Brigadier
General 
John A. Mather

GENERAL JOHN ATKINSON MATHER JR. was born in Gloucester City NJ on July 17, 1865 to John and Luisa Wallace Dawson Mather. His father served as a Sergeant during the Civil Wars with Company H of the 10th New Jersey Infantry Regiment. 

The Mather family lived at 423 South 3rd Street in Camden. The 1887-1888 directories show that John Mather Sr. and Jr. were working as a cigar packer and bookkeeper respectively. In the years 1888 through 1891, the elder Mather worked as a jeweler in Philadelphia, and John Jr. was working as a clerk in that city as well. It was in these years that John A. Mather Jr. enlisted as a Private in the 3rd Regiment, New Jersey National Guard. Also enlisting during this period was Winfield Scott Price.  He also married Elizabeth Weatherby in 1889. Sadly, she passed away in 1898. John A. Mather married Helen C. Betts, daughter of Gloucester County lawyer John B. Betts, around 1900. At the time of the 1910 Census the Mathers were living at 23 Grove Avenue in National Park NJ, the home of John Betts, then 74 and retired. John A. Mather Jr. was then working in real estate and insurance.

John A. Mather Jr.. had a distinguished career, rising from private in the National Guard to be a Brigadier General. During the Spanish-American war he served as a Captain. He commanded the 3^rd Regiment, National Guard of New Jersey, from August 13, 1903 to February 25, 1913.

General John A. Mather Jr. died suddenly on February 11, 1917. He was buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden NJ. General Mather was survived by his parents and his wife Helen, who now rest beside him. Helen Mather was President of the Woman's Club of Camden, N.J. from 1915 through 1919, and active with the Camden County Red Cross during America's involvement in World War I. She passed away in 1947.

The General John A. Mather Camp, No. 39 of the United Spanish War Veterans, named in his honor, was active in Camden for many years after his passing. 

Philadelphia Inquirer - August 29, 1906

Charles H. Ellis - William Leonard Hurley - William Fox
Walter Tushingham - M.W. Taylor - John Mather - Frank W. Tussey
Charles H. Laird - George Blake - Dr. Wallace McGeorge
Dr. William Martindale - Henry C. Dole - William Sangtinette

Philadelphia Inquirer - January 26, 1910

Charles H. Ellis 
Frank W. Tussey - Charles M. Curry
W.L. Tushingham - William Schmid
Bernhard Schroeder  
Edward Nieland - Daniel M. Stevens 
W.F. Powell - Abe Fuhrman
C.K. Deacon - Jacob Neutze
Charles A. Ackley
Francis B. Wallen
  Harry A Whaland
Dr. Wallace McGeorge
Ralph D. Baker - William F. Kelly
Lawrence B. Reader
Malachi D. Cornish
Gen. John A. Mather
James E. Hewitt
David Jester
William Sangtinette

Philadelphia Inquirer - February 16, 1917

Harleigh Cemetery * Camden NJ