clinton Matlock came to Idaho in
September, 1882, traveling by team
across the
plains to Boise. He was accompanied by his wife,
who bore the maiden name of Mary
Elizabeth
Sexton and was a native of Wright County
Missouri, and their little son, William
Henry. They
were upon the road for about six months and
their train numbered at different
periods from
twelve to one hundred teams. There was much
sickness among the party as they
traveled
westward. Mrs. Matlock’s people were with the
train and because of illness some of
them they had
to stop at Soda Springs Idaho, until they were
able to travel.
After
reaching his destination Mr. Matlock engaged in
working in the mines also followed
teaming and
farming until June 1893, when he took up a
homestead a mile west and two and
a quarter
miles north of Meridian, thus securing one
hundred and sixty acres of land which
was covered
with native growth of sagebrush, not a furrow
having been turned nor improvement
made upon the
place. He and his eldest son, William
Henry, then began clearing the property
and
brought it to a high state of cultivation, the
family home being maintained thereon until
1918,
when Mr. Matlock rented the farm to his son
James Clarence, and purchased a home in
Meridian
where he and his wife no reside, surrounded by
all the comforts and many of the
luxuries which
go to make life worth living. As the years have
passed he has become numbered
among the
successful farmers and stock raisers of his
section, his business affairs being
carefully,
systematically and energetically conducted, so
that most desirable results have
accrued. Mr.
Matlock had raised some of the finest registered Percheron
horses in the state
and now has a
three year old colt weighing more than a ton. He
has never failed to win a prize
on any horses
that he has ever exhibited at the fairs held in
Idaho. He has also engaged in
raising hogs
and the various branches of
his business have brought him very gratifying
financial
returns.
Mr. and Mrs.
Matlock not only have reason to be proud of
their success but have still greater
reason to
be proud of their family. Their sons, Henry and
Dave, under the firm style of Matlock
Brothers,
are proprietors of the finest garage of
Meridian, it being thoroughly up to date in
every particular. The family also numbers twin
Daughters, Ada May and Ida Fay. The former is
the
wife of H A Bentley and they have five
children, Lilly, Gladys, Clinton, Robert and Carrol. Ida
Fay is the wife of Elmer Adams.
James Clarence and Clara Elizabeth are also
twins. The latter
wife of Luther Jenkins. Cassie
is the wife of Henry Bates and resided in the
eastern section of
Idaho. The eldest son William
Henry, wedded Georgia Hicks, a native of West
Virginia, and they
have three children, Eula
Louise, Grace Marie and Claude. The sons James
Clarence married Maude
Young and is the father
of 3 Children. Alta, Olin and Johnnie. The son
Dave mentioned before is
a successful
garage proprietor at Meridian, returned in 1919
from France, where he was a member
of the
Fortieth Division of the One Hundred and
Fifty-eighth Infantry. He served as a member of
Presidents Wilson’s bodyguard in Paris, being
one of the two hundred and fifty picked men from
the on
Hundred and Fifty-eighth Infantry who were
selected that duty.
The father of
this family, Clinton Matlock, deserves much
credit for that he has accomplished.
It was a
resolute will, a stout heart and determined
purpose that enabled him and his little
family to
come to Idaho thirty-eight years ago, braving
the hardships of a long trip by team
across the
plains. In the years which have since com and
gone Mr. Matlock has borne his part as
a
progressive farmer of Ada County and today is
enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his
former toil.
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