MATHER.--The origin of the Mather family in America was with REV. (1) RICHARD MATHER, who was born in 1596, at Lowton, Lancashire, England. He came to America, landing in Boston, Aug. 17, 1635, and the next year became pastor of a church, at Dorchester, Mass., where he remained until his death, April 22, 1669. His son, (2) INCREASE MATHER, born June 21, 1639, at Dorcester, Mass., became pastor of North street church, Boston, in 1664, and continued in charge of that church until the day of his death, Aug. 23, 1723. He was President of Harvard College, from 1685 to 1701, and received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from its board of trustees in 1692, the first title of the kind ever conferred in America. His son, (3) COTTON MATHER, born Feb. 12, 1663, in Boston, became the colleague of his father in the pastorate in 1684. He was elected in 1713 a member of the Royal Society of London, being the first American ever thus honored. Rev. Cotton Mather died Feb. 13, 1728, and in 1729 his life was written by his son, (4) SAMUEL MATHER. His son, Dr. (5) THOMAS MATHER, had a son, (6), WILLIAM MATHER, who was a soldier from Conneeticut in the Revolution. His son--

MATHER, (7) THOMAS, was born April 24, 1795, in Simsbury, Hartford county, Conn. Inheriting much of the intellectual ability and integrity of character of his ancestors, and impelled by the New England spirit of enterprise, on arriving at the age of manhood, he left his native State and engaged in business in New York city, where he remained but a short time. In the spring of 1818, he went to Kaskaskia, the capital of the Territory of Illinois. There he subsequently became associated in business with Edmund Roberts, James L. Lamb and Stacy B. Opdycke. Some years later they laid out the town of Chester, Randolph county, Ill,, and engaged in business there also. Thomas Mather was married Dec. 5, 1825, in Kaskaskia, to Hannah G. Lamb, who was born March 23, 1798, in Connellsville, Fayette county, Penn. She was a sister to George and James L. Lamb. In addition to his mercantile pursuits, Mr. Mather found time to look after the interests of the government. He served a number of times in both branches of the Legislature, was a member of the lower house during the session of 1822-3, when the resolution was adopted to submit to the people a proposition for a convention, to be called for the purpose of amending the constitution, with the view of admitting slavery into the State. He opposed the resolution submitting it, and when it was before the people he bore a conspicuous part in the public discussion against adopting the measure. It was through the persistent opposition of Mr. Mather and kindred spirits, that Illinois was saved by the small majority of 1,800 votes from becoming a slave State. In 1825 he was appointed by President, John Quincy Adams, one of the commissioners to locate a military road from Independence, Mo., to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and to negotiate treaties with the Indian tribes along the line. He acquired the title of Colonel during the administration of Governor Coles--1822-26--by being assigned an honorary position on his staff, and wore the title ever after. He once declined an appointment to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. When Col. Mather moved to Springfield in 1835, the mercantile firm with which he was associated was reorganized, and opened under the firm name of Mather, Lamb & Co., and thus it continued for many years. The State Bank of Illinois was chartered by the Legislature, at Vandalia, during the session of 1834-5. The bank was organized at Springfield May 11, 1835, with Thomas Mather President, and N. H. Ridgely Cashier. They continued in office the whole time the bank was in existence--about seven years. The Northern Cross Railroad, from Meredosia, through Jacksonville, to Springfield, having run down so as to be practically useless, it was purchased of the State by Thomas Mather, N. H. Ridgely, James Duncan and others. They put it in good running order, and extended it to the Indiana State line. It is now part of the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad. He was afterwards connected with the organization of the Illinois Central and Galena Union Railroad Companies, and induced eastern capitalists to furnish the means for building the former. Col. Mather was a true friend of education, which he manifested by serving a number of years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Illinois College, at Jacksonville, and contributing liberally toward the endowment of that and other institutions of learning. His parents were Congregationalists, and he never forgot his New England training; but on coming to Illinois, he identified himself with the Presbyterian church, differing from that of his father's not in doctrine, but in government only. His religious principles were not the result of education alone, but originated in a profound conviction of the divine claims of christianity. His benefactions to the church were large and judiciously bestowed. He retired from active business in consequence of impaired health; but continued to reside in Springfield, and died March 28, 1853, in the city of Philadelphia. His remains lie buried in the place of his nativity, surrounded by generations of his ancestors. His widow lived in Springfield until 1866, when she moved to Chicago, where she now--1876--resides, in the seventy-eigth year of her age, and in the full possession of her mental and physical powers, venerated and loved not only by those to whom she has so long been a mother, but by their children also. Their house was truly the home of the orphan. More than one bereaved of natural protectors was fondly and lovingly cherished beneath their roof. There are those yet living in whose memories Col. Mather is enshrined as a true friend and a second father. Not having any children of his own, he adopted the following:

R. PENNELL LAMB, son of Dr. Thos. G. Lamb, of Fayette county, Penn., was born in 1822. He studied medicine, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, in 1849. In 1852 he was married to Mary Johnson, of Springfield, and removed the same year to Butler county, Ohio, where he died in 1866, leaving no children.

SUSAN R. LAMB, born in Kaskaskia, Ill., was married in 1855 to Dr. C. Perry Slater, of Springfield, who died in 1858. See his name. She was married in 1870 to James H. Roberts. See nis name.

THOMAS C. MATHER was born in Illinois in 1839. He studied law and graduated from Ann Arbor University, Michigan. In 1871 he was married to Mary Horine, of Missouri. They have three children, THOMAS, Jun., LINA and MAY. Mr. Mather is practicing his profession and resides in Springfield.

Gen. THOMAS S. MATHER, of Springfield, was not adopted, but is a son of William Mather, a younger brother of Col. Thomas Mather.